Overview

Schedule

"Elements of Religion"

Team Activities

Writing Assignments

> Source Analysis

> Site Observation

> Observation Report

Extra Credit

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Observation Guidelines - Local Sites

Site visits and interviews are designed to get you to experience first hand the people and behaviors linked to the Buddhist traditions studied in the course. In SacCT, you will sign up to visit a particular local worship site; you will then then visit the site at the scheduled time, observe participants, and interview one of them to get a sense of what they are thinking. This experience will serve as the foundation for the observation report. Choose a local place of worship

  • that you have NOT previously visited yourself and OR known much about from friends or family;

  • that is reasonably accessible (see me if you have problems with transportation or commute from a distance);

  • whose times of formal worship match your schedule. (I recommend going with at least one classmate, family member or friend.)

NOTE: I strongly recommend that you go with at least one classmate, family member or friend. Though the people in charge of these sites are always welcoming, you should take the same precautions as in any other public place.

IMPORTANT: you must observe one of events listed on this page, not simply visit the site and talk to people. Although you may at other times have interesting informal interactions with community members there, it will be difficult to tell what they normally do when outsiders are not present based exclusively on such interactions.

Primarily Immigrant Communities

For Unit 2 (report due 3/31)

Buddhist Church of Sacramento
(Japanese Pure Land Community)
2401 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento 95818
(916) 446-0121, Sundays 9:30 am

[check out also Nichiren Church, 5191 24th Street;
most Sundays 10 am, but call ahead: 456-8371]

City of the Dharma Realm
(Chinese Buddhist Monastery for Nuns)
1029 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento 95691 374-8268
every day 12:30 pm, & 6 pm (by appt); Sundays 8:30 am

Kim Quang Temple (Vietnamese Buddhist)
[English language translation by Google]
3119 Alta Arden Expressway, Sacramento 95825, (916) 481-8781
NOTE: events mostly in Vietnamese, but very welcoming!

For Unit 3 (report due 4/22)

Wat Sacramento Buddhavanaram
(Thai Theravada Monastery & Temple)
151 South Avenue, Sacramento (Natomas)

every day evening (7/8 pm), but hours change,
so call (916) 925-1579 & ask for Niwat

Wat Lao Saoputh Buddhist Temple
(Laotian Theravada Buddhist Monastery)
8741 Gerber Road, Sacramento 95828, 420-2259

prayers every day pre-dawn (5/6 am) and evening (6/7 pm);
also daily offering of food to monks between 10 & 11 am
--but call ahead (ask for English speaker Ajan King)

Assimilated American Buddhists

For Unit 2 (report due 3/31)

Valley Streams Zen Sangh
[meets at:] 887 57th Street #B, Sacramento, CA 95819
("Yoga Solution" in Antique Mall, Between H and J Streets)
(916) 456-7752
(most Monday nights 7-8:45, but double check on-line calendar)

NOTE: this is an American Zen group linked to the
San Francisco Zen Center, which you can also visit
5:25 am & 5:40 pm daily & Saturdays 6:30 am-12 pm)

For Unit 3 (report due 4/22)

Lion's Roar Dharma Center
(Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center)
@ Sacramento Friends Meeting Hall, 890 57th Street, SAC
Mondays, 7-8:30 pm; 1st-2nd Sundays, 7-8:30 pm;
[IMPORTANT: do NOT use the 3rd Sunday beginner's program,
which is too general in nature] & 1st Sundays, 10-11:30 am

[check out also the Bodhicitta Center of Sacramento,
followers of Tibetan Lama Gursam Rinpoche;
contact 530-756-2671 or toheart@omsoft.com
for information about October-November programs ]

 

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