One Heart Sangha

Author: Elaine Thompson

  • Website Update

    Website Update

    Welcome to our new website! Elaine and Fran have been working steadily for the past couple of months to migrate from Squarespace to WordPress. We’ve launched and are Hopefully you can find key information like where to sign up for events, request “remokusan”, and if you’re new here learn about the zendo and our meditation events.

    We’re aiming to have a calendar of local Zen events online sometime in the next couple months, since we have four White Plum Asanga lineage sanghas in the area. You’ll also notice we’ve switched eCommerce providers for donations and events. Feedback on what works and doesn’t work is welcome as we continue to develop and refine the site. In particular, let us know about any difficulties you have on a tablet or phone.

  • Jukai class for fall 2026

    Jukai class for fall 2026

    Sensei Rebecca is starting classes to lead regular students through precept study and preparation for Jukai. Jukai, giving and receiving the precepts, is how Zen practitioners make a commitment to upholding and maintaining the Bodhisattva Precepts and to entering the stream of the lineage of the Buddha Way.

    Over the spring and summer participants will sew their Rakusus, or Buddha’s Robe, incorporating their deep desire to practice with each stitch. They will also copy the ancestral lineage from Shakyamuni Buddha down to themselves, to indicate their place in the continuation of the Dharma stream. In our tradition students prepare a personal lineage of the people in their lives who brought them to Zen as well.

    If you are a regular attendee of either our Wednesday night sits or our Zazenkai, speak to Sensei Rebecca to learn more about jukai.

  • Mini Ango

    Mini Ango

    One Heart Sangha is in the midst of a 4-week Mini Ango, which runs February 10 to March 10. The Mini Ango provides a supportive structure to commit to an additional level of practice for a short and specific period of time. The primary purpose is to deepen your zazen practice, renew your commitment to the Dharma, and if you like, make a commitment to other practices that can help make positive changes in your life. 

    While registration is closed now, you can still silently join other members of the zendo in making a personal commitment to additional practice for the coming weeks.

    How it Works

    Participants typically commit to increased zazen during the Ango. For example, participants can pledge to sit one extra day per week or increase their sitting time. In addition, participants may commit to other beneficial activities such as a mindfulness practice, volunteer work, yoga/stretching, or starting a Zen 108. Alternatively, participants can commit to cutting back on activities like doomscrolling social media, gossiping, or eating unhealthy foods.

  • Tri Sangha Jukai

    Tri Sangha Jukai

    On Saturday, October 18th, One Heart Sangha hosted a “Tri-Sangha” Jukai ceremony with Teachers and Candidates from Joyful Mind Zen Community and Harbor Light Zen Sangha.

    Seven students confirmed their commitment to upholding and maintaining the Bodhisattva Precepts and to entering the stream of the lineage of the Buddha Way.

    Over the past year, each recipient hand-crafted a Rakusu, or Buddha’s Robe, incorporating their deep desire to practice with each stitch. 

    Each prepared a personal lineage of teachers that reveals what brought them to this point.

    Each copied the ancestral lineage from Shakyamuni Buddha down to themselves, to indicate their place in the continuation of the Dharma stream.

    Please welcome our newest bodhisattva cohort!

    Pictured: Precept Recipients: Susan Myoren (harbor light) | Sarah kyoshin & Mike Shinyu (joyful mind) | Cathy Yōki, Fran Kishin, Laura Kyohan & Michelle Myōshin (one heart)

    Seated Teachers: Jingen Sensei, Taikai Sensei, Museido Sensei, Kūhai Sensei, Shiho Sensei

  • One Heart Sangha Winter Potluck

    One Heart Sangha Winter Potluck

    OHS is planning a Winter Potluck on December 21, 2025. It will be held in downtown Silver Spring (at Sensei Bruce’s apartment common room) in the early afternoon. Details and a sign up are on the event calendar listing.

    If you would like to help out with planning please contact brucelindsay@oneheartsangha.org.

  • Remote Dokusan

    Remote Dokusan

    Sensei Bruce (Shiho) and Sensei Rebecca (Museido) are now offering remote dokusan (“remokusan”) to students who are attending our Wednesday sits or zazenkai regularly. As you’ve probably noticed, we have a lot of sitters on Wednesday evenings now. It’s great to have so many people coming to the service, but it means there isn’t time on Wednesday evenings to give everyone the opportunity to speak to a teacher. Our setup at WES also only allows one teacher to offer dokusan at a time. Bruce and Rebecca want to support everyone’s practice so we’re hoping this is a good way forward. In particular, those students who are interested in the path to Jukai should plan to meet at least monthly with one of the teachers at One Heart Sangha to discuss their work with the Precepts, sewing, and lineage.

    You can schedule by writing brucelindsay@oneheartsangha.org or rebeccahawes@oneheartsangha.org Please include some upcoming dates/times that you are available to meet.