Welcome to San Francisco Zen Center, a place for reflection, connection, and engagement. Today, and for more than 50 years, this feeling of togetherness has been the heart of this community.
San Francisco Zen Center offers daily meditation schedules, classes, workshops and retreats, Dharma talks and guest speaker events, and a wide array of Dharma teachings. A place to meet, share and connect; to meditate and practice together.
Beginner's Mind Temple (City Center) is scheduled for an extensive renovation in 2024! We are creating a Welcome Center, upgrading bathrooms, adding an elevator to go from the basement to the third floor, and many other improvements that will help make Beginner's Mind Temple more welcoming and accessible for all for many years to come. See this page for details and closure information.
Each temple offers a Fall 2023 Practice Period:
Fall 2023 Practice Period at City Center led by Ryushin Paul Haller, October 2 – December 9, Residential and Visitor/Online options. Applications for residential participation are due by September 7; for visitor/online participation by September 24.
Fall 2023 Residential Practice Period: The Practice of Zazen led by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, October 18 – December 19. Applications are due by September 9.
Green Gulch Farm will also have the January 2024 Intensive led by Tenshin Reb Anderson, January 6 – 27. Applications are due by November 12.
While we remain committed to the health and safety of our residential and wider sangha, we deeply value the importance of gathering in person and sharing the Dharma in proximity with others. Please visit the Calendar page for more details or sign up for our weekly Sangha News email to receive notices of upcoming events. Health and Safety Requirements for each of the temples can be found here.
SFZC continues to offer classes, talks, workshops, and sangha gatherings through the Online Practice Center and residential guest student practice opportunities at all three temples.
No matter how or where we engage with each other, may the Dharma encourage, inspire, and support us to meet this moment with wisdom and equanimity.