Ryuko Laura Burges, a lay entrusted dharma teacher in the Soto Zen tradition, teaches classes, lectures, and leads retreats in Northern California. She received monastic training at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and is in long-term recovery. Laura co-founded the Sangha in Recovery Program at the San Francisco Zen Center and is the abiding teacher at […]
DRINKING FROM THE WELL-SPRING OF LIFE WHERE SUFFERING AND ENLIGHTENMENT MEET Come participate in the Practice Circle and listen to and share ways in which your Practice Life offers self-care and well-being for living fully in this ‘world on fire’. Rev. Parāvṛtti Doralee Grindler Katonah serves as Ino, or head of the meditation hall. She […]
Half-day Sitting - in person - 8:30 am - 12 noon. Today concludes the seven days of intensive practice with a half-day sitting and the Buddha's Enlightenment Ceremony. We will gather after the ceremony to share a buffet lunch. Register for week-long program on Eventbrite Full 7-Day Rohatsu Schedule This traditional week of intensified practice […]
Full-Day Sitting - In Person - 8:30 am - 8:45 pm This sitting will be in person at the Dharma Center and will not be offered on Zoom. Traditional oryoki meals will be served at noon and for the "medicine meal" in the evening. Register for week-long program on Eventbrite Full 7-Day Rohatsu Schedule This […]
Morning Rohatsu schedule for Thursday - HYBRID 6:00 am Zazen 6:30 am Kinhin 6:40 am Zazen 7:10 am Service Register for week-long program on Eventbrite Full 7-Day Rohatsu Schedule This traditional week of intensified practice celebrates the enlightenment of our original teacher in India, Shakyamuni Buddha. Rohatsu sesshin is a time for bringing light into […]
The Full Moon Ceremony acknowledges the karma created by our intentional actions, and reminds us to renew our commitment to the ethical conduct expressed as the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts. These are guiding principles for our daily conduct in the world. This ceremony is rooted in a ritual from pre-Buddhist India. To prepare for the ceremony […]
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 […]
Rev. Myō Lahey is Abbot at Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco and Valley Streams' guiding teacher. He previously served as the monastic Prior (Tantō) at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Rev. Lahey is a Dharma heir of Tenshin Reb Anderson. Raised in an observant Roman Catholic home, Myō was drawn to religion and spirituality at […]
Rev. So'on Jim Hare serves as Tanto, or head of practice. He lived in the San Francisco Zen Center community from 1980 to 1984 and was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1985. He served as Head Student at Green Gulch Farm during the spring 2002 practice period, and was priest ordained by Rev. Myo Lahey […]
Come rest in the mystery, practice with great awareness, and experience the mystery unfolding amongst us. The retreat includes periods of zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), and a dharma talk. Please bring a bag lunch and join us for an informal lunch at 12:30 pm. Hot water and tea will be available. Everyone is […]
Our Sejiki, or food-offering, ceremony is an opportunity to call forth the spirits of those who have passed this way before, offering them solace and acknowledging our ongoing connection to them. If you would like the name of a loved one who has died during the past year, recited in the ceremony, please send the full name of […]