Compassion in
Action
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...
Flowing River Sangha Fall Sesshin October 3-5
Dear Friends, Flowing River Sangha is offering a wonderful opportunity to join us for a weekend Sesshin (silent retreat) October 3-5, 2025. We have secured space at the beautiful in Glen Summit (near Mountaintop, Pa). The retreat center is housed in the former Kirby...
Zazenkai and Pot Luck at the Pond
This past weekend, we gathered under blue skies and golden fields for a day of deep stillness, walking meditation, and heartfelt community at Beth Black’s beautiful pond. From the quiet of zazen on the deck to shared laughter over homemade dishes under the trees, the...
Celebrating Sr Janet Roshi’s 100th Birthday!
A joyful gathering marked a truly extraordinary milestone, Sr. Janet Richardson’s 100th birthday. Friends, family, colleagues, and members of her spiritual communities came together to honor a life rooted in compassion, justice, and contemplative depth. Sr. Janet, a...
Peace and Justice Center Camp for Kids Mindfulness and Art
At the Peace and Justice Center Camp for Kids at Gather in Wilkes-Barre, young campers were invited into a calming and creative experience of mindfulness through meditation and art. Led by Polly James Sensei and Beth Black, children explored inner peace and presence...
Walking Gently – Five Precepts Through Alaskan Native and Zen Wisdom
Today we shared a Dharma talk exploring the five Buddhist Precepts through the lens of Zen teachings and Alaskan Native cultural wisdom. It invites reflection on reverence for life, generosity, ethical relationship, truthfulness and clarity of mind as lived...
Deep Gratitude for Your Generosity!
Congratulations to Dominic Yannuzzi, PE! Dominic has been named the 2025 Robert E. Pearson Person of the Year by the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE)! This prestigious award celebrates individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the...
A Jukai Ceremony in Our Own Zendo!
The members of Flowing River Sangha were filled with gratitude during their Zazenkai on Feb 1 as one of their own completed her Jukai ceremony. This is the first time that Flowing River has had a Jukai ceremony in our own Zendo! We thank Daisetsu for traveling from...
Shukke Tokudo Ceremony
Another first for our Sangha! Gessho Sensei has taken a big step and made a deep commitment when, on Saturday, she took vows in a Shukke Tokudo ceremony to become a Zen priest with 3 other candidates from Red Rose Sangha and Clare Sangha. We are so, so grateful for...