Tassajara

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center


Tassajara is a natural hot springs located in a remote valley in the heart of the Ventana Wilderness in California. It was founded in 1967 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi as Zenshinji (Zen Heart-Mind Temple). Tassajara is a Zen training temple that offers intensive practice periods in the fall and winter.


Tassajara will be open in the following ways for Zen practice in 2023:

  • Summer Work Practice — for returning SFZC students and new students with Zen teacher recommendation
  • The Practice of Awakening: Tassajara Summer Practice Intensive led by Gil Fronsdal and Ryushin Paul Haller, July 8 – 29; application deadline: May 20, 2023.
  • Throughout the summer, Branching Streams Sanghas will visit to practice together at Tassajara. Contact your local Sangha to learn if they are planning a visit.
  • Fall 2023 Practice Period, led by Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel, September 21 – December 15. Applications are due by August 10.

For residential and apprenticeship programs at all three SFZC locations, see our Live the Temple Life page.

The Summer Guest Season of past years will be closed in 2023 and Tassajara will not be operating as a guest and retreat center for this summer.