Rev. Sarika Dharma; Head Monk at Buddhist Center in L.A.

The Rev. Sarika Dharma, 58, head monk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center in Los Angeles. Brought up in Van Nuys as Renee Gail Richmond, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and master’s in speech communication at Cal State Northridge. She began studying Buddhism after the breakup of her 12-year marriage and was ordained in Taiwan in 1977. Seeing a need for ministry to gay women, Dharma established a Lesbian Zen Group in Los Angeles and expanded its reach through the Internet. She also was active in the Gay Interfaith Clergy Assn. Dharma conducted workshops, classes and discussion groups on the status of women in Buddhism. On Sunday in St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica of cardiac arrest.