Founded in 1962, San Francisco Zen Center is home to a diverse population of students, visitors, lay people, priests, monks, and teachers, all guided by Suzuki Roshi’s style of warm-hand-and-heart to warm-hand-and-heart. San Francisco Zen Center has developed a number of long- and short-term residential programs that allow new and experienced students to immerse themselves in a contemplative life.
Each of our three Northern California locations offers an opportunity to experience the practice of Soto Zen Buddhism, unique to its setting: a vibrant urban community in San Francisco, a beautiful rural farm and garden in Marin County, and a secluded mountain retreat in the Ventana Wilderness.
Life at all three temples includes a daily meditation schedule, mindful work, Dharma talks and classes, one-on-one Dharma discussions with teachers, and living in community with fellow students. Stays can be as short as two weeks, as well as longer commitments such as a practice period (approximately three months), a two-year apprenticeship, or even residency.
Come live the temple life!
Green Gulch Farm: Practicing with the Land
Green Gulch Farm (Green Dragon Temple/Soryu-ji) is located in a beautiful, rural valley adjoining Muir Beach in Marin County, CA. It is a working organic farm as well as a Zen training temple. Along with working on the farm/garden or in the kitchen or guest house, Green Gulch offers training in Soto Zen and year-long apprenticeships in Land Stewardship and other programs.
Guest Student Program Student stays range from from a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of six weeks.
Practice Period Student Students come for the duration of a Practice Period, an eight-week training period with a focus on a specific course of study.
Apprenticeship Programs This program integrates Zen training with working and learning about Farm and Land Stewardship, Vegetarian Kitchen Practice, or Zen Temple Hospitality. A minimum stay of 3 – 6 months is required depending on the apprenticeship program.
Tassajara: Practicing in the Mountains
Tassajara will be open in the following ways in 2025:
- Practice Periods at Tassajara
- Summer Practice 2025 - April 8 and ends on September 22.
City Center: Practicing in the City
City Center (Beginner’s Mind Temple/Hosshin-ji) was established in 1969 and was home to SFZC founder Shunryu Suzuki Roshi until his death in 1971. City Center is located in a historic Julia Morgan building (built in 1922) in the Hayes Valley/Lower Haight neighborhood in central San Francisco. Here students experience how classic Zen training is shaped and informed by a lively urban environment.
Applications for residential life are currently being accepted for 2025.
See below for information on our residential programs: