Flowing River Sangha

Rooted in presence, united in practice—supporting each other on the path to compassionate living through Zen meditation.
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Person in a meditative pose.

About Flowing River Sangha

We are an interfaith gathering of people who support one another in the practice of Zen meditation. This practice can deepen the roots of one’s faith tradition or simply open the way to a spiritual life grounded in the reality of the present moment. Zen allows us to flow through life with more equanimity so that we might engage in compassionate action.

Inclusivity and Non-Discrimination

Flowing River Sangha is committed to fostering an environment of purposeful inclusion for all people. We recognize that human suffering and feelings of separateness often arise from systems of discrimination and prejudice. In response, we strive to be a community that genuinely welcomes everyone and supports each person in living a life rooted in harmony and peace.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where all voices and identities are valued. Our commitment includes restoring wholeness within the Sangha by empowering those whose embodiment has historically been marginalized, suppressed, or devalued. We honor diverse spiritual expressions and affirm the inseparability of individual and collective liberation.

We respect and celebrate our differences, and we encourage open, compassionate communication so that any ethical concerns or conflicts that arise can be fully heard and addressed with care.

Our Code of Ethics and Grievance & Reconciliation Policy outlines the principles and processes that guide this commitment.
Document date: 11/16/2025.

Compassion in Action

Serving Our Camp Orchard Hill Neighbors

Serving Our Camp Orchard Hill Neighbors

Flowing River Sangha came together in compassionate action to support our unhoused neighbors at Camp Orchard Hill. Sangha members prepared and served a warm breakfast while also assembling and distributing knapsacks filled with essential supplies to help individuals...

Fall Sesshin October 2025

Flowing River Sangha recently held its Fall Sesshin, a three-day silent retreat where we spent the weekend in communal sacred silence. We are so grateful to our head monk Beth for her work in organizing an event that kept us "flowing" together seamlessly from zazen to...

Sangha at Weinberg Regional Food Bank

Our Sangha came together in the spirit of service at the Weinberg Regional Food Bank. With care and dedication, we boxed six pallets of food that will help nourish seniors in our community. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of collective action and mindful...

Stacked rocks

Finding Balance & Peace

Meditation offers a pathway to finding balance and peace by quieting the mind and tuning into the present moment. Through regular practice, we learn to release stress, let go of distractions, and cultivate inner stillness. As we connect more deeply with ourselves, we begin to respond to life’s challenges with greater calm and clarity, allowing peace to grow from within. Meditation helps us embrace each moment with a sense of groundedness, fostering a balanced life centered in mindfulness and compassion.
Two people standing near green bush.

Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.

― Dalai Lama

Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong.

– Zen Proverb

All that we are, is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.

― Buddha