New Solar Panels Installed on Page Street
There has been an array of solar panels on the roof of Beginner’s Mind Temple at 300 Page Street since 2005. These panels produce 40-50% of the electricity used in the building, based on the available square footage for the array.
Late last year, with the availability of rebates from the City of San Francisco, and with the help of Interfaith Power and Light, a nation-wide environmental non-profit that works with religious institutions, San Francisco Zen Center hired Luminalt, a local firm, to install panels on the four other buildings that Zen Center owns on Page Street. (Abbess emerita Linda Ruth Cutts is a former board member of IPL.) Read more
Interview with New Tanto Nancy Petrin
Sangha News speaks with Nancy Petrin (Horin Raika, Dharma Forest/ Bringing Harmony), recently appointed as tanto (head of practice) at Beginner’s Mind Temple/City Center.
Sangha News: Hi Nancy. Thank you for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your new position.
Nancy: You’re welcome. And thank you.
SN: Before we go into more personal territory, let me ask you a general question. The tanto position is defined as the head of practice for a temple. But what does being tanto mean to you?
N: Before I accepted the position I asked to see a job description because although I had known many tantos I didn’t know exactly what the job would entail. The first job of the tanto is “keeper of the forms”––the forms of the zendo and of ceremonial practice. I loved reading that because I love our forms and was drawn to practice largely because of them.
The second task is to “bring everyone along together.” This involves inviting speakers and scheduling classes and doing my best to include everyone in the practice––teachers and residents and non-residential practitioners. And that is what I really want to do, to find ways to support people as individuals and help them show up for practice as themselves, both here and in the world.
Read more
Meditation in Recovery Turns 20
On the last Monday of June in 2000, Meditation in Recovery met for the first time in the City Center Buddha Hall. At the time it was an experiment to see if enough people would be interested in exploring the similarities between Buddhist teaching and practice and recovery from substance and behavioral addiction to make it a viable program. Twenty years later it remains a lively and important offering, which has introduced thousands of people to Buddhism and to San Francisco Zen Center. Some of these participants have gone on to receive the precepts as laypersons or as priests. Some have become residents and staff. Some have gone on to lead similar groups. Read more
Black Lives Matter Banner
On Sunday, residents at Beginner’s Mind Temple painted a Black Lives Matter banner and put it up across the front of the entryway of 300 Page Street. Green Gulch Farm is also in the process of creating a BLM banner and we will share that when it happens. UPDATE: See images below of the banner that Green Gulch Farm made and hung on the sign on Highway 1.

Volunteers Needed for City Center Library on Tuesdays
The City Center Library and Reading Room is currently looking for additional volunteers for Tuesdays, 1:30 – 7 pm. Please consider assisting us in keeping the library and sitting space accessible for residents and other members/visitors.

March Art Show: Lee Cline
California Sacred: A collection of natives in the age of the Anthropocene
March 1 – 31 in the Art Lounge at 300 Page Street, SF, 94102
Reception: Friday, March 13, 7:30 – 9 pm — canceled

Featured Photo: January 16
On Saturday, January 4, five initiates received the precepts in a Jukai/Initiation Ceremony with preceptors Central Abbot Ed Sattizahn, Shosan Victoria Austin, and Anshi Zachary Smith (Nancy Petrin offered the precepts to Margaret Schneider through Ed) at City Center/Beginner’s Mind Temple. Photos by Julia Sperling.

February Art Show: Francesco Stumpo
Puentes Fronteras
February 3 – 29 in the Art Lounge at 300 Page Street, SF, 94102
Reception: Friday, February 7, 7:30 – 9 pm

Featured Photo January 9
New Year’s Day at City Center/Beginners Mind Temple. During the toasts, Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman wished everyone a year filled with light, delight, and insight. Photo by Clare Hollander.

January Art Show: Suiko Betsy McCall
January 1 – 31 in the Art Lounge at 300 Page Street, SF, 94102
Reception: Friday, January 3, 7 – 9 pm