Updates

Renshin Bunce was a resident of SF Zen Center from 2001 to 2008, first for three years at Tassajara and then for four more years at City Center. She is an author of the book Entering the Monastery.

She is also known for her photographs, and her page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/renshin/ has been called “The Zen Center Yearbook.”

Ren made jukai with Myogen Steve Stücky in 1996, when he gave her the name Renshin Jiko (Lotus Heart/Mind, Boundless Compassion); was priest ordained with Zenkei Blanche Hartman in 2003; was Shuso with Myogen-roshi at Tassajara in 2008; and received Dharma Transmission from him in 2013. She lives on the Peninsula, where she works as a hospice chaplain.

You may join the Zoom meeting for meditation any time starting at 9 a.m. Zazen begins at 9:25 a.m. followed by the Dharma talk. The link is: https://zoom.us/j/167153141

Please join us for a Dharma talk by Rev. Steven, priest-ordained by Rev. Dairyu Michael Wenger, and who is a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and frequent consultant to mental health and recovery programs, as well as group facilitator for our Issan-ji Sangha (community of practitioners). We’ll have zazen (seated meditation) as usual at 9:25, with the talk to follow at 9:45. Everyone is welcome!

You may join the Zoom meeting for meditation any time starting at 9 a.m. The link is: https://zoom.us/j/167153141

Dear Sangha-Friend,

We hope that this letter finds you safe and well in these difficult times.

May the Dharma be a support and comfort to you in facing the challenges that we now confront together.  Unlike crises in the past, when we could come together, warm hand to warm hand, and tend to our sick, now we must somehow care for each other while remaining physically apart. Throughout these painful days, we hold you in our prayers for well-being.

And necessity moves us humbly to ask that, if you are able, please consider making a donation in support of the Hartford Street Zen Center. We are offering Dharma activities online for the time being. While we are also looking forward to opening the temple once again as a place of meeting with warm hands and warm hearts, remember that we are always joined together in the Buddha Way.  Thank you!

Gratefully,

Rev. Abbot Myo Lahey, Rev. Daiko Tanzen, David Bullock

We are fully back!

• Saturday Sangha – Arrive at the temple or join via Zoom by 9:30am for 40 minutes of zazen (you can log into the meeting starting at 9am to socialize), followed by a Dharma talk at 10:30am, with tea and refreshments afterward in the garden. Please click here to be routed to our Zoom gathering.
  
  If you wish to have posture and meditation hall instructions – Saturday before 9am – please email info@hszc.org to arrange an instructor.
  
  

• Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday Morning Zazen & Service – In-person zazen begins for vaccinated individuals at 6:30am and ends at 7:10am, followed by a brief chanting service.
  
  
• Thursday Study Hour – Our ongoing study of the Shōbōgenzō continues 7:30pm – 8:30pm in person or via Zoom. You may send an email to info@hszc.org if you wish to be added to Rev. Myō’s weekly study hour email list and receive the Zoom details.
  
  
• Wednesday & Friday Evening Zazen 6pm – 6:40pm Join us for a period of zazen and a brief chanting service. You can also still join via Zoom conferencing  – Please click here to sit with us online. Meeting details:

Meeting ID: 918 8535 8969
Passcode: 5PZ5js

Sozan Michael McCord has lived and worked at San Francisco Zen Center since 2009, and served as Ino (Head of Meditation Hall) and Tenzo (Head Cook) at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He was ordained as a Zen priest by Ryushin Paul Haller in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki in 2014.

Michael holds a BA in Theology from Ambassador University and worked as a volunteer for their non-profit Ambassador Foundation in Amman, Jordan, doing vocational training for mentally challenged individuals. He had careers in the technology and financial sectors before coming to Zen practice. He was Program Director of SFZC from 2016 to 2019 and is currently the Director of SFZC, City Center/Beginner’s Mind Temple.

Saturday mornings we offer a Zoom web conferencing for video and/or audio presence for the scheduled events. 9:25 zazen (you can log into the conference starting at 9am) and a Dharma talk at 9:45am, followed by Q&A as well as an opportunity to check in and see how you are doing. https://zoom.us/j/167153141 – Please send an email request to info@hszc.org to obtain the password.