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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260930T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261205T180000
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CREATED:20260729T024458Z
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UID:10003549-1790796600-1796493600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:2026 Fall Practice Period at City Center\, 9/30–12/5
DESCRIPTION:The Six Paramitas: Bodhisattva Practices for an Uncertain World\nUse this page to register for RESIDENTIAL participation (living at 300 Page St. for the duration of the practice period). \nThere is also an Online/Commuter option. Commuters can attend in-person or online. \nThe Chinese symbol for Paramita literally means ‘crossing over to the other shore’. The Buddha said\, “Don’t just hope for the shore to come to you. If you want to cross over to the other shore\, the shore of safety\, well-being\, non-fear\, and non-anger\, you have to swim across or row across. You have to make an effort.” This effort is the practice of the Six Paramitas. ─ Thich Nhat Hanh \nThe six paramitas or ‘perfections’ are foundational Buddhist practices that guide individuals on the path to awakening. When practiced deeply\, each of these paramitas\, or far-reaching attitudes\, helps one transcend personal suffering and support others on their journey toward wisdom and peace. \nAccording to Mahayana Buddhism\, a bodhisattva (“Buddha-to-be”) naturally follows and embodies these six transcendental virtues: Generosity (Dana)\, Ethical Conduct (Sila)\, Patience/Forbearance (Kshanti)\, Diligence/Heroic Effort (Virya)\, Concentration/Meditation (Dhyana)\, and Wisdom (Prajna). \nThe perfections are not abstract ideals but practical methods for transforming the mind and our character. They are skillful means for seeing and studying Right Action. Generosity opens the heart. Ethical conduct builds moral stability. Patience protects the mind from anger. Diligence sustains effort. Meditation cultivates concentration. Wisdom reveals the true nature of reality. \nWhen practiced together\, these virtues create a balanced and compassionate life. They help practitioners move beyond selfishness and contribute to the well-being of all beings. Indeed\, these foundational practices are themselves expressions of the Awake Mind\, the mind of Buddha. By actively cultivating them\, we open the possibility of shaping the life we live today and the person we will become. \nAbout the Fall 2026 Practice Period\nThis is a traditional intensive training period common in the schools of Buddhism. This a chance to develop and deepen your practice together with others in a supportive environment and through activities: \n\nPractice Period Portal\nEight-Week Class\nWeekly Small Groups\nMorning and evening zazen\nWednesday and Saturday Dharma talks\nParticipants will also have the opportunity to meet individually with Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman and/or other practice leaders.\n\nOpen to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. \nPractice Period Schedule \n\nOrientation: Wednesday\, September 30 at 7:30 pm (part of the first Dharma talk)\nClasses led by Abbot David: 8 Mondays\, October 5–November 23\, 7:30-9:00 pm. The October 12 class will be online only due to the holiday.\nDharma talks: Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 pm and Saturdays 10:00-11:30 am\nOne-Day Sitting\, October 3\nThree-Day Sesshin\, November 5–7\, with a One-Day option on November 7 \nSeven-Day Rohatsu Sesshin\, November 28–December 5\n\nThere is no need to register individually for these programs\, they are included in the residential practice period. \nThe deadline for residential applications is September 4. Participants will be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/2026-fall-practice-period-at-city-center-9-30-12-5/
CATEGORIES:Practice Periods
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260930T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261205T180000
DTSTAMP:20261011T001248Z
CREATED:20260729T024503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261011T001248Z
UID:10003552-1790796600-1796493600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:2026 Fall Practice Period at City Center\, Online/Commuter 9/30–12/5
DESCRIPTION:The Six Paramitas: Bodhisattva Practices for an Uncertain World\nUse this page to register for ONLINE/COMMUTER participation. \nThere is also a Residential option (living at 300 Page St. for the duration of the practice period). \nThe Chinese symbol for Paramita literally means ‘crossing over to the other shore’. The Buddha said\, “Don’t just hope for the shore to come to you. If you want to cross over to the other shore\, the shore of safety\, well-being\, non-fear\, and non-anger\, you have to swim across or row across. You have to make an effort.” This effort is the practice of the Six Paramitas. ─ Thich Nhat Hanh \nThe six paramitas or ‘perfections’ are foundational Buddhist practices that guide individuals on the path to awakening. When practiced deeply\, each of these paramitas\, or far-reaching attitudes\, helps one transcend personal suffering and support others on their journey toward wisdom and peace. \nAccording to Mahayana Buddhism\, a bodhisattva (“Buddha-to-be”) naturally follows and embodies these six transcendental virtues: Generosity (Dana)\, Ethical Conduct (Sila)\, Patience/Forbearance (Kshanti)\, Diligence/Heroic Effort (Virya)\, Concentration/Meditation (Dhyana)\, and Wisdom (Prajna). \nThe perfections are not abstract ideals but practical methods for transforming the mind and our character. They are skillful means for seeing and studying Right Action. Generosity opens the heart. Ethical conduct builds moral stability. Patience protects the mind from anger. Diligence sustains effort. Meditation cultivates concentration. Wisdom reveals the true nature of reality. \nWhen practiced together\, these virtues create a balanced and compassionate life. They help practitioners move beyond selfishness and contribute to the well-being of all beings. Indeed\, these foundational practices are themselves expressions of the Awake Mind\, the mind of Buddha. By actively cultivating them\, we open the possibility of shaping the life we live today and the person we will become. \nAbout the Fall 2026 Practice Period\nThis is a traditional intensive training period common in the schools of Buddhism. This a chance to develop and deepen your practice together with others in a supportive environment and through activities: \n\nPractice Period Portal\nEight-Week Class\nWeekly Small Groups\nMorning and evening zazen\nWednesday and Saturday Dharma talks\nParticipants will also have the opportunity to meet individually with Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman and/or other practice leaders.\n\nAll classes will be recorded and available along with readings and other course materials through the online portal. We will contact you by email about small group scheduling. \nOpen to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. \nPractice Period Schedule \n\nOrientation: Wednesday\, September 30 at 7:30 pm PT (part of the first Dharma talk)\nClasses led by Abbot David: 8 Mondays\, October 5–November 23\, 7:30-9:00 pm PT. The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to the holiday.\nDharma talks: Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 pm PT and Saturdays 10:00-11:30 am PT.\nOne-Day Sitting\, October 3\nThree-Day Sesshin\, November 5–7\, with a One-Day Sitting option on November 7 \nThree-Day Rohatsu Sesshin\, December 3–5\n\nOnline/Commuter registration includes the ONLINE versions of the one-day and three-day sitting retreats. If you are a commuter student and wish to sit these retreats in-person at City Center\, you must register separately for the onsite versions (Saturday One-Day Sitting 10/3\, Three-Day Sesshin 11/5–11/7 or One-Day Sitting 11/7\, Rohatsu Sesshin\, City Center 11/28–12/5).
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/2026-fall-practice-period-at-city-center-online-commuter-9-30-12-5/
CATEGORIES:Practice Periods
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261007T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261219T120000
DTSTAMP:20260919T000312Z
CREATED:20260815T031349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260919T000312Z
UID:10004048-1791374400-1797681600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:2026 Tassajara Fall Practice Period\, ZMC 10/7–12/19
DESCRIPTION:The 116th Practice Period at Tassajara\nLed by Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel\nOctober 7 – December 19\, 2026\nApplication due date is September 30 \nAngo (Practice Period) offers a rare opportunity for experienced practitioners to immerse themselves in the intimacy and rigor of monastic practice at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji). \n\nSurrounded by the silence and natural beauty of the Ventana Wilderness\, we will devote ourselves to wholehearted practice through the rhythms of monastery life while exploring Eihei Dōgen Zenji’s Genjōkōan\, one of the most treasured and enduring teachings of Dōgen Zenji’s Shōbōgenzō. \nThe title Genjōkōan points to “reality fully manifesting here and now.” Rather than presenting enlightenment as something to attain\, Dōgen invites us to discover the inseparability of practice and realization in the midst of ordinary life. This fundamental question is not answered through ideas or philosophy\, but through meeting each moment completely: with this body\, this mind\, this work\, and this community. \nDuring these three months\, we will return again and again to Dōgen’s teaching of practice-realization (shushō ittō) and to his enduring words: \nTo study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by the myriad things. \nTogether we will explore what it means to allow the myriad things to illuminate us\, responding wholeheartedly to whatever arises and discovering the freedom that is already present within the ordinary activity of daily life. In this way\, our monastic life of forms and ceremonies itself becomes the living expression of the Genjōkōan. \nThrough a daily zazen schedule\, formal oryoki meals\, chanting services\, work practice\, study\, dharma talks & classes\, sesshins\, and one-on-one practice discussions with the Abbot and Tassajara’s resident teachers\,* we will continually return to Dōgen’s invitation to realize that as the whole moon is reflected in a single dewdrop on the grass\, nothing is outside this very moment. \nBesides a comparison of Genjōkōan translations\, our textual study will include readings from Shōhaku Okumura’s Realizing Genjōkōan: The Key to Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō\, Shinshū Roberts’s Meeting the Myriad Things: A Zen Practitioner’s Guide to Dōgen’s Genjōkōan\, and assorted other commentaries. \n*This ango may also include the presence of several visiting teachers\, including Sōshin Teah Strozer\, Kokyo Henkel\, and Gendō Lucy Xiao. \n\nFirst Month Only Option: Wednesday\, October 7–Monday\, November 2\nBecause there are many sangha members who would appreciate the opportunity to participate in the forms of a traditional ango but aren’t able to take three months away from their lives or work\, this Tassajara practice period will offer an opportunity for a limited number of practitioners to attend the first month only. During the first month there will be an emphasis on training in the Zen monastic forms and embodying their role in the practice of awakening. \n\nPrerequisites for participating in the first month of the practice period include having sat at least one traditional sesshin and the recommendation of a Zen teacher.\n\nParticipants for the first month will sit a minimum of two days of tangaryo. Please review the information and documents below the prerequisites section on this page and fill out the application\, which includes an option for this one-month participation. Please note that there are only a limited number of spots available for this first month only option. \nFull Practice Period Option: Wednesday\, October 7–Saturday\, December 19\nTo be considered for the full Fall 2026 practice period at Tassajara the following prerequisites must be fully met: \n\nCompletion of at least one two-month residential practice period at San Francisco Zen Center’s City Center or Green Gulch Farm. An exception may be made for those with comparable practice experience elsewhere; the applicant is asked to submit a letter of recommendation from their teacher.\nCommitment to participate in the full three months\nSubmitting a completed application by the September 30 deadline\nTuition paid in full before the start of the practice period\, or use of a practice period credit earned before arrival and approved by the applications committee\n\n* Applying as soon as possible helps Tassajara with the logistics of planning for the practice period; priority of acceptance will be given to those who apply early. \nWe encourage all students to be fully vaccinated against Covid. In addition\, testing and masking protocols may take place during the first few days of the practice period. Please carefully review the Tassajara Health & Safety Protocols. \nSEASONAL WEATHER CONCERNS\nBased on our past experience\, we expect that the seasonal rains will bring additional challenges to the monastery. These challenges include potential flooding as well as debris flow\, slides\, and erosion risks along the Tassajara road and throughout the valley. Due to these potential hazards\, Tassajara practice period participants have been requested to sign a Waiver of Liability\, which is included as a part of the online application form. \nPlease note: please be prepared for additional weather challenges given predictions that late fall 2026/winter 2027 may present a Super El Niño. \nImportant Practice Period Documents: \n\nZMC Practice Period Shingi\nVisitor Waiver\nWhat to Bring\nTassajara Zen Monastic Schedule
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/2026-tassajara-fall-practice-period-zmc-9-23-12-19/
CATEGORIES:Practice Periods
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261014T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261215T143000
DTSTAMP:20260918T232737Z
CREATED:20260510T214922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T232737Z
UID:10000194-1791990000-1797345000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:2026 Fall Practice Period at Green Gulch Farm\, GGF 10/14–12/15 – Waitlist Only
DESCRIPTION:The Fall 2026 Practice Period at Green Gulch Farm is an opportunity for beginning and experienced students to participate in an intense period of residential practice that centers around daily zazen\, work practice\, study\, and regular one-on-one meetings with the teacher. Weekly events include lectures\, formal ceremonies\, classes\, oryoki meals (formal meals in the meditation hall)\, and gatherings with the practice period teacher. Participants commit to stay in the Green Gulch valley during the entire nine weeks. \nThis practice period includes one day of tangaryo sitting\, a one-day sitting\, a five-day sesshin\, and a seven-day Rohatsu sesshin led by Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler. \nStudents who are accepted into practice period generally have participated in at least one all-day sit\, sesshin\, and/or a guest student stay at Green Gulch. If you do not have prior experience with Zen practice\, we strongly suggest completing a one-day sit or sesshin at Green Gulch before applying for the practice period. If you have questions about the practice period and aren’t sure if applying is right for you based on your practice experience\, please contact the Abbot’s assistant at ggfabbotassist@sfzc.org before applying. \nTo Apply:Please review the Practice Period Guidelines/Shingi before applying. Complete and submit a practice period application by the application deadline of September 15\, 2026. \nThe Practice Period Applications Committee will notify applicants as to whether they have been accepted to the practice period by September 8\, 2026. If you need to be notified about your acceptance earlier (for your planning purposes)\, please email ggfabbotassist@sfzc.org and let us know. \nFor questions or more information\, please contact the Abbot’s assistant at ggfabbotassist@sfzc.org.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/2026-fall-practice-period-at-green-gulch-farm-ggf-10-14-12-15/
CATEGORIES:Practice Periods
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T112000
DTSTAMP:20260918T223816Z
CREATED:20260918T223815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T223816Z
UID:10004606-1793527200-1793532000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Sunday 10:00am Dharma Talk: Stephanie Blank\, Livestream/Onsite 11/1
DESCRIPTION:Dharma talks by Zen teachers are a traditional method of transmitting the heart and understanding of Buddha’s Way. Public Dharma talks with follow-up Q&A are offered at Green Gulch Farm from 10:00–11:20 am every Sunday morning (with some exceptions) following zazen instruction at 8:15 am and an optional period of zazen (sitting meditation) from 9:30–10:00 am. After the talk\, informal tea with conversation is offered outside the zendo. \nThis public program is available in-person at Green Gulch Farm as well as online via Zoom; all are welcome. \n\nTo join the Dharma Talk using Zoom:\nMeeting ID: 264-616-8381Passcode: 805991 \nBy phone:+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)Find your local number
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/sunday-1000am-dharma-talk-stephanie-blank-livestream-onsite-11-1/
CATEGORIES:Dharma Talks
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T120000
DTSTAMP:20260925T000511Z
CREATED:20260510T214922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T000511Z
UID:10000197-1793527200-1793534400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Love and Power: Responding to Fear\, Online 11/1
DESCRIPTION:The Zoom link to participate in this event will be provided at least 24 hours before it begins. Please call 415-354-0360 if you have any questions. \n\nSunday\, November 1\, 10 am–12 pm PT \n\nA monk asked Ummon\, “What is the teaching of a whole lifetime?”Ummon replied\, “An appropriate response.”—Blue Cliff Record\, Case 14 \n\nResponding appropriately to the demands of life is a foundational practice for awakened living. In relationship with those we love\, and in meeting the wider world\, our capacity to respond with clarity and steadiness can feel obscured when fear arises. \nIn this day of practice\, we will gently and directly explore the nature of fear. How does fear take shape in body and mind? In what ways does it narrow our vision or limit our freedom? What becomes possible when we turn toward fear with awareness and compassion\, rather than turning away? How do we respond appropriately in fearful times? \nThrough zazen\, Dharma teachings\, guided reflection\, and discussion\, we will investigate how accepting fear—just as it is—can soften its grip. We will practice taking refuge in ways that no longer allow fear to stop or drive us\, instead establishing a path for appropriate response. \nThis registration is for the online workshop on Sunday\, November 1. There is a separate onsite workshop at City Center on Saturday\, October 31. Participants are welcome to register for either the onsite workshop\, the online workshop\, or both. \nTo meet the needs of all participants\, the online workshop will include a brief oral and visual review of content\, plus exercises that review and build on themes from the previous day. Guiding teacher Shosan Victoria Austin is giving a Dharma talk on Saturday at 10:15 am PT which will be live-streamed\, free of charge\, via the online zendo. \nAll course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/love-and-power-responding-to-fear-online-11-1/
CATEGORIES:Workshops and Retreats
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T170000
DTSTAMP:20260909T020143Z
CREATED:20260510T214922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T020143Z
UID:10000198-1793541600-1793552400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:A Ceremony for Those Who Have Died\, GGF 11/1
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, November 1\, 2 – 5 pm\, Green Gulch Farm \nIn this afternoon event\, people from all walks of life and loss gather to acknowledge and mourn the death of those who have died. We first create handmade offerings in the Japanese Buddhist tradition of Jizo Bodhisattva\, and then say goodbye in a ceremony of remembrance and letting go. Our time together ends with a procession to the garden\, where we tie paper prayers on the memorial cherry tree with the intention of nurturing the beings who have died and the beings who continue to live. \nThis memorial event originates in the Japanese Buddhist tradition of honoring of Jizo Bodhisattva. One of the most beloved figures of Japanese Buddhism\, Jizo statues are common on roadways\, in parks\, and in cemeteries\, where various items are placed on or near a statue as an offering and petition to Jizo to help guide and protect their loved ones as they make the passage from life into death. Everyone is welcome who has experienced a loss\, and friends and families have found it quite healing to attend together. You are welcome to bring children\, and please know there are several periods of quiet time. It works best if at least two adults attend the event so one can attend to the children if they are not able or willing to participate in the quiet time. There is outdoor space to explore/enjoy if this is the case. \n\nPart 1 of our time together is for creating personal\, unique fabric offerings to be used in the ceremony. We will provide fabric\, scissors\, needle\, and thread. You are welcome to bring your own fabric as well. Red is the traditional color used for Jizo offerings\, but it is not essential. Much of this time is spent in shared silence so we may each be with our own story and experience.\nPart 2 is a ceremony of dedication for those who have died. Everyone is invited to approach the altar\, which is adorned with flowers and statues of various figures of compassion\, including Jizo Bodhisattva\, Our Lady of Guadalupe\, St. Francis\, angels\, and the like. You can make an incense offering\, place your fabric creation on or with a compassion figure\, and speak aloud or silently communicate your wishes for the well-being of your loved ones.\nPart 3 is a silent group procession to the memorial garden\, where we hand tie paper prayers in a special cherry tree. There is time for lingering and enjoying the beauty of the garden\, and the beach is a 20-minute walk away for those with the time and energy.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/a-ceremony-for-those-who-have-died-ggf-11-1/
CATEGORIES:Family & Children's Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261101T181500
DTSTAMP:20260712T011407Z
CREATED:20260712T011248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260712T011407Z
UID:10002782-1793552400-1793556900@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Sunday Sangha with Senior Dharma Teacher Fu Schroeder
DESCRIPTION:Every Sunday\, 5:00–6:15 pm PT \nIn addition to the Online Zendo schedule and Dharma offerings of classes and lectures\, we offer a weekly drop-in Sangha Practice Session with Senior Dharma Teacher Fu Schroeder from Green Gulch Farm. This session is hosted on Zoom and features: \n\n5 minutes of silent sitting\nDharma offering from the Senior Dharma Teacher\nInteractive discussion with the teacher\nOpportunity for private interviews \n\nAll are welcome. Registration is not required. You can easily join using a computer\, laptop\, mobile device\, or phone. \nView previously recorded Thursday and Sunday Practice sessions. Select “Fu Sangha Sessions” from the menu. \n\nSupport SFZC Online Programs: \nPlease consider supporting our practice centers and our expanding online community.We are grateful for your support!Give Now \n\nJoin the senior dharma teacher in the Online Zendo with a computer or mobile device: \nMeeting ID: 264-616-8381Passcode: 805991 \nBy phone:+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)Find your local number
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/sunday-sangha-with-senior-dharma-teacher-fu-schroeder/2026-11-01/
CATEGORIES:Practice Groups
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