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Sacramento Dharma Center

Our Beloved Susan has Flown

susan orr, beloved lifelong organizer for peace and justice, defender of Mother Earth, accomplished artist, healer, Buddhist teacher, and spiritual leader passed away at the age of 76 in Sacramento, CA on September 9, 2018.
susan was to provide a Dharma talk about her journey and resiliency in impermanence at the Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group Sangha the evening she died. With the karma of a bodhisattva, susan died held in the loving embrace of her family and as her Sangha joined her in meditation and Sacramento Insight Meditation retreatants chanted the anicca with her. It was magical that susan died as we meditated and chanted together – remembering her and her extraordinary gifts of an open heart and endless compassion. Her daughter Katie shares with us that susan received all our heartfelt and loving messages before her spark left.
It feels like susan’s death happened so fast in the end. Once she knew “…the body is done…” susan was ready to go, with no regrets, and feeling truly loved and loving all of us. susan’s Dharma brother, Andy Bein, delivered susan’s talk on her behalf and Sangha members shared their experiences with susan. Andy/susan’s talk can be heard here. The Turtle, by Mary Oliver, is a poem that susan felt captured her essence and can be found here.
The depth of our grief and gratitude is unfathomable. The Sacramento Dharma Center, one of susan’s gifts to her practice and us, and susan’s family will hold a memorial service, at a date and time to be announced. We welcome your memories of susan and encourage you to share them on the Sacramento Dharma Center Facebook page, the sheets of paper in the break room, and to info@sacdharma.org
susan asked that donations in her memory be made to the David Samuel Orr Fund for the Earth (www.dsoffte.org) and the Sacramento Dharma Center (www.sacdharma.org). susan’s son David died at the age of 24, just as he was beginning his work in environmental and tribal justice. The family-run David Samuel Orr Fund continues his work. Our Dharma Center – dedicated to bringing compassion and wisdom to community – would not be here if it were not for susan, both as a founding ‘now ancestor’ and as the guiding shepherd who encouraged and loved each of us day after day, year after year, until the final hours of her life. All donations to the Center in susan’s memory will be restricted to manifesting and dedicating an outdoor space to susan.
With Love and Gratitude,
Julia Mullen, Board President
On behalf of the Sacramento Dharma Center

The Dharma Center Bird Sanctuary

Sacramento Dharma Center  is set up to be a welcoming sanctuary—and nesting birds have taken us at our word and moved on in. Two nests occupied by fledglings have been spotted this season on the grounds.

The most curious case is that of the tiny hummingbird’s nest that was delicately hidden inside a loop of a rope, one of a pair of rough strands that holds up a wooden sounding board under our eaves. Once a week the board is loudly and rhythmically struck, propelling the board and the ropes back and forth. The saying, “Great is the Matter of Life and Death,” is painted on one side and is a traditional Zen reminder to practice and be awake each moment. Apparently, the pair of baby birds did not seem to mind being awakened each week by the racket or having their nest suddenly launched into motion. Of course, once their camouflaged nest was spotted, the weekly hammering was suspended.

Another nest holds significantly larger birds. Three fledging Cooper’s hawks live high up in an ash tree. They are growing fast and are just about ready to fly off. They stand on the edge of their nest and repeatedly test their wings. Already one of the siblings is able to make short flights to branches around their nest, almost urging the others to join in.

Join us for a hawk blessing ceremony July 3rd.  Come at 7:30 for spotting and iced tea followed by the ceremony at 8pm. Bring your binoculars, spotting scopes, friends, and children!

Your Chance to View and Comment on the November 5th Presentation

For Your Perusal…
 
 Presentation by Lynelle and Steve McNiel, November 5, 2017
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OPTIONS FOR SACRAMENTO DHARMA CENTER
The originals of the drawings in this presentation will be on display at the Center in the west lobby until at least the end of the year. They are being presented here in order to reach more of our participants and to allow you some time to study them. We encourage your comments! Please be patient! There is a lot to look at.
In the west lobby along with the originals of the conceptual drawings, is a basket and some 3″ x 5″ cards. Please use them to write to us to identify why you like or dislike a plan or element. You may also email your comments to info@sacdharma.org

Click on this link to view presentation 

~ Comments appreciated by the end of the year ~

Nov. 5th Celebrate our First Full Year Together

You’re invited to Sacramento Dharma Center’s
One-Year Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
1:30 – 2:00 ~ Meet and greet
2:00 – 2:15 Welcome ~ The first year in review
2:15 – 2:30 ~ A few words from the Sanghas
2:30 – 3:00 ~ Envisioning presentation
3:00 – 4:00 ~ Sharing Ideas, tea, and cookies
 
“I am so moved by the way we have been co-creating this home for the Dharma. It feels to be a particularly auspicious moment – celebrating our harmonious intentions when our country is so fraught with conflict. May what we do truly benefit the end of suffering for all.”
Susan Orr, SDC president