Special Events & Exhibits

Monday, June 1 – Wednesday, June 3 - During interim there will be no zazen.

We warmly invite you to a special Open House in the spirit of launching our Zen-a-thon 2026 fundraising campaign! Whether you are a longtime practitioner or visiting for the first time, this day is curated to offer a welcoming entry point into the practice of Zen and the life of our temple. Please join us ...

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In celebration of Many Hands, Many Hearts, One Sangha, our Zen-a-thon 2026 fundraiser, SFZC will be hosting a Peace Walk for all to participate. Beginning at the Golden Gate Bridge, SFZC priest Anshi Zachary Smith will lead this 3 mile walk through the Presidio, Crissy Field, and the Marina Green to Fort Mason. There we ...

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Join current practice period co-leader Lucy Xiao for a visual pilgrimage into some of China’s most significant Zen temples. Through photographs and stories, this presentation offers glimpses into the history, culture, and living tradition of Chinese Zen—from retreat practice to visits to temples connected with the development and transmission of Zen across China. We warmly ...

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City Center is closed Friday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. The Online Zendo will not be offered.

What is Baika-ryū Eisanka (Sōtō Zen Buddhist Hymns)? Baika-ryū Eisanka refers to a tradition of Buddhist hymns chanted within the Sōtō Zen school. This tradition was formally established in 1952. Through chanting these hymns, practitioners study the teachings of the Buddha (Shakyamuni), as well as the founding teachers of the Sōtō Zen tradition, Dōgen Zenji ...

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Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4 - City Center, including the offices and zendo as well as the Online Zendo, will be closed Friday July 3 and Saturday July 4. While Green Gulch Farm is still open to hike through, all facilities will be closed on July 4.

Wednesday, July 29—Friday, July 31 - City Center will be closed to the public for our annual three-day Residents Summer Retreat. July 29–July 31:  City Center will be closed, including the Front Office and Bookstore.  There will be no morning or evening public zazen and no Dharma talk on Wednesday, July 29. On Saturday, August ...

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City Center, including the offices, zendo, and bookstore will be closed. The Online Zendo will be closed. Meditation in Recovery will still meet at 7:30 pm PT.

Practice doesn't only happen on the cushion, it happens in connection, too! Join us for a casual gathering of SFZC members to meet one another and build the kind of community that sustains us beyond our time in the zendo. We will be distributing wrist malas (ojuzu) at the gathering. Used for generations to steady ...

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City Center, including the offices and zendo, will be closed in honor of Indigenous People's Day. The Online Zendo will be available.