Joining a cohort group provides a way to practice with a smaller group of practitioners who have a similar set of interests. Cohorts are typically led and developed by peers; they include a teacher as an advisor and have a clear dharmic purpose. The relationships developed in a cohort group often endure long after the activities of the group have come to an end. Any Sangha member may propose the formation of a group. Guidelines for the formation of cohort groups and a bit more context are found here. Individuals with a specific interest, purpose or other proposal can initiate the process of starting a cohort group by sending a proposal form to the Dharma Council. The proposal is then reviewed by the Dharma Council to see if it conforms with Dharma Rain’s Mission Statement and also in consideration of other matters including practicality, logistics or potential liability issues.
Prison Transition Group
The Prison Transition Group is a group of prison grads, volunteers, family members, and others with a connection to incarceration that meets monthly to check in, share experiences and support each other, and discuss the Dharma as it relates to prison transition and/or prison groups inside. The Prison Transition Group is associated with our Prison Program.
Daoren
Daoren refers to, dao, people on the spiritual path and to ren, the lotus of awakening. The purpose of the group is to strengthen and deepen one’s personal practice by working with a set of common and individual vows.
Daroren members take vows in the spirit of Dogen’s philosophy of gyogi or continuous practice. We strive for transparency by mutually supporting individual practice and offering accountability to one another and to the sangha. Monthly meetings facilitate this practice.
7-Up
The 7-Up cohort group is designed to address the needs of senior practitioners in the community. This discussion group is open to Dharma Rain members who have had at least seven years of practice in a meditation tradition. Not all of the years accrued have to have been at Dharma Rain, or even in the Zen tradition. Participants take turns introducing topics and facilitating the monthly meetings. The aim is for real and considered engagement without intellectualizing. For more information, contact Genko Rainwater.
Queer Cohort
The group is about seeing each other, sharing our lives and practice, enjoying each others’ company, and supporting each other as needed. We celebrate living our lives authentically in accordance with the Dharma. This group is for sangha members who identify as LGBTQ+
Zen Poets’ Society
To provide a space for sangha members to share poetry with one another. Many practitioners find poetic expression to be a core aspect of their practice and when poetry is shared it can widen the perspective of all those who are exposed and deepen intimacy within the sangha.
Zen and the Art of Psychotherapy
Our cohort group is for mental health professionals who are practitioners of Zen Buddhism. Our mission is to support and learn from one another and integrate and embody the dharma in our work and in our professional lives. This group is for licensed, prelicensed, graduate students and retired people who provide, will provide or have provided mental health care.
Hand-In-Hand
For sangha members who have interest in exploring topics related to death and dying as a part of their spiritual practice. Topics include a range of issues related to aging, dying, and death.