Heart of Compassion Zen Sangha
The Heart of Compassion Zen Sangha is a member-community of Everyday Zen and Branching Streams, West Marin, CA. Donations: westmarincommunityservices.org/donate. Please scroll down to "Where can we designate your gift?" and indicate HOC sangha.
HOC - April 24, 2026 - "The Ingredients of Our Life" - Jaune Evans and Wendy Johnson
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
HOC - April 17, 2026 - "...even wild grasses..." - Irene Borger - "Who is Cooking Alongside You?" - Barbara Bernier
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
HOC - April 10, 2026 - "Simple and Delicious, Nothing Extra" - Jaune Evans
Source book: "How to Cook Your Life", By Dōgen and Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi; translated by Thomas Wright
HOC - April 3, 2026 - 'How To Cook Your Life' - Wendy Johnson
Source book: 'How To Cook Your Life' Dogen with commentary by Kōshō Uchiyama Rōshi
HOC - March 27, 2026 - “Universal Self, No Self & Self: Reflections on the Embodiment of Understanding” - Jane Flint
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
HOC - March 20, 2026 - "Perfection of Understanding" - Jaune Evans
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
HOC - March 13, 2026 - "Understanding Beyond Words" - Wendy Johnson
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
HOC - March 6, 2026 - "Perfection of Wisdom" - Jaune Evans
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
HOC - February 27, 2026 - "Taking the Backwards Step: Zen Practice of Meditation" - Wendy Johnson, Sangha
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
Also, reference made to Kaz Tanahashi's work: "Treasury of True Dharma Eye" -Appendix 1: "Recommending Zazen to All People" by Dogen
HOC - February 20, 2026 - "Paramita of Meditation, Part 2" - Jaune Evans
Source book: "The World Could Be Otherwise" by Norman Fischer
HOC - February 13, 2026 - "Paramita of Meditation" - Jaune Evans, Wendy Johnson, & Sangha
This recording begins with a YouTube clip from the Monks Walk for Peace. A talk given at the end of their walk at American University.
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - February 6, 2026 - The Perfection of Meditation - Jaune Evans
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - January 30, 2026 - "Joyful Effort, Joy for Our Humanity" - Barbara Bernier and Panel
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - January 23, 2026 - 'Joyful Effort: Integrity, Hope, and Courage' - Barbara Bernier and Panel
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - January 16, 2026 - "Joyful Effort, Working with Our Vows" - Barbara Bernier and Panel
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - December 19, 2025 - "Practicing Patience in Challenging Times"- Wendy Johnson and Sangha*
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
* At the tail end of the recording after most people had signed off, Melissa Nelson recited a prayer for the winter solstice. She opened the winter solstice event at the Mill Valley Public Library the evening before with this invocation acknowledging this sacred gem of place we live in here in Marin County. It begins at about the 42:15 minute mark.
HOC - December 12, 2025 - "Practicing Patience With All Beings" - Wendy Johnson
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - December 5, 2025 - "Buddha's Day of Awakening 2025" - Jaune Evans
HOC - November 21, 2025 - "Beyond Ethical Conduct" - Jaune Evans
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - November 14, 2025 - "Ethical Conduct and Peacekeeping" - Wendy Johnson
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - November 7, 2025 - "The Perfection of Ethical Conduct" - Jaune Evans
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - October 31, 2025 - "The Skillful Means of Generosity" - Wendy Johnson, Jaune Evans
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
Please note that around the 6 minute mark and again at the 23 minute mark there are interruptions in the recording. Yet, nothing is really lost. Apologies for the loss of flow.
HOC - October 24, 2025 - "Generosity Sets Things in Motion" - Barbara Bernier and Irene Borger
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - October 17, 2025 - "The Perfection of Generosity" - Jaune Evans, Wendy Johnson, and Sangha
Source book: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
HOC - October 10, 2025 -"Sending and Receiving Imagination" - special guest: Norman Fischer
Sangha is reading: 'The World Could Be Otherwise' by Norman Fischer
Note: the recording has a glitchy patch from minute 7:46 through to 9:12 and at 9:05 it is silent until 9:12. (The recorders internet connection was unstable.)
During the glitchy time, Norman is speaking about the philosopher John Sallis and refers to Sallis' book: Force of Imagination: The Sense of the Elemental (Studies in Continental Thought)
HOC - October 3, 2025 - "Finding Your Standing Stone" - Wendy Johnson, Harmony Grisman
HOC - September 26, 2025 - "A Pocket Book of Paramitas" - Jaune Evans and Sangha
Source book: The World Could Be Otherwise by Norman Fischer
HOC - September 19, 2025 - "Seeing With Dark-Adjusted Eyes" - Wendy Johnson
Source book: The World Could Be Otherwise by Norman Fischer
HOC - September 12, 2025 - "Imagination is a Key Site of Spiritual Practice" - Jaune Evans
HOC - September 5, 2025 - "Our Heart of Compassion Circle of Belongingness" - Jaune Evans and Sangha
Please note that at the 40:15 min mark there was a mysterious interruption and the beginning portion of Larry's share is not in this recording.
HOC - August 28, 2025 - Green Gulch Retreat - "Into the Tangle; Gardening at the Dragon's Gate" - Wendy Johnson and Sangha
HOC - August 29, 2025 - Green Gulch Retreat - "Soil Kinship" Jaune Evans and Sangha
HOC - August 22, 2025 - "Ryokan's Path to Freedom" Part 2 - Jaune Evans and Wendy Johnson
HOC - August 15, 2025 - "Ryokan's Path to Freedom" Part 1 - Jaune Evans
HOC - June 20, 2025 - "Sangha Reflections On the 14 Tiep Hein Precepts" - Jaune Evans, Wendy Johnson, and Sangha
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
HOC - June 13, 2025 -"Precept 14: 'Stepping Off Into the Unknown, Being Wonderfully Together'" - Jaune Evans
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
Precept 14: Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect, preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.
HOC - June 6, 2025 - "Precept 13: 'Possess Nothing That Should Belong to Others'"- Wendy Johnson, Marty Frankel, and Sangha
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
Precept 13: Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
HOC - May 30, 2025 - "Precept 12: 'Do Not Kill'" - Jaune Evans, Nora Burnett
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
12. Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.
Note: This recording begins with Jaune reading the 14 Precepts. It completes at the 12:50 mark.
HOC - May 25, 2025 - "Precept 11: 'Do Not Live with a Vocation that is Harmful to Humans and Nature....'" - Jaune Evans, Jane Flint
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
11. Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realize your ideal of compassion.
HOC - May 16, 2025 - "Precept 10: 'Not Using Our Spiritual Community for Personal or Political Gain'" - Jaune Evans, Wendy Johnson
Source: Thich Nhat Hanh, Tiep Hein Precepts, 1966
10. Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
