Category: News

Please join us on the 13th of July, Saturday morning for a Dharma talk by Rev. Ryuei, Michael McCormick, who was ordained to the Nichiren-shū (Lotus Sutra School) ministry in 2001 by Rev. Ryusho Matsuda, of the San Jose Nichiren Temple.

Rev. McCormick is also a long-time practitioner of zazen (seated meditation) and a student of the writings of Dōgen-zenji.

He will be joining us from Brazil (Brasil). We hope you can join us!

Join us 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 to socialize). 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.

We hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday celebrating the birth of our government. Issan-ji temple / HSZC will be closed for this, Thursday, July 4th.

And we want to invite you to join us Saturday July 6 for a talk from HSZC’s resident Priest , Tanto and Board President, Rev. Daiko Tanzen, David Bullock!  One of our current connection to the early days of Hartford Street’s Zen Center founding, the garden’s long term friend, and many other capacities past and present of HSZC (as well as the past Maitri); who was ordained by the temple’s founder – Rev. Issan Dorsey. 

We hope you can join us!

Join us 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 to socialize). 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.

wishing you memorable joys and feelings of inclusive supported lives.

please do not forget your little zen temple founded to support this (our) community…

and consider or pass along an opportunity for short or longer term student resident Soto Zen practice! See above posts on that.

have a wonderful weekend of celebration

events: https://sfpride.org/

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.

We hope you can join us!

Join us 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 to socialize). 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.

With special intentions of love, peace and harmony for all beings on this planet in a time still where globally LGBTQ+ peoples are not still yet equal citizens and are treated with negativity. At times the hatred due to misguided societies who often misquote or add intolerance to their religious teachings, to minimize or hurt healthy fully perfected individuals out of lack of education and exposure to the beauty of diverse people.

Wishes hopes and action for a day where we have a fully enlightened world where we all respect and care for one another as part of our same human family.

Issan-ji temple was founded to support and still primary attended and funded by the LGBTQ+ community and supports and invites all beings, but we as always and as founded for, will always exist to ensure this community has access and invitation to the Buddha Way through Soto Zen’s path; in a neighborhood that formed and still stands for love in an equal and legitimate way.

For Issan-ji temple, Hartford Street Zen Center this is a very special time of year.

Hello from Issan-ji…

This evening we wish to reignite the weekly study hour, and as before, we ask that you please opt-in by replying to this note if you wish to attend; the timing, as of old, will be 1930hrs to 2030hrs, making it a literal hour.

We’ll aim to send a functional zoom link around 1900hrs this evening to everyone who has replied, if there is a “quorum”, or a postponement, if not. 🤷🏻‍♂️

We’ll pick up where we left off by looking into Shō Bō Gen Zō “Koku“, or “Space”, which is essay #77 in vol. 2 of Kaz Tanahashi’s masterful translation.

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.

We wanted to take a moment to join in the celebration and honoring of this month’s heritage for:

Asian Americans
Native Hawaiian &
Pacific Islanders

And as such we recognize these rich and in many areas ancient culture and those who have come to the Unites States to build the fabric of our rich varied history. There are many interesting statements and history being published and events occurring throughout the country and one of interest is here at the Smithsonian: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Smithsonian Institution