Sacramento Dharma Center

Walk Through The Doors to Our Proposed Dharma Home!

February 26, 2016

Come to our open house Saturday, March 5th

Noon – 2pm at 3111 Wissemann Drive!

Over five years ago, three meditation-based Buddhist Sanghas joined together in a search for a home to share that would accommodate and encourage the expanding interest in meditation and Buddhist practice in Sacramento. Each Sangha was experiencing growing pains, or problems finding rental space for regular meetings as well as for classes and daylong retreats.

Many hours, many properties, and many discussions later, a property has been found, full of promise – and a few challenges – a 7,930 square foot building with lofty ceiling on 1.7 acres, about ½ mile from two light rail stations, and with plenty of parking. The building is spacious, with room for meditation halls, a library, a classroom, offices, a conference room, and two kitchens. The grounds are large, surrounded by trees, with ample space for walking meditation, gardens, perhaps a playground? Perhaps a labyrinth?

Escrow was opened on February 16th, and our time for “due diligence” with building inspections and neighborhood outreach has begun. We are working closely with Kari Bryski, our broker, to ensure the property meets our needs.

Fundamental to our process is hearing from YOU,
our community members!

So please, please, please — come one and come all to the Open House March 5th. There will be refreshments and tours, opportunities to meander the building and the grassy grounds, envisioning use of space, envisioning new programs, envisioning what the Dharma Center could mean to your practice and to the practice of others, and envisioning our legacy to future practitioners. Your questions, suggestions and ideas for embracing the opportunities and dealing with the challenges will be welcomed, as would be your energy and enthusiasm as volunteers and donors to make this dream a reality.

For more pics

Wonderful News!!!

February 17, 2016

The dream of a dedicated Dharma Center in Sacramento came closer to reality today! Sacramento Dharma Center has entered into escrow on a lovely property in the bucolic College Greens neighborhood off Folsom Boulevard near Watt Avenue.

It’s an important step in a process that was begun in the winter of 2011 when the Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group, Sacramento Insight Meditation and Valley Streams Zen Sangha joined forces. The vision was to create a sanctuary and community practice center where Buddhist meditation groups can practice, following their diverse traditions, and offer programs, classes and retreats for the community under one roof.

The building, at 3111 Wissemann Drive, is easily accessed by freeway and light rail and offers ample parking. Original hopes to locate a Dharma Center in central Sacramento shifted when the cost of such a building with adequate parking and grounds for walking meditation proved to be prohibitively expensive.

Airy and full of natural light, the building on Wissemann Drive was built in 1982, and has been home to a credit union. SDC and Sangha board members who have visited, believe it can easily be transformed into a dedicated refuge for the three Sustaining Sanghas, all of whom are currently renting space in and around Sacramento.

The 7,900 square-foot building, situated on 1.7 acres, features two large rooms with vaulted ceilings and expansive windows that open onto a spacious lawn with trees. The building has two kitchens, several offices and small meeting rooms as well. Requiring few immediate renovations, the property appears to be move-in ready and can accommodate 48 cars on site with additional street parking available.

While negotiating for the purchase of this building we have had positive meetings with the nearby neighborhood association, with city officials who are handling the City Permit application process, and with lenders.

While financing has been pre-approved through the Center’s credit union, to achieve an affordable monthly payment, we will be launching a full-court press to raise additional funds for the initial down-payment and necessary improvements. To that end, we have been working these last few weeks with a fund-raising consultant, whose services were donated by a generous benefactor. On the consultant’s recommendation a variety of fund-raising strategies are under consideration, and more information will be shared with the participating Sanghas soon.

The tentative date for an open house is March 5th from noon to 2pm – Stay tuned here for confirmation and details. In the meantime, you can drive by and take a look. Our Board will proceed with thorough inspections of the roof, air conditioning and heating systems, plumbing and electrical services at the site, to ensure all is well before closing the purchase.

It is important for us all to continue to remember that we are still in the process of purchasing this property and have many hoops and inspections to get through in the 90 day escrow period. Surprises can happen! Sacramento Dharma Center Board invites you to join us in guarding your hearts by practicing the Lojong phrase ‘Abandon all hope of fruition’.And you are invited to join us in visualizing moving in, with prayer flags flying.

More Photos of 3111 Wissemann Drive

February 17, 2016

To enjoy more photos click on the title of this news post! Take a ride by. Open House coming soon.

Look Who's Talking about SDC!

February 11, 2016

The February 11th Business Journal has a wonderful article about SDC board member Helen Hobart’s work as a staff chaplain at the The Sutter Center for Psychiatry. In the article she also talks about the Dharma Center and our vision.

We are so fortunate to have Helen on our Board – here is a bit of what she said about us:

“Outside the workplace, Hobart does have an agenda, however: building the Sacramento Dharma Center, a sanctuary that would represent three Buddhist meditation groups to accommodate the growth of the religion in the greater Sacramento area. ‘The region has a long Buddhist history,’ she says. ‘But there’s a growing interest in meditation – an outgrowth of people wanting their lives to be less stressful.’ ”

“Hobart says that the people involved with the Dharma Center project have raised $430,000 so far toward its construction. ‘We want to raise a million dollars,’ she says, ‘and we’re going to do it – this year, I hope. Maybe it won’t be a perfect building but our goal is to be open every day and be in a convenient location. We’re going to open the doors when it’s completed and say, ‘Y’all come!’ ”

Read the entire article here.

Opening in 2016 is our Goal!

January 16, 2016

Throughout the fall, you’ve been hearing about investigations to obtain a building for our Founding Sanghas to call home and it’s high time we updated you on where we are looking, what we are looking for, and the preferences that guide our search. Based on a five-year-old survey of Sangha members’ preferences we have been searching for a space in the central Sacramento area.

While we are still searching in the central city, we’ve come to realize that focusing on this area may not meet our need for adequate parking, outdoor space, and affordability – so we are considering the pros and cons of expanding our search area.

A convenient, accessible location remains uppermost in our search. Sangha members want to be able to take a bike ride, bus, or light rail to the Dharma Center. We also consider safety, availability of amenities such as restaurants in the area, and outdoor space for walking meditation.

Our Dharma community is growing! We need to be able to accommodate the Sanghas’ expanding space needs for classes, retreats, sittings, special events, board meetings, and regular programs – this will require a space large enough for two events at the same time.

Our type of activities will require an assembly permit from the City of Sacramento and makes it difficult to locate in residential areas – a mixed use or commercial area would be easier. We have prioritized finding a property with an existing assembly permit and have found them to be few and far between.

During 2015, we reviewed over 15 properties and seriously considered 3 of them, alas, manifestation as our Dharma Center didn’t happen. The board of one property did not accept our offer and it was taken off the market; the owners of another property received a better offer before we were in contract; and a third was expensive and did not have space for walking meditation.

The shiny aspect of all our exploring is that our Board is stronger than ever; our Founding Sanghas offer us support and encouragement; and our Sangha communities have opened their pockets with funds and their hearts with hope.

2016 is the year. Our dharma center will offer sanctuary, depth of practice, and refuge. This dream is unshakable. Welcome to this New Year! Thank you for your practice.

Who really really wants a Dharma Center?

December 13, 2015

So — who’s behind the Dharma Center? Who are these people that want to actually acquire a physical home, for practicing this dharma path of kindness and wisdom? My friends? Here’s a great collection of photos where you can see some of the generous friends who have chosen to build the SDC Sustaining Circle. You’ll see members of Valley Streams Zen Sangha, Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group, and Sacramento Insight Meditation who are making the vision come real for 2016 ~ come join us!

Doralee: "It is through engaging in diversity that our practice deepens." — Doralee: “It is through engaging in diversity that our practice deepens.”

Angela: "I'm wanting us to have access to the persuasive choices that only a dedicated space will bring us." — Angela: “I’m wanting us to have access to the persuasive choices that only a dedicated space will bring us.”

Brandon: "The Dharma Center is really important because of what my sangha has done for me. I hope SDC can do the same for others" — Brandon: “The Dharma Center is really important because of what my sangha has done for me. I hope SDC can do the same for others”

Chris became part of the Sustaining Circle: "because it would really be nice to have our own place!" — Chris became part of the Sustaining Circle: “because it would really be nice to have our own place!”

Heather: “I make it a practice in my life to be on the look out for opportunities to give back, especially to the dharma, which has transformed my life. So when SBMG asked me to consider joining the SDC Sustaining Sangha, I was delighted to support the efforts to manifest our next local meditation center, in Sacramento. I hope everyone else feels inspired to give what they can too! Money, time, skills, good wishes - they all help grow our local communities.” — Heather: “I make it a practice in my life to be on the look out for opportunities to give back, especially to the dharma, which has transformed my life. So when SBMG asked me to consider joining the SDC Sustaining Sangha, I was delighted to support the efforts to manifest our next local meditation center, in Sacramento.
I hope everyone else feels inspired to give what they can too! Money, time, skills, good wishes – they all help grow our local communities.”

Joe: "It's time to have our own home." — Joe: “It’s time to have our own home.”

Julia: "I want a clubhouse for Buddhists -- to be of service to our community!" — Julia: “I want a clubhouse for Buddhists — to be of service to our community!”

Cathy: "I like the idea of having all the sanghas working together, having a place in the community where people can come." — Cathy: “I like the idea of having all the sanghas working together, having a place in the community where people can come.”

Kent: After a long day and then setting up the audio system for Sunday's meeting, then packing up, and returning the equipment to storage. We asked why he became a sustaining donor?: "I'm tired of setting things up and putting them away." — Kent: After a long day and then setting up the audio system for Sunday’s meeting, then packing up, and returning the equipment to storage. We asked why he became a sustaining donor?: “I’m tired of setting things up and putting them away.”

Mark: "I want Sacramento to have a common center -- it's amazing and historical if we all come together." — Mark: “I want Sacramento to have a common center — it’s amazing and historical if we all come together.”

Karen: "A center for dharma in our town - for all - to sustain and maintain and remain. Let it be." — Karen: “A center for dharma in our town – for all – to sustain and maintain and remain. Let it be.”

Kenny: "Because our sanghas need a home." — Kenny: “Because our sanghas need a home.”

Oscar: "A dedicated practice-place will provide practical benefits, but what excites me most about a multi-tradition dharma center is how it will enhance possibilities for individual practice and for offering the gift of dharma to a world that needs it." — Oscar: “A dedicated practice-place will provide practical benefits, but what excites me most about a multi-tradition dharma center is how it will enhance possibilities for individual practice and for offering the gift of dharma to a world that needs it.”

Sarah: "A Dharma Center will give our three Buddhist sanghas in Sacramento a dedicated space to practice for the benefit of all beings." — Sarah: “A Dharma Center will give our three Buddhist sanghas in Sacramento a dedicated space to practice for the benefit of all beings.”

Andria: "I'm inspired by the greater possibility of a deep connection, a deepening of our community." — Andria: “I’m inspired by the greater possibility of a deep connection, a deepening of our community.”

Nikos: "A dharma center will be an invaluable venue to explore and practice meditation, mindful movement, and other tools to cultivate our innate goodness with the company and support of others. Co-creating a rich and inclusive culture of awakening for the benefit of all will also enhance the life of the larger community." — Nikos: “A dharma center will be an invaluable venue to explore and practice meditation, mindful movement, and other tools to cultivate our innate goodness with the company and support of others. Co-creating a rich and inclusive culture of awakening for the benefit of all will also enhance the life of the larger community.”

Bruce: Is a Sustaining donor and on the SDC Board.

Clem: "A tree needs roots, the dharma needs a home. Let us grow together and bear fruit." — Clem: “A tree needs roots, the dharma needs a home. Let us grow together and bear fruit.”

Jeff: "A home for our Sanghas brings opportunity to further develop our practice, both in frequency and in intensity. Established and dedicated toward open dialog and collaboration, we grow exponentially." — Jeff: “A home for our Sanghas brings opportunity to further develop our practice, both in frequency and in intensity. Established and dedicated toward open dialog and collaboration, we grow exponentially.”

Jim: "My heart’s desire is that the Sacramento Dharma Center will realize its mission - manifesting a Buddhist practice place that will be a creative presence for inner and outer peace in our community." — Jim: “My heart’s desire is that the Sacramento Dharma Center will realize its mission – manifesting a Buddhist practice place that will be a creative presence for inner and outer peace in our community.”

John: "I've had the wish for fruition of a dharma center home since I served on the SBMG board years ago. That wish lives on in the loving efforts of the SDC board now, and in all of us who contribute whatever we can." — John: “I’ve had the wish for fruition of a dharma center home since I served on the SBMG board years ago. That wish lives on in the loving efforts of the SDC board now, and in all of us who contribute whatever we can.”

Nicole: "I've been attending sangha about a year and a half, and have come to value the need for a physical place." — Nicole: “I’ve been attending sangha about a year and a half, and have come to value the need for a physical place.”

Cynthia: "My own practice has been greatly enriched by learning from and sharing with those whose hearts and minds have taken them down a different path along the wide Buddha Way. It is inspiring to me that people from several different Buddhist lineages are working together so diligently to create a true home for the Dharma in our community" — Cynthia: “My own practice has been greatly enriched by learning from and sharing with those whose hearts and minds have taken them down a different path along the wide Buddha Way. It is inspiring to me that people from several different Buddhist lineages are working together so diligently to create a true home for the Dharma in our community”