Category: Self

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February 9th, 2026 – Dharma Talk by Susan Moon

Dharma Talk given on Monday, February 9th, 2026 – Susan Moon (9.8 MB, 29 min).

Susan Moon

Susan Moon

Visiting Teacher

Susan Moon is a writer, editor, and lay teacher in the Soto Zen tradition. She is the author of a number of books about Buddhism, including the humor book The Life and Letters of Tofu Roshi and This Is Getting Old: Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity. For many years she was the editor of Turning Wheel, the journal of socially engaged Buddhism. Her short stories and essays have been published widely. Sue has been a Zen student since 1976, practicing in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi at Berkeley Zen Center, Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery, Green Gulch Farm, and now with Zoketsu Norman Fischer’s Everyday Zen sangha. She received “entrustment” as a lay teacher in 2005.
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July 21st, 2025 – Dharma Talk by Eli Brown-Stevenson

Dharma Talk given on Monday, July 21st, 2025 – Eli Brown-Stevenson (12.3 MB, 48 min).

Eli Brown-Stevenson

Eli Brown-Stevenson

Visiting Teacher

Eli Brown-Stevenson has spent the past decade living at Tassajara and City Center (SFZC). He is currently a resident priest in the city and serves as the Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the three temples. Prior to joining SFZC, Eli worked in the secular world, most notably in for-profit education and as a benefits liaison for employee wellness programs. After a decade of exploring various practices, he decided to leave the corporate world and immerse himself in formal residential practice. Eli’s Zen practice is deeply influenced by his main teacher, Maya—his daughter whom he met when she was born in 2017. In 2019, Eli received priest ordination from Abbot Ed Sattizahn and was given the Dharma name So-On Gen Kan, which means “Ancestor Warmth Present Completely.” Eli was the shuso (head student) for the Fall 2022 practice period at City Center.
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June 7th, 2025 – “Letting Go of Self-Concern” – Dharma Talk by Rev. So’on Jim Hare

Dharma Talk given on Saturday, June 7th, 2025 – Rev. So’on Jim Hare (11.1 MB, 43 min).

So’on Jim Hare

So'on Jim Hare

Board of Directors, Practice Committee, Teachers

Serves as Tanto, or head of practice. He lived in the San Francisco Zen Center community from 1980 to 1984; was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1985, and priest ordained by Myō Lahey in 2016. He served as Shuso (Head Student) at Green Gulch Farm during the spring 2002 practice period.  Jim offers practice discussion upon request at info@valleystreamszen.org.

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June 17th, 2024 – Dharma Talk by Rev. Mary Mocine

Dharma Talk given on Monday, June 17th, 2024 –  Rev. Mary Mocine (12.3 MB, 50 min).

Zenki Mary Mocine

Zenki Mary Mocine

Visiting Teacher

Reverend Mary Mocine is abbess of Clear Water Zendo in Vallejo. She was trained at San Francisco and Berkeley Zen Centers, and Tassajara Zen Monastery. She was ordained in 1994 by Sojun Mel Weitsman, former Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center and continuing Abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. Reverend Mocine has also trained with Abbess Zenkei Blanche Hartman and former Abbots Zoketsu Norman Fischer and Tenshin Reb Anderson of the San Francisco Zen Center. She received dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman in May 2005.
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June 3rd, 2024 – Dharma Talk by Rev. So’on Jim Hare

Dharma Talk given on Monday, June 3rd, 2024 –  Rev. So’on Jim Hare (14.3 MB, 58 min).

So’on Jim Hare

So'on Jim Hare

Board of Directors, Practice Committee, Teachers

Serves as Tanto, or head of practice. He lived in the San Francisco Zen Center community from 1980 to 1984; was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1985, and priest ordained by Myō Lahey in 2016. He served as Shuso (Head Student) at Green Gulch Farm during the spring 2002 practice period.  Jim offers practice discussion upon request at info@valleystreamszen.org.

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May 1st, 2023 – “Not Like a Hermit Crab” – Dharma Talk by Myo Lahey

Dharma Talk given on Monday, May 1st, 2023 –  Myo Lahey (12.9 MB, 54 min).

Myō Denis Lahey

Myō Denis Lahey

Teachers

Rev. Myō Lahey is the guiding teacher for our sangha.  Rev. Myō became interested in Zen as a teenager and started full-time residential practice at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982. He received dharma transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999 and served as head of practice at Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery from 2000 – 2002. He is now Abbot of Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco. (http://www.hszc.org)
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January 7th, 2023 – There is no “you” to say “I” – Dharma Talk by Rev. So’on Jim Hare

Dharma Talk given on Saturdat, January 7th, 2023 –  Rev. So’on Jim Hare (12.9 MB, 48 min).

So’on Jim Hare

So'on Jim Hare

Board of Directors, Practice Committee, Teachers

Serves as Tanto, or head of practice. He lived in the San Francisco Zen Center community from 1980 to 1984; was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1985, and priest ordained by Myō Lahey in 2016. He served as Shuso (Head Student) at Green Gulch Farm during the spring 2002 practice period.  Jim offers practice discussion upon request at info@valleystreamszen.org.