One Heart Sangha

Tag: ceremony

  • Invitation to Shukke Tokudo – May 10th

    Invitation to Shukke Tokudo – May 10th

    Sensei Museidō is “Leaving (and Not Leaving) Home”

    You are cordially invited to attend the Shukke Tokudo of Sensei Rebecca Museidō on May 10, 2026. This is the Zen Buddhist ceremony of Leaving Home. This is the first step on the path of a monk (or in our White Plum Asanga tradition, a “priest”).

    For more details and directions see the Event Page

    The Significance of Shukke Tokudo

    In our Sōtō Zen tradition, Shukke Tokudo marks the moment of “leaving home,” not necessarily in a literal sense, but as a profound turning of one’s life toward the Buddha Way. It is the formal entry into priest training, grounded in the vows to awaken for the benefit of all beings.

    This ceremony is not merely symbolic; it is a living transmission of intention, discipline, and lineage. It is a vocation. Through shaving the head, receiving robes, and taking vows, the ordinand embodies a commitment to practice that is at once deeply personal and inseparable from the wider sangha. It is both a beginning and a continuation—an entry into a stream that has flowed uninterrupted for centuries.

    This year, Roshi Ed Sullivan Sangetsu of Red Rose Sangha and Sensei Jon Seichō Kenzen McCollum are honored to present the following candidates for Shukke Tokudo:

    • Sensei Rebecca Museidō Hawes

    • Dharma Holder Mike Dōshin Shanahan

    • Allison Shōkyo Ehrman

    • Davi Shōrei Hayes

    • Len Sōkai Sitnick

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Denbo for Bruce ShiHo Lindsay and Joshua Kūhai Radice

    Denbo for Bruce ShiHo Lindsay and Joshua Kūhai Radice

    Sensei Bruce ShiHo Lindsay and Sensei Joshua Kūhai Radice received dharma transmission in the lineage of the White Plum Asanga from Sensei Robet JinGen Ertman on May 31, 2025. We’re delighted to welcome Sensei Bruce as a new teacher at One Heart Sangha. In his new role as a teacher, Sensei Bruce has started offering newcomer introductions and online dokusan for regular students. Sensei Kūhai is growing a new zendo in Annapolis, Harbor Light Zen Sangha.

    The transmission was at the Annapolis UUC, and was kindly hosted by the Annapolis Mindfulness Group. It was well attended with students, meditators, and teachers from sanghas all over the area. We had attendees from Joyful Mind Zendo in Rockville, Clare Sangha in Baltimore, Harbor Light Zendo in Annapolis, Del Ray Zen in Alexandria, and of course One Heart Sangha in Silver Spring. Sensei Jan JinKai Gary even kindly flew up from Florida to join us in person.

    A slightly chaotic morning zazenkai preceded the denbo ceremony, as we integrated the different sanghas and the mindfulness group. The forms came together and the kinhin lines fell into place with some guidance from senior students. The dharma flowed freely as the practices merged.

    Teachers from left to right: Senseis Rebeca MuSeiDo Hawes, Bruce ShiHo Lindsay, and Bob JinGen Ertman from One Heart Sangha; Sensei Josh Kūhai Radice from Harbor Light Zen; Senseis Rev. Jon Seichō McCollum, Oshō and Tony Hoetsu Falcone from Clare Sangha; and Senseis Jan JinKai Gary, and Martine Taikai Palmiter from Joyful Mind Zen Community.

    Bruce and Josh after receiving their stoles from Bob. These reflect the tradition of the stream of ancestors from Bernie Tetsugen Glassman Roshi to Robert Jinsen Kennedy Roshi and his descendants.

  • New Guiding Teacher

    New Guiding Teacher

    Sensei Rebecca Hawes has become a Guiding Teacher at One Heart Sangha. The Council approved Sensei Rebecca’s nomination to Guiding Teacher status on September 9, 2024. She will be sharing responsibilities evenly with our other Guiding Teacher, Sensei Bob.

    Our Guiding Teachers lead the zendo, encouraging the growth and development of the sangha. Everyone in One Heart Sangha is deeply grateful that Sensei Hawes is willing to offer the time and effort to take on the role.