Upcoming

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.

after the Dharma talk on February 15th (this Saturday), we will have one of our monthly founder memorials for Rev. Issan Dorsey. Please join us.

please also remember the temple will be closed for Presidents day.

This Saturday dharma talk from the Abbot;

February 22, Talk offered by Rev Koshin, Steven Tierney (more details to post soon);

Monday, February 17 – Presidents day – Issan-ji Temple will be closed in honor of Presidents who live by their parallel ways of our 8 fold path.

art credit: https://teahouse.buddhistdoor.net/buddhism-and-today-ancient-principles-contemporary-conscience/

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.

In one of the final talks before Tova heads to SFZC’s retirement community, this Saturday she will join us at HSZC/Issan-ji Temple where she has given a number of talks in past years.

Tova Green, she/her, is a resident priest at San Francisco Zen Center. She was ordained in 2003 and received Dharma transmission from Eijun Linda Cutts in 2015. Tova is the Branching Streams Director, supporting and connecting the 75+ Zen Centers and sanghas in the Suzuki Roshi lineage. She also writes blogs for SFZC’s online newsletter, Sangha News. Tova co-founded SFZC’s Queer Dharma group and has been involved in Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives during her twenty-four years as a resident. She has worked with those who are approaching death as a hospice social worker and as a priest. Tova enjoys reading and writing poetry and playing the cello.

Join us Saturday 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.

We hope the year has started off well for you both by gregorian calendar and the new lunar year as of yesterday.

Our lunar/Chinese new year joss and daruma burning was a nice event with chinese new year decoration and treats. Welcome to the year of the wood snake.

After our usual Saturday program we will celebrate the lunar new year by engaging in traditions of Chinese culture from which also formed Ch’an which came to Japan known as Zen. After the Dharma talk we will offer some Chinese New year décor, treats and offer joss paper offerings to our family and friends who have gone beyond, Please join us!

In addition to the actual Lunar New Year beginning for the year of the Chinese astrology snake and element wood, just a few days apart, is also our founder (soto zen) in Japan is known to have been born January 26, 1200- Zen Master Dōgen Zenj

Happy new year in Mandarin is xīn nián kuài lè (新年快乐). In Cantonese, it’s gong hei fat choy. 

• Xīn nián kuài lè(新年快乐) A formal greeting that means “New Year happiness” 
• Xīn nián hao(新年好) A shortened version of xīn nián kuài lè that’s often used with friends and family 
• Gōng xǐ fā cái(恭喜发财) A common greeting that means “wishing you great happiness and prosperity” 
• Wàn shì rú yì(万事如意) A common wish that means “may everything that you wish come true” 
  
  The Year of the Wood Snake is a time for growth, introspection, and transformation. 
• It’s a time to encourage inner reflection and outward progress. 
• It’s a time to embrace change and make major breaks with the past. 

What are the characteristics of the Wood Snake?

• The Wood Snake combines the characteristics of the Snake with the nurturing and expansive qualities of Wood. 
• People born in the Year of the Snake are said to be wise, calm, resourceful, and observant. 
• They are also said to be natural-born explorers, curious, charming, and determined. 
• The last Year of the Wood Snake was in 1965.

Before the new year offerings: 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. We enjoy tea and cookies together afterwards and will combine this lunar new year event. 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.

Our founder (soto zen)in Japan is known to have been born January 26, 1200- Zen Master Dōgen Zenj –

And on Monday our country recognizes the very deeply meaningful life work of Dr. Martin Luther Jr, for which the temple will be closed in recognition and honor of.

Please join us to continue our exploration of Dōgen ZenJi’s Shōbōgenzō – THIS THURSDAY. To be included on the weekly invite and reminder with Zoom details, please email: info@hszc.org We hope to see you there online or in person at Issan-Ji Temple!