Services, Sutras, Texts & Songs

Service in the City Center Buddha HallThe practice transmitted to us by our founder Suzuki Roshi and other early teachers included the formal rituals and ceremonies that are practiced at Zen monasteries in Japan. San Francisco Zen Center has carried on these traditional services, translating them into English and adapting them to modern needs as living practices. Here are links to audio files and PDF files of many of these services. The audio files were recorded at City Center; services are similar at all three practice places. Also included below are two songs written by sangha members.  Audio files will open in a new browser window.

For a description of some of the chants that we do at SFZC, Green Gulch Farm Abiding Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler has prepared this helpful guide.

Services & Ceremonies

Recordings

Monday morning service at City Center |  Listen  (19:40)
Chanting during serviceTuesday morning service at City Center | Listen  (20:55)
Wednesday morning service at City Center |  Listen  (17:20)
Thursday morning service at City Center |  Listen  (19:30)
Full Moon Ceremony at City Center |  Listen  (30:55)
One Day Sitting morning service at City Center | Listen  (28:50)

Texts

Full Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony |  Download PDF 

Daily Sutras, Verses and Texts

Table of Contents | Download PDF
Short Verses |  Download PDF
Meal Verses |  Download PDF
Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra |  Download PDF
Makka Hannya Haramitta Shin Gyo |  Download PDF
Hymn to the Perfection of Wisdom,
Shosaimyo Kichijo Dharani, Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo |  Download PDF
Loving Kindness Meditation |  Download PDF
Harmony of Difference and Equality |  Download PDF
Sandokai |  Download PDF
Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi |  Download PDF
Hokyo Zammai |  Download PDF
Fukanzazengi |  Download PDF
Genjo Koan |  Download PDF
Self-Receiving and Employing Samadhi |  Download PDF
Eihei Koso Hotsuganmon |  Download PDF
Gate of Sweet Dew |  Download PDF
Kan Ro Mon |  Download PDF
Names of the Buddhas and Ancestors |  Download PDF
Names of the Women Ancestors |  Download PDF
Dai Hi Shin Dharani |  Download PDF

Special Ekos (dedication of merit)

Ten Year Memorial for 9/11 |  Download PDF
Memorial Service |   Download PDF
Dedications for 7th to 49th Day Memorials |  Download PDF
Transition Memorial |  Download PDF
Autumn Equinox |  Download PDF
Winter Solstice |  Download PDF
Spring Equinox |  Download PDF
Summer Solstice |  Download PDF

Songs

Songs by Greg Fain w/ Ben Gustin |  Our Hero |  Listen  (4:46)
Songs by Ben Gustin | Bodhidharma | Listen  (2:20)