Tassajara’s ninety-day practice periods (one in Winter and one in Fall) follow the traditional Soto Zen monastic schedule and allow experienced practitioners to join with the community in intensive practice at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji–Zen Heart-Mind Temple). Links to applications, guidelines, and a list of items to bring are available on each practice period page (see links below). Participants are required to have completed a practice period at either City Center or Green Gulch Farm to apply for a Tassajara practice period.
Practice Period Fees
The fee for practice period covers room, board, and tuition. Please see individual practice period descriptions for fee amount. There are no financial credits or scholarships offered for practice periods; however, a credit for one or two practice periods (which includes room, board, and tuition) may be earned by participating in the Summer Student Program or the Work Practice Apprenticeship Program.
Typical Practice Period Schedule
| 4:30 am | Wake-up Bell |
| 5:00 | Zazen |
| 5:40 | Kinhin |
| 5:50 | Zazen |
| 6:30 | Morning Service |
| 7:05 | Breakfast |
| 8:15 | Study |
| 9:00 | Soji (or 9:10 Dharma event) |
| 9:50 | Zazen |
| 10:30 | Kinhin |
| 10:40 | Zazen |
| 11:20 | Noon Service |
| 11:30 | Lunch |
| 1:15 pm | Work meeting |
| 3:45 | Abbot bath time |
| 4:15 | End work/student bath and exercise |
| 5:50 | Evening Service |
| 6:00 | Dinner |
| 7:45 | Zazen |
| 8:25 | Refuges |
| 9:00 | Firewatch |