Updates

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 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 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 for those who celebrate a holiday over the next months that you have a wonderful season with joy, equanimity and love. A reminder that Dec 8th is the east Asia Bodhi day or Rohatsu observed date (Enlightenment and becoming Buddha) to celebrate.

And in honor of the holidays that tend to also influence into government holidays in the USA, ahead of us we will also be closed on the following dates:

December: 24th through 28th 2024
January 1st & 2nd 2025

We apologize but unfortunately due to lack of resources and significant hit from illness/injury of a core essential resource we will not have the winter light retreat for 2024. Please find some extra time and effort to engage and enrich your practice and join us for the usual routine schedule.

Wishing you all health and safety and a a bright transition into 2025 in your heart regardless of the stirrings and media frenzies about and creating stirrings far and very far from us.

To a peaceful entry and heart in 2025 and still as much joy and love as can be had including with our community (Sangha) at Issan- ji temple.

Please note we will be closed the following days in November:

November 20 evening session (6pm PT)
November 27, 28, 29 & 30th. ~~~ Happy Thanksgiving~~~

beginning schedule again Dec 3rd (Tuesday AM schedule)

And please note: We are starting to seek input on interest and those who know or believe they will want to join our annual winter light retreat (around rohatsu). If you think you will join please shoot us an email indicating so at: info@hszc.org — For anyone unsure of the retreat here are the details of years past and would for 2024 would be, roughly on about Dec 4-8.

Fugan Eugene (Gene) Bush began formal Zen practice in 1982 and received Dharma transmission from the late Rev. Katherine Thanas in 2010. Gene serves as one of the Practice Leaders of Santa Cruz Zen Center.

He also became a teacher for the Arcata Zen Group in 2013, with occasional forays to Hartford Street Zen Center and to Queer Dharma at San Francisco Zen Center.

REQUEST of YOU – We are starting to seek input on interest and those who know or believe they will want to join our annual winter light retreat (around rohatsu). If you think you will join please shoot us an email indicating so at: info@hszc.org — For anyone unsure of the retreat here are the details of years past and would for 2024 would be, roughly on about Dec 4-8.

We hope you can join us Saturday and a Retreat!

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 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.

Veteran’s Day: Zendō CLOSED

We’ll continue our custom of observing the national holidays by closing the
zendō (meditation hall) all day Monday, 11 November. Our regular schedule of
zazen (seated meditation) will resume Tuesday morning, 12 November, at 6:30
a.m. Please have an enjoyable holiday, everyone!

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.

REQUEST of YOU – We are starting to seek input on interest and those who know or believe they will want to join our annual winter light retreat (around rohatsu). If you think you will join please shoot us an email indicating so at: info@hszc.org — For anyone unsure of the retreat here are the details of years past and would for 2024 would be, roughly on about Dec 4-8.

We hope you can join us Saturday and a Retreat!

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 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.

Hallowe’en/An Samhain Closure…

In the spirit of the season, our zendō will be CLOSED on Friday, 01 November (Feast of All Saints). We’ll resume our regular schedule of zazen and chanting at 06:30 a.m. on Saturday. Have a safe and enjoyable Samhain (pron. SO-en), everyone!