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“Tranquility is still, and wisdom is flowing. We practice meditation to calm the mind, to make it still, and then it can flow. Although we understand that still water doesn’t flow, and we understand that flowing water isn’t still, when we practice we take hold of both stillness and flow. The mind of a true practitioner is like still water that flows, or flowing water that’s still. Still, flowing water.”

Ajahn Chah

Still Flowing Water Hermitage is a temple of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives which was founded in 1970 by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett in the Soto Zen tradition. Still Flowing Water Hermitage aspires to offer self-tailored retreats to those experienced in the practice of Soto Zen Buddhism, in a quiet and secluded natural setting. We are currently located in Dutch Flat, a tiny village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 25 miles east of Auburn, California. We are not yet as secluded as we would like to be, but we do now have the facilities to begin offering retreats to individuals. If you are interested, please use the contact page to inquire.

Rev. Vivian Gruenenfelder was ordained in the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives in 1998, and was given Dharma Transmission by her Master in 2003. On 25 January 2023, Rev. Master Haryo Young, the Head of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, named her a Master of the Order (Roshi). She is Still Flowing Water Hermitage’s resident monk and serves the Bear River Meditation Group, which meets on Monday evenings in Applegate, California, or on Zoom. For more information please see their website, bearrivermeditationgroup.org. The Bear River Meditation Group serves Citrus Heights, Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Meadow Vista, Weimar, Colfax, Dutch Flat, Grass Valley, and Coloma, California, as well as points in between.

Rev. Vivian also offers meditation instruction, Dharma teaching, spiritual counseling, and Buddhist ceremonies. These ceremonies include morning, midday, and evening service; funerals, memorials, and weddings; animal blessings, funeral, and memorial services; house and office blessings; and naming ceremonies. We also offer festival ceremonies for special occasions like Buddhist Wesak and Buddhist New Year.