History

After returning from a retreat with Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh in 2004, Warren and Marion Lang along with John Thomas and Kathy Ruggles began to meet regularly to continue practicing mindfulness together over a mindful meal. Warren and Marion Lang along with John Thomas and Kathy Ruggles formed a sangha and began practicing together with area friends—enjoying sitting meditation, mindful meals and studying the dharma.  The sangha has evolved into a weekly Sunday meeting. For many years, we met in a renovated eight-sided schoolhouse set above a beautiful marsh and wildlife area in Downsville, WI.  We have hosted Days of Mindfulness with Dharma teacher Jack Lawlor for the past five years,  In 2018 we hosted a Day of Mindfulness led by eight Plum Village monastics.  We also have enjoyed annual visits and Dharma talks by Dharma Field teachers Steve Hagen, Norm Randolph, and Steve Matuszak.

Facilitators

Warren and Marion Lang are the primary facilitators and organizers of Red Cedar Buddha Sangha.

Warren Lang has been studying and practicing Buddhism in the Soto Zen tradition for more than 30 years under the guidance of Steve Hagen, dharma heir of Katagiri Roshi and founder of Dharma Field Zen Center in Minneapolis.  He has also attended numerous retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh and with Jack Lawlor, a teacher in the Thich Nhat Hanh lineage.  Warren received lay ordination from Steve Hagen in 2001 and took the vows of the Five Mindfulness Trainings in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh in 2018.

Marion Lang has been studying and practicing in the Zen Buddhist tradition of her teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and has attended retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh and Jack Lawlor.  She has taken Buddhist vows in Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition and has received ordination into Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing.

Marion and Warren Lang also facilitate a Mindfulness Practice Group in Menomonie meeting regularly on Wednesdays.