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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261018T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261018T160000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010106Z
CREATED:20260815T031353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010106Z
UID:10004185-1792333800-1792339200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Deep Rest: Learning to Let Go\, Online 10/4–10/25
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\nFour Sundays\, October 4–25\, 2:30–4:00 pm PT \nDeep Rest is a skill that we all need. With regular practice\, we can learn how to allow mind and body to easily transition from their usual activated (sympathetic) state to a relaxed  (parasympathetic) mode. This state is mentally and physically restorative\, bringing balance and ease. Deep Rest is repose—a profound stillness of bodymind that is sustained without strain\, that cultivates refreshment. It is the basis of meditative absorption. \nIn this 4-week class\, we will practice restorative yoga postures and awareness of breathing to bring us into this state of relaxed stillness. As we become familiar with the physical and mental changes that come with Deep Rest\, we can begin to see how we can apply this practice  to meditation. \nA follow-up class\, Deeper Rest: Exploring Relaxation in Daily Life\, will be offered on Sundays in November. Registration is separate; more information is available on the SFZC event page. \nPlease wear comfortable\, non-restrictive clothing and\, if possible\, have the following props available: \n\nYoga mat\nTwo blankets\nYoga strap\nBolster or firm cushion\nEye covering\nYour usual meditation support (cushion\, chair\, or bench)\n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/deep-rest-learning-to-let-go-online-10-4-10-25/2026-10-18/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261019T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010104Z
CREATED:20260729T024509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010104Z
UID:10004188-1792438200-1792443600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Heart Practices of a Bodhisattva: The Six Paramitas\, CC/Online 10/5–11/23
DESCRIPTION:Use this page to register for the class only. \nIf you would like to register for the full Fall Practice Period\, there is a Residential option or an Online/Commuter option. \nEight Mondays\, October 5–November 23 | 7:30–9:00 pm \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. According 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). Indeed\, these virtues are considered the heart practices of a Bodhisattva. \nIn this eight-week class led by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman\, we’ll explore (through lectures\, readings\, group discussions\, and weekly reflections) each of the six paramitas and ways to cultivate and manifest them in our lives to effect transformation at the personal\, interpersonal\, and societal levels. We will also study examples of the perfections from Shakyamuni Buddha’s own previous lives\, drawn from the Jataka tales. \nYou can attend class in-person at City Center or online via Zoom.  \nNote: The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to a temple-observed holiday. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/heart-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-the-six-paramitas-cc-online-10-5-11-23/2026-10-19/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261021T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261021T193000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215058Z
CREATED:20260712T004017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215058Z
UID:10004183-1792605600-1792611000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Meditation Training: Establishing a Meditation Practice in Four Short Weeks\, Online 9/30–10/21
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\nFour Wednesdays\, 6 – 7:30 pm PT \nWant to learn how to meditate? Or have you tried and just can’t quite figure out how to make it work for you? \nThis four-class series is geared just for you. Specific and easy-to-follow instructions will be given in three areas: body\, heart/emotions\, and mind/mental states. Each week\, instructions will be given from the Zen and Insight meditation traditions\, with an opportunity to put them into practice and have your questions answered. We’ll cover how to achieve a meditation posture\, establishing a meditation schedule\, working with challenging emotions and mental states\, and more. \nDuring the course and for two weeks after\, participants will have access to a webpage which includes guided meditations\, handouts\, and related articles and links\, providing 24/7 support for practice in between classes. There will be opportunities to share with others\, fostering a team-like\, shared experience to support efforts to learn and practice meditation. \nThink of this class as a training camp—a container to establish a home meditation practice with the support of a coach and a team to practice alongside. \nNow in its 16th year\, this course on the craft of meditation has helped thousands to establish a sustainable meditation practice. \nTexts for this class: \n\nMindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana\nZen Mind\, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki\n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/meditation-training-establishing-a-meditation-practice-in-four-short-weeks-online-9-30-10-21/2026-10-21/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261024T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261024T103000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215521Z
CREATED:20260729T024525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215521Z
UID:10004195-1792832400-1792837800@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Inner Prison\, Koans and Freedom\, Online 10/10–10/31
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\nSaturdays\, October 10–31\, 20269:00–10:30 am PT \nMore than fifteen years ago\, Dario Doshin Girolami first entered Rebibbia Prison with an unusual proposal: to teach meditation behind bars. As abbot of L’Arco Zen Center–Zenmon Ji in Rome\, Doshin brought Zen practice into a labyrinth of bars and concrete\, where daily exposure to suffering led him to question the meaning of freedom. \nThe teachings he offers emerge from this encounter between lived experience and millennia-old Zen wisdom. Through koans and parables\, Doshin weaves together the stories of inmates with the wisdom of Buddhist masters such as Dōgen and Suzuki Roshi. \nTogether\, these stories and teachings open a journey beyond fixed ideas of good and evil\, beyond the visible walls of prison\, and toward the recognition that the most confining prisons are often those built by our own minds. As the Buddha teaches\, we are all imprisoned by greed\, hate\, and delusion. \nRecommended Reading/Viewing: \n\nMeet Dario Girolami\, A Zen Teacher Engaged in Interfaith Work\nLa Via Interiore: Meditazione a Rebibbia (The Inner Way: Meditation in Rebibbia)\, Documentary Film In Italian with English Subtitles\nL’Arco Zen Center (Zenmon Ji) in Rome\, Italy\n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-inner-prison-koans-and-freedom-online-10-10-10-31/2026-10-24/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261025T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261025T160000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010106Z
CREATED:20260815T031353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010106Z
UID:10004186-1792938600-1792944000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Deep Rest: Learning to Let Go\, Online 10/4–10/25
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\nFour Sundays\, October 4–25\, 2:30–4:00 pm PT \nDeep Rest is a skill that we all need. With regular practice\, we can learn how to allow mind and body to easily transition from their usual activated (sympathetic) state to a relaxed  (parasympathetic) mode. This state is mentally and physically restorative\, bringing balance and ease. Deep Rest is repose—a profound stillness of bodymind that is sustained without strain\, that cultivates refreshment. It is the basis of meditative absorption. \nIn this 4-week class\, we will practice restorative yoga postures and awareness of breathing to bring us into this state of relaxed stillness. As we become familiar with the physical and mental changes that come with Deep Rest\, we can begin to see how we can apply this practice  to meditation. \nA follow-up class\, Deeper Rest: Exploring Relaxation in Daily Life\, will be offered on Sundays in November. Registration is separate; more information is available on the SFZC event page. \nPlease wear comfortable\, non-restrictive clothing and\, if possible\, have the following props available: \n\nYoga mat\nTwo blankets\nYoga strap\nBolster or firm cushion\nEye covering\nYour usual meditation support (cushion\, chair\, or bench)\n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/deep-rest-learning-to-let-go-online-10-4-10-25/2026-10-25/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261026T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261026T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010104Z
CREATED:20260729T024509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010104Z
UID:10004189-1793043000-1793048400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Heart Practices of a Bodhisattva: The Six Paramitas\, CC/Online 10/5–11/23
DESCRIPTION:Use this page to register for the class only. \nIf you would like to register for the full Fall Practice Period\, there is a Residential option or an Online/Commuter option. \nEight Mondays\, October 5–November 23 | 7:30–9:00 pm \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. According 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). Indeed\, these virtues are considered the heart practices of a Bodhisattva. \nIn this eight-week class led by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman\, we’ll explore (through lectures\, readings\, group discussions\, and weekly reflections) each of the six paramitas and ways to cultivate and manifest them in our lives to effect transformation at the personal\, interpersonal\, and societal levels. We will also study examples of the perfections from Shakyamuni Buddha’s own previous lives\, drawn from the Jataka tales. \nYou can attend class in-person at City Center or online via Zoom.  \nNote: The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to a temple-observed holiday. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/heart-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-the-six-paramitas-cc-online-10-5-11-23/2026-10-26/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261028T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261028T193000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010105Z
CREATED:20260729T024522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010105Z
UID:10003565-1793210400-1793215800@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Meditation Training 1.5: Working with the Five Hindrances\, Online 10/28-11/18
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\nFour Wednesdays\, 6:00–7:30 pm PT \n\n“For Zen students\, a weed is a treasure.”—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi \n\nAre you having difficulty in meditation or concentrating in daily life? Do you find yourself obsessing over love or hate? Falling asleep\, feeling anxious\, restless\, or agitated more often than calm while meditating? Doubting yourself or your practice? \nThe Five Hindrances are common mind-heart states that can impede the development of concentration and mindfulness. In this class\, we will explore classic and contemporary teachings on how to become aware of and work with these states\, as well as how to cultivate their antidotes. \nAs this is a study and practice class\, specific texts\, meditation instructions\, and off-the-cushion practices will be shared and can be used to work with the Hindrances between classes. \nHaving the skills to be at ease in the midst of the Hindrances can enrich your meditation\, making it easier to bring the fruits of your practice into everyday life. \nNo prerequisite is required. If you do not currently have an established practice\, we strongly encourage first taking Meditation Training: Establishing a Meditation Practice in Four Short Weeks\, offered September 30–October 18. \nRecommended ReadingUnhindered by Gil Fronsdal (not required) \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/meditation-training-1-5-working-with-the-five-hindrances-online-10-28-11-18/2026-10-28/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261029T200000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215747Z
CREATED:20260815T031359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215747Z
UID:10004056-1793296800-1793304000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Sandokai's Teaching of Wholeness\, Online 10/29–11/19
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\nFour Thursdays\, October 29–November 19\, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm PT \nHow can an 8th-century Zen poem illuminate some of the deepest challenges of the 21st century? The Sandokai (“Harmony of Difference and Equality”) takes up one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring questions: How can reality be both one and many—unified yet diverse\, ordered yet ever-changing?  \nThe Sandokai invites us beyond the habitual oppositional thinking that shapes and limits our lives: self and other\, unity and diversity\, inclusion and exclusion\, certainty and uncertainty\, harmony and conflict. For more than twelve centuries\, it has expressed the heart of the Soto Zen understanding and practice of total dynamic inclusion\, wholeness and fundamental equality within difference. \nIn this four-session online class\, we will explore the origins and enduring significance of the Sandokai\, its influence on the teachings of Eihei Dogen\, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and the practices of the Soto Zen school\, and its continuous relevance in a world marked by conflict\, uncertainty\, fragmentation\, and suffering.  \nThrough careful reading\, discussion\, and application to contemporary life circumstances\, we will explore how this remarkable poem offers “hidden” practical guidance for living and practicing with wisdom and compassion\, in ways that can heal both fracture and erasure. \nAlong the way\, we will occasionally draw upon the Western alchemical understanding of the coniunctio—the transformative union of apparent opposites and opening into a fuller and more vital expression of wholeness—as a complimentary way of appreciating the processes of integration\, maturation\, and awakening that a sustained Zen practice can foster.  \nRather than interpreting the Sandokai through another tradition\, reflections upon the coniunctio will simply offer additional language and perspective for recognizing a transformative movement that practitioners in both the East and West have experienced and described in their own distinct ways over the centuries. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/sandokais-teaching-of-wholeness-online-10-29-11-19/2026-10-29/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261031T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261031T103000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215521Z
CREATED:20260729T024525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215521Z
UID:10004196-1793437200-1793442600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Inner Prison\, Koans and Freedom\, Online 10/10–10/31
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\nSaturdays\, October 10–31\, 20269:00–10:30 am PT \nMore than fifteen years ago\, Dario Doshin Girolami first entered Rebibbia Prison with an unusual proposal: to teach meditation behind bars. As abbot of L’Arco Zen Center–Zenmon Ji in Rome\, Doshin brought Zen practice into a labyrinth of bars and concrete\, where daily exposure to suffering led him to question the meaning of freedom. \nThe teachings he offers emerge from this encounter between lived experience and millennia-old Zen wisdom. Through koans and parables\, Doshin weaves together the stories of inmates with the wisdom of Buddhist masters such as Dōgen and Suzuki Roshi. \nTogether\, these stories and teachings open a journey beyond fixed ideas of good and evil\, beyond the visible walls of prison\, and toward the recognition that the most confining prisons are often those built by our own minds. As the Buddha teaches\, we are all imprisoned by greed\, hate\, and delusion. \nRecommended Reading/Viewing: \n\nMeet Dario Girolami\, A Zen Teacher Engaged in Interfaith Work\nLa Via Interiore: Meditazione a Rebibbia (The Inner Way: Meditation in Rebibbia)\, Documentary Film In Italian with English Subtitles\nL’Arco Zen Center (Zenmon Ji) in Rome\, Italy\n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-inner-prison-koans-and-freedom-online-10-10-10-31/2026-10-31/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261102T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261102T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010104Z
CREATED:20260729T024509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010104Z
UID:10004190-1793647800-1793653200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Heart Practices of a Bodhisattva: The Six Paramitas\, CC/Online 10/5–11/23
DESCRIPTION:Use this page to register for the class only. \nIf you would like to register for the full Fall Practice Period\, there is a Residential option or an Online/Commuter option. \nEight Mondays\, October 5–November 23 | 7:30–9:00 pm \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. According 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). Indeed\, these virtues are considered the heart practices of a Bodhisattva. \nIn this eight-week class led by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman\, we’ll explore (through lectures\, readings\, group discussions\, and weekly reflections) each of the six paramitas and ways to cultivate and manifest them in our lives to effect transformation at the personal\, interpersonal\, and societal levels. We will also study examples of the perfections from Shakyamuni Buddha’s own previous lives\, drawn from the Jataka tales. \nYou can attend class in-person at City Center or online via Zoom.  \nNote: The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to a temple-observed holiday. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/heart-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-the-six-paramitas-cc-online-10-5-11-23/2026-11-02/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261103T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261103T183000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215856Z
CREATED:20260815T031352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215856Z
UID:10004050-1793725200-1793730600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Heart Sutra: Wisdom Beyond Wisdom\, Online 11/3–11/24
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\nFour Tuesdays\, November 3–24\, 5–6:30 pm PT \nIn this four-week online course\, we will explore the Heart Sutra\, or Sutra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom (Prajna Paramita)\, one of Buddhism’s most beloved yet challenging texts.  \nThis class will offer an approach for students at any stage of practice. We’ll trace the sutra’s philosophical roots in the two truths and the middle way—drawing on classical Buddhist teachings—while working through the text itself line by line. \nThe full text we will use\, Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra (PDF)\, is available on the Services\, Sutras\, Texts & Songs page of SFZC’s website. \nWhether you’re new to Buddhism or returning with deeper questions\, please join us to discover how this ancient wisdom teaching speaks to our practice today. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-heart-sutra-wisdom-beyond-wisdom-online-11-3-11-24/2026-11-03/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261104T193000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010105Z
CREATED:20260729T024522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010105Z
UID:10004197-1793815200-1793820600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Meditation Training 1.5: Working with the Five Hindrances\, Online 10/28-11/18
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\nFour Wednesdays\, 6:00–7:30 pm PT \n\n“For Zen students\, a weed is a treasure.”—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi \n\nAre you having difficulty in meditation or concentrating in daily life? Do you find yourself obsessing over love or hate? Falling asleep\, feeling anxious\, restless\, or agitated more often than calm while meditating? Doubting yourself or your practice? \nThe Five Hindrances are common mind-heart states that can impede the development of concentration and mindfulness. In this class\, we will explore classic and contemporary teachings on how to become aware of and work with these states\, as well as how to cultivate their antidotes. \nAs this is a study and practice class\, specific texts\, meditation instructions\, and off-the-cushion practices will be shared and can be used to work with the Hindrances between classes. \nHaving the skills to be at ease in the midst of the Hindrances can enrich your meditation\, making it easier to bring the fruits of your practice into everyday life. \nNo prerequisite is required. If you do not currently have an established practice\, we strongly encourage first taking Meditation Training: Establishing a Meditation Practice in Four Short Weeks\, offered September 30–October 18. \nRecommended ReadingUnhindered by Gil Fronsdal (not required) \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/meditation-training-1-5-working-with-the-five-hindrances-online-10-28-11-18/2026-11-04/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261105T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261105T200000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215747Z
CREATED:20260815T031359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215747Z
UID:10004200-1793901600-1793908800@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Sandokai's Teaching of Wholeness\, Online 10/29–11/19
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\nFour Thursdays\, October 29–November 19\, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm PT \nHow can an 8th-century Zen poem illuminate some of the deepest challenges of the 21st century? The Sandokai (“Harmony of Difference and Equality”) takes up one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring questions: How can reality be both one and many—unified yet diverse\, ordered yet ever-changing?  \nThe Sandokai invites us beyond the habitual oppositional thinking that shapes and limits our lives: self and other\, unity and diversity\, inclusion and exclusion\, certainty and uncertainty\, harmony and conflict. For more than twelve centuries\, it has expressed the heart of the Soto Zen understanding and practice of total dynamic inclusion\, wholeness and fundamental equality within difference. \nIn this four-session online class\, we will explore the origins and enduring significance of the Sandokai\, its influence on the teachings of Eihei Dogen\, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and the practices of the Soto Zen school\, and its continuous relevance in a world marked by conflict\, uncertainty\, fragmentation\, and suffering.  \nThrough careful reading\, discussion\, and application to contemporary life circumstances\, we will explore how this remarkable poem offers “hidden” practical guidance for living and practicing with wisdom and compassion\, in ways that can heal both fracture and erasure. \nAlong the way\, we will occasionally draw upon the Western alchemical understanding of the coniunctio—the transformative union of apparent opposites and opening into a fuller and more vital expression of wholeness—as a complimentary way of appreciating the processes of integration\, maturation\, and awakening that a sustained Zen practice can foster.  \nRather than interpreting the Sandokai through another tradition\, reflections upon the coniunctio will simply offer additional language and perspective for recognizing a transformative movement that practitioners in both the East and West have experienced and described in their own distinct ways over the centuries. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/sandokais-teaching-of-wholeness-online-10-29-11-19/2026-11-05/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261107T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261107T110000
DTSTAMP:20260828T220003Z
CREATED:20260815T031354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T220003Z
UID:10004052-1794042000-1794049200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Noble Eightfold Path\, Online 11/7–11/14
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\nTwo Saturdays\, November 7 and 14\, 9:00–11:00 am PT  \n\n“Now this\, monks\, is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is this Noble Eightfold Path.” — Buddha \n\nThe heart of Buddha’s teaching is expressed in the Four Noble Truths and the practical application of this teaching is found in the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is what brings the Four Noble Truths to life.  \nAt times of great uncertainty\, anxiety and confusion\, including the unfolding of this election season in our country\, the Noble Eightfold Path can guide us to experience in our own lives the purpose of the Buddha’s teachings: liberation from suffering. \nOften referred to as Buddha’s medicine\, the path consists of eight “wise” elements: wise view\, intention\, speech\, action\, livelihood\, effort\, mindfulness\, and concentration. To journey through all eight components of the Noble Path is to travel toward a life of understanding (prajna/wisdom)\, skillfulness (sila/ethics) and insightful concentration (samadhi/meditation). \nTogether we’ll explore the meaning of each element of the Noble Eightfold Path\, learning how to apply them to our daily lives and practice so that we might embody this Path for the benefit of all beings—ourselves and others. We will pay special attention to the personal\, societal\, and global challenges we are currently experiencing\, highlighting the practical application of this ancient wisdom. \nMaterials will be sent out in advance of each class. While purchase is not necessary\, the teachers will reference the following books\, in addition to other resources: \n\nThe Heart of Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh\nNoble Truths\, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings by Bhikkhu Bodhi\n\nPlease join Diane and Cynthia in this study of Buddha’s essential\, timeless teaching. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-noble-eightfold-path-online-11-7-11-14/2026-11-07/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261108T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261108T160000
DTSTAMP:20260925T000954Z
CREATED:20260815T031355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T000954Z
UID:10004053-1794148200-1794153600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Deeper Rest: Exploring Relaxation in Daily Life\, Online 11/8–11/29
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\nFour Sundays\, November 8–29\, 2:30–4:00 pm PT  \nDeep Rest is a skill that we all need. With regular practice\, we can learn how to allow mind and body to easily transition from their usual activated (sympathetic) state to a relaxed  (parasympathetic) mode. This is a state of body and mind that is mentally and physically restorative\, one that brings balance and ease. Deep Rest is repose—a profound stillness of bodymind that is sustained without strain\, that cultivates refreshment and ease. It is the basis of meditative absorption. \nThis series builds on the foundation introduced in Deep Rest: Learning to Let Go\, while also welcoming newcomers who wish to cultivate a deeper relationship with rest and relaxation. \nIn Deeper Rest\, we will continue the practice of letting go in restorative yoga postures\, expand our breathing practice into pranayama (yogic breathing)\, and explore Buddhist teachings on the practice of tranquility on and off the cushion. \nPlease wear comfortable\, non-restrictive clothing and\, if possible\, have the following props available: \n\nYoga mat\nTwo blankets\nYoga strap\nBolster or firm cushion\nEye covering\nYour usual meditation support (cushion\, chair\, or bench)\n\nRecordings:\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/deeper-rest-exploring-relaxation-in-daily-life-online-11-8-11-29/2026-11-08/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261109T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261109T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010104Z
CREATED:20260729T024509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010104Z
UID:10004191-1794252600-1794258000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Heart Practices of a Bodhisattva: The Six Paramitas\, CC/Online 10/5–11/23
DESCRIPTION:Use this page to register for the class only. \nIf you would like to register for the full Fall Practice Period\, there is a Residential option or an Online/Commuter option. \nEight Mondays\, October 5–November 23 | 7:30–9:00 pm \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. According 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). Indeed\, these virtues are considered the heart practices of a Bodhisattva. \nIn this eight-week class led by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman\, we’ll explore (through lectures\, readings\, group discussions\, and weekly reflections) each of the six paramitas and ways to cultivate and manifest them in our lives to effect transformation at the personal\, interpersonal\, and societal levels. We will also study examples of the perfections from Shakyamuni Buddha’s own previous lives\, drawn from the Jataka tales. \nYou can attend class in-person at City Center or online via Zoom.  \nNote: The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to a temple-observed holiday. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/heart-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-the-six-paramitas-cc-online-10-5-11-23/2026-11-09/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261110T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261110T183000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215856Z
CREATED:20260815T031352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215856Z
UID:10004203-1794330000-1794335400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Heart Sutra: Wisdom Beyond Wisdom\, Online 11/3–11/24
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\nFour Tuesdays\, November 3–24\, 5–6:30 pm PT \nIn this four-week online course\, we will explore the Heart Sutra\, or Sutra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom (Prajna Paramita)\, one of Buddhism’s most beloved yet challenging texts.  \nThis class will offer an approach for students at any stage of practice. We’ll trace the sutra’s philosophical roots in the two truths and the middle way—drawing on classical Buddhist teachings—while working through the text itself line by line. \nThe full text we will use\, Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra (PDF)\, is available on the Services\, Sutras\, Texts & Songs page of SFZC’s website. \nWhether you’re new to Buddhism or returning with deeper questions\, please join us to discover how this ancient wisdom teaching speaks to our practice today. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-heart-sutra-wisdom-beyond-wisdom-online-11-3-11-24/2026-11-10/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261111T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261111T193000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010105Z
CREATED:20260729T024522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010105Z
UID:10004198-1794420000-1794425400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Meditation Training 1.5: Working with the Five Hindrances\, Online 10/28-11/18
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\nFour Wednesdays\, 6:00–7:30 pm PT \n\n“For Zen students\, a weed is a treasure.”—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi \n\nAre you having difficulty in meditation or concentrating in daily life? Do you find yourself obsessing over love or hate? Falling asleep\, feeling anxious\, restless\, or agitated more often than calm while meditating? Doubting yourself or your practice? \nThe Five Hindrances are common mind-heart states that can impede the development of concentration and mindfulness. In this class\, we will explore classic and contemporary teachings on how to become aware of and work with these states\, as well as how to cultivate their antidotes. \nAs this is a study and practice class\, specific texts\, meditation instructions\, and off-the-cushion practices will be shared and can be used to work with the Hindrances between classes. \nHaving the skills to be at ease in the midst of the Hindrances can enrich your meditation\, making it easier to bring the fruits of your practice into everyday life. \nNo prerequisite is required. If you do not currently have an established practice\, we strongly encourage first taking Meditation Training: Establishing a Meditation Practice in Four Short Weeks\, offered September 30–October 18. \nRecommended ReadingUnhindered by Gil Fronsdal (not required) \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/meditation-training-1-5-working-with-the-five-hindrances-online-10-28-11-18/2026-11-11/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261112T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261112T200000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215747Z
CREATED:20260815T031359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215747Z
UID:10004201-1794506400-1794513600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Sandokai's Teaching of Wholeness\, Online 10/29–11/19
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\nFour Thursdays\, October 29–November 19\, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm PT \nHow can an 8th-century Zen poem illuminate some of the deepest challenges of the 21st century? The Sandokai (“Harmony of Difference and Equality”) takes up one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring questions: How can reality be both one and many—unified yet diverse\, ordered yet ever-changing?  \nThe Sandokai invites us beyond the habitual oppositional thinking that shapes and limits our lives: self and other\, unity and diversity\, inclusion and exclusion\, certainty and uncertainty\, harmony and conflict. For more than twelve centuries\, it has expressed the heart of the Soto Zen understanding and practice of total dynamic inclusion\, wholeness and fundamental equality within difference. \nIn this four-session online class\, we will explore the origins and enduring significance of the Sandokai\, its influence on the teachings of Eihei Dogen\, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and the practices of the Soto Zen school\, and its continuous relevance in a world marked by conflict\, uncertainty\, fragmentation\, and suffering.  \nThrough careful reading\, discussion\, and application to contemporary life circumstances\, we will explore how this remarkable poem offers “hidden” practical guidance for living and practicing with wisdom and compassion\, in ways that can heal both fracture and erasure. \nAlong the way\, we will occasionally draw upon the Western alchemical understanding of the coniunctio—the transformative union of apparent opposites and opening into a fuller and more vital expression of wholeness—as a complimentary way of appreciating the processes of integration\, maturation\, and awakening that a sustained Zen practice can foster.  \nRather than interpreting the Sandokai through another tradition\, reflections upon the coniunctio will simply offer additional language and perspective for recognizing a transformative movement that practitioners in both the East and West have experienced and described in their own distinct ways over the centuries. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/sandokais-teaching-of-wholeness-online-10-29-11-19/2026-11-12/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261114T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261114T110000
DTSTAMP:20260828T220003Z
CREATED:20260815T031354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T220003Z
UID:10004206-1794646800-1794654000@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Noble Eightfold Path\, Online 11/7–11/14
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\nTwo Saturdays\, November 7 and 14\, 9:00–11:00 am PT  \n\n“Now this\, monks\, is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is this Noble Eightfold Path.” — Buddha \n\nThe heart of Buddha’s teaching is expressed in the Four Noble Truths and the practical application of this teaching is found in the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is what brings the Four Noble Truths to life.  \nAt times of great uncertainty\, anxiety and confusion\, including the unfolding of this election season in our country\, the Noble Eightfold Path can guide us to experience in our own lives the purpose of the Buddha’s teachings: liberation from suffering. \nOften referred to as Buddha’s medicine\, the path consists of eight “wise” elements: wise view\, intention\, speech\, action\, livelihood\, effort\, mindfulness\, and concentration. To journey through all eight components of the Noble Path is to travel toward a life of understanding (prajna/wisdom)\, skillfulness (sila/ethics) and insightful concentration (samadhi/meditation). \nTogether we’ll explore the meaning of each element of the Noble Eightfold Path\, learning how to apply them to our daily lives and practice so that we might embody this Path for the benefit of all beings—ourselves and others. We will pay special attention to the personal\, societal\, and global challenges we are currently experiencing\, highlighting the practical application of this ancient wisdom. \nMaterials will be sent out in advance of each class. While purchase is not necessary\, the teachers will reference the following books\, in addition to other resources: \n\nThe Heart of Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh\nNoble Truths\, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings by Bhikkhu Bodhi\n\nPlease join Diane and Cynthia in this study of Buddha’s essential\, timeless teaching. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-noble-eightfold-path-online-11-7-11-14/2026-11-14/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261115T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261115T160000
DTSTAMP:20260925T000954Z
CREATED:20260815T031355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T000954Z
UID:10004589-1794753000-1794758400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Deeper Rest: Exploring Relaxation in Daily Life\, Online 11/8–11/29
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\nFour Sundays\, November 8–29\, 2:30–4:00 pm PT  \nDeep Rest is a skill that we all need. With regular practice\, we can learn how to allow mind and body to easily transition from their usual activated (sympathetic) state to a relaxed  (parasympathetic) mode. This is a state of body and mind that is mentally and physically restorative\, one that brings balance and ease. Deep Rest is repose—a profound stillness of bodymind that is sustained without strain\, that cultivates refreshment and ease. It is the basis of meditative absorption. \nThis series builds on the foundation introduced in Deep Rest: Learning to Let Go\, while also welcoming newcomers who wish to cultivate a deeper relationship with rest and relaxation. \nIn Deeper Rest\, we will continue the practice of letting go in restorative yoga postures\, expand our breathing practice into pranayama (yogic breathing)\, and explore Buddhist teachings on the practice of tranquility on and off the cushion. \nPlease wear comfortable\, non-restrictive clothing and\, if possible\, have the following props available: \n\nYoga mat\nTwo blankets\nYoga strap\nBolster or firm cushion\nEye covering\nYour usual meditation support (cushion\, chair\, or bench)\n\nRecordings:\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/deeper-rest-exploring-relaxation-in-daily-life-online-11-8-11-29/2026-11-15/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261116T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261116T110000
DTSTAMP:20261008T234436Z
CREATED:20260815T031356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T234436Z
UID:10004054-1794819600-1794826800@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Zen of Poetry and the Poetry of Zen\, Online 11/16–12/21
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\nSix Mondays\, November 16–December 21\, 9:00 am–11:00 am PT (View in your time zone) \nHow can reading and writing poetry illuminate and uplift our Dharma practice? How does Dharma practice give rise to expressions of poetry? How can both poetry and Zen offer new and refreshed ways of seeing the world around us? \nPoetry has been a means of expression for Zen practitioners for centuries\, as well as a way of teaching the Dharma. In a tradition that aspires to go beyond the words and norms of ordinary language\, the forms and eloquence of poetry have helped generations of Zen students to illuminate the path of practice. \nOver this six-week course\, we will encounter the ancient poetry of Buddhist practitioners in China and Japan\, as well as the work of contemporary poets from around the world today. \nDuring each class\, we will read poetry along themes of Nature\, Perception\, Not-Knowing\, the Everyday\, and we will also experiment with writing through structured exercises. Additional reading and optional writing assignments will be offered between classes\, and participants of the class will have the opportunity to share their work with the class if they so wish. \nThis class is suitable for those approaching the reading and writing of poetry for the first time\, as well as for people more familiar with reading and writing poetry\, who might already have a writing practice in place. \nAnyone hoping to establish or re-ignite a regular poetry-writing practice in conjunction with their meditation practice\, might find this course a useful starting point. \n\nDon’t you know the poems of Han-shan?They’re better for you than scripture-reading.Cut them out and paste them on a screen\,Then you can gaze at them from time to time.— Han Shan (China\, 9th Century) \n\n\nThe winds have died\, but flowers go on falling;birds call\, but silence penetrates each song.The Mystery! Unknowable\, unlearnable.The virtue of Kannon.— Taigu Ryokan (Japan\, 1758–1831) \n\n\nThat great calm being\,this clutter of soup pots and books—Already the first branch-tips brush at the window.Softly\, calmly\, immensity taps at your life.—from “Tree” by Jane Hirshfield (USA\, b. 1953) \n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-zen-of-poetry-and-the-poetry-of-zen-online-11-16-12-21/2026-11-16/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261116T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261116T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010104Z
CREATED:20260729T024509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010104Z
UID:10004192-1794857400-1794862800@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Heart Practices of a Bodhisattva: The Six Paramitas\, CC/Online 10/5–11/23
DESCRIPTION:Use this page to register for the class only. \nIf you would like to register for the full Fall Practice Period\, there is a Residential option or an Online/Commuter option. \nEight Mondays\, October 5–November 23 | 7:30–9:00 pm \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. According 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). Indeed\, these virtues are considered the heart practices of a Bodhisattva. \nIn this eight-week class led by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman\, we’ll explore (through lectures\, readings\, group discussions\, and weekly reflections) each of the six paramitas and ways to cultivate and manifest them in our lives to effect transformation at the personal\, interpersonal\, and societal levels. We will also study examples of the perfections from Shakyamuni Buddha’s own previous lives\, drawn from the Jataka tales. \nYou can attend class in-person at City Center or online via Zoom.  \nNote: The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to a temple-observed holiday. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/heart-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-the-six-paramitas-cc-online-10-5-11-23/2026-11-16/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261117T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261117T183000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215856Z
CREATED:20260815T031352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215856Z
UID:10004204-1794934800-1794940200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Heart Sutra: Wisdom Beyond Wisdom\, Online 11/3–11/24
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\nFour Tuesdays\, November 3–24\, 5–6:30 pm PT \nIn this four-week online course\, we will explore the Heart Sutra\, or Sutra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom (Prajna Paramita)\, one of Buddhism’s most beloved yet challenging texts.  \nThis class will offer an approach for students at any stage of practice. We’ll trace the sutra’s philosophical roots in the two truths and the middle way—drawing on classical Buddhist teachings—while working through the text itself line by line. \nThe full text we will use\, Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra (PDF)\, is available on the Services\, Sutras\, Texts & Songs page of SFZC’s website. \nWhether you’re new to Buddhism or returning with deeper questions\, please join us to discover how this ancient wisdom teaching speaks to our practice today. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-heart-sutra-wisdom-beyond-wisdom-online-11-3-11-24/2026-11-17/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261118T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261118T193000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010105Z
CREATED:20260729T024522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010105Z
UID:10004199-1795024800-1795030200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Meditation Training 1.5: Working with the Five Hindrances\, Online 10/28-11/18
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\nFour Wednesdays\, 6:00–7:30 pm PT \n\n“For Zen students\, a weed is a treasure.”—Shunryu Suzuki Roshi \n\nAre you having difficulty in meditation or concentrating in daily life? Do you find yourself obsessing over love or hate? Falling asleep\, feeling anxious\, restless\, or agitated more often than calm while meditating? Doubting yourself or your practice? \nThe Five Hindrances are common mind-heart states that can impede the development of concentration and mindfulness. In this class\, we will explore classic and contemporary teachings on how to become aware of and work with these states\, as well as how to cultivate their antidotes. \nAs this is a study and practice class\, specific texts\, meditation instructions\, and off-the-cushion practices will be shared and can be used to work with the Hindrances between classes. \nHaving the skills to be at ease in the midst of the Hindrances can enrich your meditation\, making it easier to bring the fruits of your practice into everyday life. \nNo prerequisite is required. If you do not currently have an established practice\, we strongly encourage first taking Meditation Training: Establishing a Meditation Practice in Four Short Weeks\, offered September 30–October 18. \nRecommended ReadingUnhindered by Gil Fronsdal (not required) \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/meditation-training-1-5-working-with-the-five-hindrances-online-10-28-11-18/2026-11-18/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261119T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261119T200000
DTSTAMP:20260828T215747Z
CREATED:20260815T031359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T215747Z
UID:10004202-1795111200-1795118400@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Sandokai's Teaching of Wholeness\, Online 10/29–11/19
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\nFour Thursdays\, October 29–November 19\, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm PT \nHow can an 8th-century Zen poem illuminate some of the deepest challenges of the 21st century? The Sandokai (“Harmony of Difference and Equality”) takes up one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring questions: How can reality be both one and many—unified yet diverse\, ordered yet ever-changing?  \nThe Sandokai invites us beyond the habitual oppositional thinking that shapes and limits our lives: self and other\, unity and diversity\, inclusion and exclusion\, certainty and uncertainty\, harmony and conflict. For more than twelve centuries\, it has expressed the heart of the Soto Zen understanding and practice of total dynamic inclusion\, wholeness and fundamental equality within difference. \nIn this four-session online class\, we will explore the origins and enduring significance of the Sandokai\, its influence on the teachings of Eihei Dogen\, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and the practices of the Soto Zen school\, and its continuous relevance in a world marked by conflict\, uncertainty\, fragmentation\, and suffering.  \nThrough careful reading\, discussion\, and application to contemporary life circumstances\, we will explore how this remarkable poem offers “hidden” practical guidance for living and practicing with wisdom and compassion\, in ways that can heal both fracture and erasure. \nAlong the way\, we will occasionally draw upon the Western alchemical understanding of the coniunctio—the transformative union of apparent opposites and opening into a fuller and more vital expression of wholeness—as a complimentary way of appreciating the processes of integration\, maturation\, and awakening that a sustained Zen practice can foster.  \nRather than interpreting the Sandokai through another tradition\, reflections upon the coniunctio will simply offer additional language and perspective for recognizing a transformative movement that practitioners in both the East and West have experienced and described in their own distinct ways over the centuries. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/sandokais-teaching-of-wholeness-online-10-29-11-19/2026-11-19/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261121T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261121T123000
DTSTAMP:20260729T222554Z
CREATED:20260510T214857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T222554Z
UID:10003575-1795258800-1795264200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Dancing with Chronic Illness and Pain: Ongoing Group\, Online 6/20–11/21
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\nMonthly on third Saturdays\, 11 am–12:30 pm PT\nJune 20\, July 18\, August 15\, September 19\, October 17\, and November 21 \nIf you have previously participated in any of the “Dancing in the Dark Fields” series\, we invite you to consider this ongoing monthly practice group\, which will expand on those teachings and community. \nZenshin Florence Caplow\, who will be teaching the class\, has “danced” with auto-immune illness for the last two decades\, including rheumatoid arthritis. She is also a Zen priest and teacher\, co-editor of The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty Five Centuries of Awakened Women\, and a Unitarian Universalist minister. \nZenshin Florence Caplow’s book\, Tend to Your Spirit: Mindful Living With Chronic Illness\, is available to order from the SFZC online bookstore. \nRecordings:\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/dancing-with-chronic-illness-and-pain-ongoing-group-online-6-20-11-21/2026-11-21/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261122T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261122T160000
DTSTAMP:20260925T000954Z
CREATED:20260815T031355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T000954Z
UID:10004590-1795357800-1795363200@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Deeper Rest: Exploring Relaxation in Daily Life\, Online 11/8–11/29
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\nFour Sundays\, November 8–29\, 2:30–4:00 pm PT  \nDeep Rest is a skill that we all need. With regular practice\, we can learn how to allow mind and body to easily transition from their usual activated (sympathetic) state to a relaxed  (parasympathetic) mode. This is a state of body and mind that is mentally and physically restorative\, one that brings balance and ease. Deep Rest is repose—a profound stillness of bodymind that is sustained without strain\, that cultivates refreshment and ease. It is the basis of meditative absorption. \nThis series builds on the foundation introduced in Deep Rest: Learning to Let Go\, while also welcoming newcomers who wish to cultivate a deeper relationship with rest and relaxation. \nIn Deeper Rest\, we will continue the practice of letting go in restorative yoga postures\, expand our breathing practice into pranayama (yogic breathing)\, and explore Buddhist teachings on the practice of tranquility on and off the cushion. \nPlease wear comfortable\, non-restrictive clothing and\, if possible\, have the following props available: \n\nYoga mat\nTwo blankets\nYoga strap\nBolster or firm cushion\nEye covering\nYour usual meditation support (cushion\, chair\, or bench)\n\nRecordings:\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/deeper-rest-exploring-relaxation-in-daily-life-online-11-8-11-29/2026-11-22/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261123T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261123T110000
DTSTAMP:20261008T234436Z
CREATED:20260815T031356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T234436Z
UID:10004207-1795424400-1795431600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:The Zen of Poetry and the Poetry of Zen\, Online 11/16–12/21
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\nSix Mondays\, November 16–December 21\, 9:00 am–11:00 am PT (View in your time zone) \nHow can reading and writing poetry illuminate and uplift our Dharma practice? How does Dharma practice give rise to expressions of poetry? How can both poetry and Zen offer new and refreshed ways of seeing the world around us? \nPoetry has been a means of expression for Zen practitioners for centuries\, as well as a way of teaching the Dharma. In a tradition that aspires to go beyond the words and norms of ordinary language\, the forms and eloquence of poetry have helped generations of Zen students to illuminate the path of practice. \nOver this six-week course\, we will encounter the ancient poetry of Buddhist practitioners in China and Japan\, as well as the work of contemporary poets from around the world today. \nDuring each class\, we will read poetry along themes of Nature\, Perception\, Not-Knowing\, the Everyday\, and we will also experiment with writing through structured exercises. Additional reading and optional writing assignments will be offered between classes\, and participants of the class will have the opportunity to share their work with the class if they so wish. \nThis class is suitable for those approaching the reading and writing of poetry for the first time\, as well as for people more familiar with reading and writing poetry\, who might already have a writing practice in place. \nAnyone hoping to establish or re-ignite a regular poetry-writing practice in conjunction with their meditation practice\, might find this course a useful starting point. \n\nDon’t you know the poems of Han-shan?They’re better for you than scripture-reading.Cut them out and paste them on a screen\,Then you can gaze at them from time to time.— Han Shan (China\, 9th Century) \n\n\nThe winds have died\, but flowers go on falling;birds call\, but silence penetrates each song.The Mystery! Unknowable\, unlearnable.The virtue of Kannon.— Taigu Ryokan (Japan\, 1758–1831) \n\n\nThat great calm being\,this clutter of soup pots and books—Already the first branch-tips brush at the window.Softly\, calmly\, immensity taps at your life.—from “Tree” by Jane Hirshfield (USA\, b. 1953) \n\nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/the-zen-of-poetry-and-the-poetry-of-zen-online-11-16-12-21/2026-11-23/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261123T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261123T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T010104Z
CREATED:20260729T024509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T010104Z
UID:10004193-1795462200-1795467600@www.sfzc.org
SUMMARY:Heart Practices of a Bodhisattva: The Six Paramitas\, CC/Online 10/5–11/23
DESCRIPTION:Use this page to register for the class only. \nIf you would like to register for the full Fall Practice Period\, there is a Residential option or an Online/Commuter option. \nEight Mondays\, October 5–November 23 | 7:30–9:00 pm \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. According 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). Indeed\, these virtues are considered the heart practices of a Bodhisattva. \nIn this eight-week class led by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman\, we’ll explore (through lectures\, readings\, group discussions\, and weekly reflections) each of the six paramitas and ways to cultivate and manifest them in our lives to effect transformation at the personal\, interpersonal\, and societal levels. We will also study examples of the perfections from Shakyamuni Buddha’s own previous lives\, drawn from the Jataka tales. \nYou can attend class in-person at City Center or online via Zoom.  \nNote: The October 12 class will be online for everyone due to a temple-observed holiday. \nRecordings:All course sessions will be recorded\, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
URL:https://www.sfzc.org/event/heart-practices-of-a-bodhisattva-the-six-paramitas-cc-online-10-5-11-23/2026-11-23/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Extended Courses
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