Monday, April 25th at 4pm - Thursday, April 28th at 1:30pm
Welcome! We are looking forward to meeting you at the Branching Streams Conference this Spring.
The theme of the Conference is Healing Relationships
After two years of uncertainty, change, and loss due to the Covid pandemic, heightening concerns about the climate crisis, increasing political polarization, and growing concern about racial and social injustice, we rejoice in the opportunity to gather in person. We have planned this conference to renew our connections with ourselves and one another, and to support one another as sangha leaders in meeting the challenges of this time.
The program includes an afternoon with poet Naomi Shihab Nye, a daylong workshop on The Work that Reconnects with Stephanie Kaza, Healing Circles, and many opportunities to connect with others and share skills and concerns informally.
The conference begins with welcoming and settling in from 4 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m, on Monday, April 25 and ends with lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 on Thursday, April 28.
Our hosting sangha is Austin Zen Center (AZC).
Their mission is “Cultivating Buddha’s wisdom and compassion deep in the heart of Texas.The Austin Zen Center community offers a haven of peace and harmony in which to engage in the task of self-discovery through Zen practice. Welcoming diversity, the practice of zazen is available to people of every race, religion, nationality, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability. Our wish is that all beings realize their true nature, which is grounded in our inherent wisdom and compassion.”
AZC invites conference participants to visit their temple and enjoy an afternoon reception immediately following the conference closing on April 28. Members of AZC are supporting the conference by coordinating registration, organizing transportation from the airport, working on Covid protocols, and doing many other behind the scenes tasks.
The Conference venue is Ancient Yoga Center
Ancient Yoga Center is situated in the heart of Texas hill country, on the 230 acre property of Radha Madhav Dham, 30 minutes south of down-town Austin, Texas. The Center is known for its comfortable accommodations and delicious vegetarian food. Our conference housing will be in double rooms, each with its own bath.
COVID protocols
Ancient Yoga Center has protocols in place for its staff members as well as conference participants. These protocols are often updated, so stay tuned as the date approaches. In addition, our local committee has researched health and safety protocols. We will require full vaccination (including a booster), testing prior to flying and after arrival in Austin, and wearing KN95 or N95 masks in common spaces.