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SEEKING

The Hartford Street Zen Center – Issan-Ji Temple is a Soto Zen temple for the LGBTQ+ community, friends and allies in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood.

We have an opening for a short-term Guest or longer-term Resident Student, and invite you to apply if of interest.  Special invitation is extended to the LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. And Soto Zen ordained clergy are also very welcome to apply! 

Having lived in community, especially Soto Zen, or other Zen, meditation centered, or Buddhist communities is a big plus, as temple life has its own rhythm and unique attributes which are conducive to practice. The lifestyle is different from that of living alone, with a family, or with a romantic partner. 

What’s involved? You’re a student engaging in a full practice with a room to occupy as a student under the HSZC clergy warm guiding support. It is possible to continue working life alongside resident student activities in the temple. The details of the residential student role, requirements (for longer-term stay), and asks, is outlined in our temple roles document found here (near last page of document for residential student requirements and note we have no sangha council in operation currently). There is a cost in the form of tuition which you can discuss with inquiry. Tuition is in the range of $650 to $750 per month, and is contingent on involvement in temple activities, practice, and residential student status. In addition to daily practice and clergy guidance, tuition includes a bedroom, and shared access to much of the building – with some specific asks around use of the building as stated in the residential student outline.

Tuition is not a rent nor rental agreement, and does not include food/meals. Paper products and utilities for the temple are provided by the Hartford Street Zen Center organization, and we ask that they be used with consideration and care of our limited budget. 

After you have reviewed the role and requirements for resident student or short-term guest, please come by and meet the Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey. Joining for the Saturday program and meeting during tea & cookies is likely the ideal time. Best if possible also to send an email beforehand to info@hszc.org to lightly introduce yourself. Additionally there is a tuition expense you can discuss with inquiry.

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7 June, speaker will be Rev. Koshin, Steven Tierney

Steven Tierney (Kai Po Koshin) is a Dharma transmitted teacher in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Steven is the guiding teacher at Oceans Compassion Zen Community, Meditation in Recovery Sangha at SFZC and the SFLGBTQA+ Sangha. He also practices with Hartford Street Zen Center and Great Spirit Sangha, and Sellwood Soto Zen.  Steven believes that we can find wisdom, compassion and awakening wherever good people come together for practice, healing, service and joy.

Dr. Tierney is a psychotherapist in private practice and Professor Emeritus in Counseling Psychology at CIIS. He has been integrating meditation, mindfulness, and breath-based wellness initiatives since 1995.  For further information: steventierneysf@gmail.com

Join us Saturdays for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events.

There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at ~9am). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.

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24 May – 花祭り(Hana-matsuri)  – Buddha’s Birthday with suggested and reminded extended sitting and walking meditation periods (full usual Saturday schedule)

 Please join our community of support for recognition of Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha’s 2588th birthday!  

“I am chief of the world,
Eldest am I in the world,
Foremost am I in the world
This is the last birth.
There is now no more coming to be.”

We wanted to remind and encourage the usual sitting meditation and walking periods on Saturday to begin at 6:30am on Saturday and include Kinhin (walking mediation) rounds up uto the more heavily attended Saturday routine –

remember the sangha (community) jewel is a vital part of our Zen practice and best way to celebrate the buddha’s birth!  

Join us Saturdays for zazen (seated meditation) and Kinhin rounds at 6:30am, and our usual schedule with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events.

A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, Kinhin about 10 minutes each and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.
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17 May 2025 – Guest Speaker Rev. Daigan Gather

Rev. Daigan Gaither began Buddhist practice in 1995 in the Vipassana (Insight) tradition, and then began to study Zen in 2003 with Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi. He received Lay Ordination in 2006 where he was given the name Daigan or “Great Vow”, and received Priest Ordination in July 2011. Daigan speaks internationally on a variety of topics particularly around gender, sexuality, social justice and their intersections with the Dharma.

He has a BA in Philosophy and Religion from San Francisco State University, and an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Graduate Theological Union and the Institute of Buddhist Studies.

Join us Saturdays for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events.

There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at ~9am). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.

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Guest Speaker – 10 May – Rev. Hokyo Lorenzo Garbo

Rev. Hokyo Lorenzo Garbo first came to Zen practice in 2001, and studied mostly as a non-resident at Green Gulch Farm while working as a college professor in Southern California.

He received the bodhisattva precepts from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2006 during a sabbatical year spent in residence at Green Gulch, and became a full-time resident at City Center in 2020. He received priest ordination from Kiku Christina Lehnherr in 2023 and currently serves as the San Francisco Zen Center’s director of the Hospitality department.

Join us Saturdays for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events.

There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at ~9am). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.

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26 April- Speaker: Rev. Koshin, Steven Tierney

Steven Tierney (Kai Po Koshin) is a Dharma transmitted teacher in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Steven practices with: Meditation in Recovery, Great Spirit, SFLGBTQA, and Dragons Leap Sanghas in addition to the Harford Street Zen Center. Steven believes that we can find wisdom, compassion and awakening wherever good people come together for practice, healing, service and joy. Tierney is a psychotherapist in private practice and Professor Emeritus in Counseling Psychology at CIIS.

Join us Saturdays for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events.

There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at ~9am). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.

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19 April 2025 Guest Speaker, Rev. So’on Jim Hare @10:30am

Rev So’on is a Board of Directors, Practice Committee, Teacher of the *Valley Streams Sangha – In Sacramento, California.

At Valley Streams he serves as Tanto, or head of practice. He lived in the San Francisco Zen Center community from 1980 to 1984, was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1985, and priest ordained by Myo Lahey in 2016. He served as Head Student at Green Gulch Farm during the spring 2002 practice period.

Additionally he is on the HSZC board of Directors and participates in some of our activities and most routinely the Winter Light Retreat held early December each calendar year and has practiced and studied with our Abbot for quite some time.

*Valley Streams Zen Sangha is dedicated to the study of Buddha’s teaching and the practice of meditation. We invite newcomers and experienced Zen students to join us.

Their sangha is maintained by a community of people who have traveled many different paths. We come together to support each other in practicing Buddha’s way.

Valley Streams Zen Sangha Like Issanji Temple/HSZC is affiliated with the Branching Streams network of the San Francisco Zen Center. Our forms and practice are inspired by the teachings of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.

Please join us Saturdays for zazen (seated meditation) at 9:30am, with the Dharma talk to follow at 10:30. We offer in-person distanced attendance, and we also will continue to offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events.

There’s an earlier sitting at 6:30am, in addition to the later one at 9:30am (you can log into the conference starting at ~9am). A period of zazen is typically 40 minutes, and it’s ok to adjust your sitting posture as needed. The Dharma talk includes time for questions and answers, occasionally followed by a particular ceremony such as the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering  

And as always you can contact us to arrange an introductory session ~8:45am if you are a beginner.

As a reminder any week you do not see a speaker announced it is our Abbot, Rev. Myo Lahey.