Year-End Annual Fund Drive

We bow in deep gratitude; thank you for being part of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center through your practice, volunteering, participation, or for financially supporting us. Together, we sustain this precious container of practice of the Way and help preserve the Buddha’s wisdom far into the future. This year has been one of rejuvenation and deep appreciation for our SMZC sangha extending to the larger maha-community, and none of it was possible without you!

Here are some 2025 highlights - In the spring, the Kwong family made a pilgrimage to Japan for Kashin’s Zuisse Ceremony, honoring her Dharma transmission and returning great blessings to our home temple, Rinsoin, and to the Soto Zen monasteries of Eiheiji, Daijoji, and Sojiji. In October, over 100 people gathered for Sonoma Mandala Coming Alive: Zen Conversations for a New Era, a heart-felt and inspiring dialogue between Kwong-roshi and Nyoze-osho, moderated by Peter Coyote. Coming together, we talked about ways to reignite SMZC’s temple-building project and sustain SMZC’s vision under pressure from the county. Other moments this year - rakusu sewing with Kashin preparing five students for Fall Jukai Buddhist precept Ceremony; Kettles’ Vietnamese celebration of Kwong-roshi’s 90th birthday; planning for 2026 Sangha House renovation; and continued progress on our sanmon temple gate. Hermitage Woodwork is fabricating the gate, and kawara roof tiles from Daibutsu in Japan will arrive in January 2026. Sanmon foundation and stairs will be poured beginning 2026, with the raising and dedication of the gate planned for spring. An entrance into the new beginnings for our temple grounds. SMZC life continues to flourish through the Kids “Under the Stars” program, intro to zen for Sonoma State University students, and the warm presence of Soto Zen guests and teachers from Japan. Volunteers have dedicated countless hours improving fire safety, clearing overgrowth, maintaining Trungpa Rinpoche and Suzuki Roshi stupas, repairing roofs and doors, replacing our more than 20-year well-worn kitchen stove and freezer, and caring for the land and facilities that support our daily practice.

Through all these activities, our continuous practice of the Way remains at the core of SMZC. Sitting zazen with each breath, we return to the instant before the present moment which is most essential: realizing our true self and caring for all things we encounter in our life. Join us in this endeavor. Please make your gift today to help sustain Sonoma Mountain Zen Center for the beneficial awakening and protection of all sentient beings. May this practice penetrate into all things in all places so that we with all sentient beings realize the Buddha Way.

Kyu-hai (nine bows)

Nyoze Kwong, Genjoji Jushoku