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.
Four Sundays, December 6–27, 11:00 am–1:00 pm PT
“In darkness, we become devoted to clarity, courage, peace, and harmony. We discover the basic goodness of all humanity when we experience darkness together.” —Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
We are conditioned to fear darkness and blackness. We may see the dark as something to run from rather than enter into. Life itself is a dark experience in which the wonders of life flourish. Let's take a courageous journey into the mandala of darkness, where we meet dark mothers from India, Nigeria, Japan, Haiti, and Dahomey who both protect and destroy.
Part of this offering is reflective inquiry, blessings, and meditations to navigate the vast depths of the unseen. The commitment to healing the fear and anxiety around darkness is to discover a collective doorway to healing and deep transformation.
This experiential online retreat offers support for settling into the winter season. Across four Sunday sessions, participants will move through eight gateways aligned with the Buddha’s Eightfold Path, engaging meditations and exercises from Zenju's book Opening to Darkness and sharing what arises. The final gathering will include a recognition of the winter solstice.
About the book
Opening to Darkness invites readers to reconsider darkness and blackness as sacred ground for insight and transformation rather than something to fear or avoid. Drawing on Zen Buddhism and African and Native American Indigenous traditions, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel guides readers through eight gateways inspired by the Eightfold Path, with reflective inquiry, blessings, and meditations for meeting the unseen with greater courage, wisdom, and care.
Opening to Darkness may be purchased from the SFZC Online Bookstore.
Recordings:
All course sessions will be recorded, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
- Benefactor Ticket Price: $280 — supports others’ participation
- Standard ticket price: $224 — covers full program costs
- Member (Become an SFZC Member): $202 — for current SFZC members
- Supported: $134 — community supported rate
- Deeply Supported: $56 — for broadest accessibility
- Current SFZC residents and qualified SFZC retirees may attend this course for free. To register, please email onlineprograms@sfzc.org at least 72 hours before the program begins.
Or call 415-354-0360.
