Both the tradition of early Buddhism and the Zen tradition emphasize the Practice of Awakening. In this Intensive, which is held in Tassajara, a Zen center in the midst of the Ventana wilderness, we will practice and study the main principles of both traditions and explore how they can support awakening in everyday life.
This three-week Intensive offers an opportunity for experienced meditators to engage in the Zen residential practice of Tassajara. Our schedule will include morning and evening zazen; formal meals; work practice; dharma talks; and individual and group practice discussions with the teachers. The practice includes a seven-day sesshin and some daylong sittings.
The Intensive begins on July 8 with two restful days for settling in, establishing the practice community, and becoming familiar or re-familiar with Tassajara.
For those interested, there will be an option for participants to apply to remain at Tassajara for the remainder of the summer.
Health & Safety Protocols
Intensive participants are required to be fully vaccinated (two weeks from final shot) for Covid-19 by the arrival date. Vaccination documentation will be requested during the application process. Covid policies at Tassajara are subject to change and are reviewed regularly by SFZC’s Health & Safety team. Before applying, please read the full details of current protocols, available here. As always during Tassajara practice periods, participants will commit to not leaving Tassajara for the duration (except by arrangement or emergencies). If you have any questions related to Covid guidelines or vaccination, please contact the reservations office: reservations@sfzc.org
To Apply:
Registration/application process is closed.
Please note: The application deadline is May 20, 2023. Notification of acceptance will be by May 27. If the number of applicants exceeds available space, a lottery will be conducted.
If you need a decision prior to May 27, please contact reservations@sfzc.org.
Notice: Recording of sessions. Sessions from this program will be video- and audio-recorded for future use by San Francisco Zen Center. This may include creation of courses, informational series, and short promotional excerpts from this and other material. Recording will be focused on the teachers and will not include video of any participants, unless they give specific consent to be filmed. Question-and-answer sessions will be recorded, with video showing only the teachers. At any time, when asking a question, participants may request that their question not be recorded or—if already recorded—not be included in any materials released in the future.
Offered on a Dāna Basis
As SFZC continues to explore how to best make Dharma practice available to all and cover its expenses, it has been decided to offer the Summer Intensive on a dāna basis (by donation) to all who want to wholeheartedly participate. We believe this contributes to a field of mutual generosity supportive of everyone’s practice of the Bodhisattva way. It is Paul and Gil’s aspiration that this openhanded offering of Dharma practice will support the Zen Center Sangha in all ways, including financially. For those who participate, there will be an opportunity to offer dāna at the end of the Summer Intensive.
For anyone not coming to the Summer Intensive who would like to financially support both this intensive and the experiment it provides San Francisco Zen Center, Gil and Paul will offer two Zoom meetings to discuss the Summer Intensive, its theme, and the dāna (generosity) approach by which the Intensive is offered. One meeting will be before the Summer Intensive and one will be after. To participate in this way as a “supporter of the Summer Intensive sangha” make a donation here.
Application deposit: A refundable deposit of $250 via credit card is required to reserve a space in the Summer Intensive. Your card will only be charged if:
(1) you are accepted into the intensive and cancel after the cancellation deadline (three weeks before the start of the intensive) or
(2) you are accepted into the intensive and do not attend.
Please indicate any physical conditions that may require you to be housed in a private room.
For any cancellations, please inform the reservations office: reservations@sfzc.org
