Sejiki Ceremony, CC 10/31

Practice Center
Date / Time
October 31, 2025 / 5:45pm - 6:30pm
Event Type
Ceremonies
Description

There will be no 5:40pm zazen

Sejiki is a traditional Japanese Zen Buddhist ceremony for the spirits of departed ones. This powerful ceremony summons forth all restless spirits and pacifies agitation and violence within and without. It includes a reading of the names of close friends and family members who have died.

While similar ceremonies are held in Japan during Obon, San Francisco Zen Center has traditionally held Sejiki around Halloween, a secularized religious tradition that acknowledges the dead and their continued connection to the living.

There is a moment in the ceremony when the names of people who have died in the past year are recited. If you would like to have a name included in the ceremony, please email the City Center Ino at ccino@sfzc.org by Tuesday, October 24.

Costumes are wholeheartedly encouraged but not necessary. After the ceremony, we will host a dinner in our dining room – please register below if you plan to stay for dinner.

A note for parents: Children are welcome but please note that the ceremony includes loud, cacophonous sounds and some scary imagery.

See the SFZC Sangha News blog post Sejiki Ceremony at City Center for more details.

Registration Information

Please register by October 28 so we know how many people to cook for. Suggested donation is $15 which will be collected at the door. Cash and Venmo only.

Register Online