Summer 2026 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

Curious About Zen?

Join Us This Summer!

April 7 – September 22

 


Learn more about applying to be a Summer 2026 Student

Summer practice at Tassajara offers the opportunity to live in an intentional spiritual community nestled in a mountain valley in California's Ventana Wilderness. During the summer, students engage in work practice to care for each other, the guests, and the beautiful gardens. The days begin and end with meditation and Zen chanting and bowing, creating a gentle introduction to Zen training and fostering a culture of connection. Stay for as little as two weeks or as long as the whole summer, and experience the richness of Zen practice in community. There is no charge to participate in the summer program.

An Invitation from Abbot Mako

"In a world that often feels fractured and overwhelming, Tassajara offers something increasingly precious: a place to let our natural kindness unfold, to establish a steady posture of sitting, and to touch into the boundless intimacy that flows from forgetting everything you think you know. We practice together not to escape the world’s suffering, but to cultivate the wisdom and compassion needed to meet it fully."

Read the full letter here


 

What Does the Tassajara Summer Program Offer?
Work Practice
  • Work practice is an integral part of Zen practice, where students bring mindful attention to daily tasks alongside other students
  • Students engage in mindful work practice to help care for the community in the kitchen, garden, shop, bookstore, and dining room
  • Please indicate on your application if you have prior kitchen experience or trade skills!
Visiting Teachers
  • Weekly talks by Zen teachers
  • Classes on Zen and Buddhism
  • Opportunity to interact with visiting guests and Zen practitioners from around the world
Mountains, Creeks and Amenities
  • All vegetarian meals and housing provided
  • Spring-fed swimming pool
  • Japanese-style hot springs
  • Swimming holes along the creek
  • Extensive Buddhist library
  • Yoga space
  • Vast hiking trails
  • Body work when available
Student Community
  • All students follow the same temple schedule and eat together, which fosters unity and a shared experience
  • Student-only events include classes, community meetings, small groups, skit night
  • Make new friends and experience the intimacy of spiritual community
Intro to Zen Training
  • 1:1 meetings with Zen teachers to discuss meditation and work practice
  • Optional half-day sittings
  • Daily morning and evening meditation
  • Learn Zen forms including meditation posture, daily chanting, and playing ceremonial instruments

 

Join Our Summer and Year-Long Cohort Programs

Students who join as part of a cohort can experience intimate connection and community with their peers as they move through residential life and practice together.

Summer Cohort: People who live at Tassajara continuously for 3-5 months can apply for the Work Practice Apprenticeship (WPA). They meet regularly in small groups with a teacher to study Zen practice, discuss community life, and support each other.

One-Year Cohort: Students who are accepted for the fall and winter practice periods move through the year with their cohort, deepening their shared experience and understanding of Zen/Buddhism. Practitioners who immerse themselves in monastic training for a year have found it truly transformative.The friendships forged amid the mountains, trees, and creeks of Tassajara often last a lifetime.


 

Cost

  • There is no cost to participate in the Summer Program. All vegetarian meals and housing are included.
     
  • Participants who stay for three to five months and become Work Practice Apprentices receive a small monthly stipend and earn practice period credits that do not expire (valued at $3,870 each) — an exceptional opportunity for anyone seeking deeper practice.

 


 

Read about the experiences of past Tassajara summer students on our Tassajara Testimonials page.
Follow us on Instagram at @tassajaratales to get a peek into student residential life.
 

 

Apply to be a Summer 2026 Student

Summer Season: April 7–September 22, 2026

  • Priority Deadline: February 15, 2026
  • Regular Deadline: March 15, 2026

Note: Longer-term stays and early applications receive priority in both acceptance and housing.

 Tassajara Summer Student Application

 

Practice Period Credit Deadlines

  • Two credits: Arrive by April 22, 2026 (minimum 5-month stay)
  • One credit: Arrive by June 22, 2026 (minimum 3-month stay)

Additional Information