ZMC Closure Statement
This week San Francisco Zen Center’s leadership made the difficult but necessary decision to close Tassajara for the remainder of the Guest Season and to cancel the Fall Work Period. While this is disappointing news, the health and safety of our guests and community is too important to risk.
The closing of Guest Season offers us a unique opportunity to address important and much needed fire prevention measures. Tassajara’s Fire Marshal Rob Thomas has friends in the wildland fire community who are interested in making Tassajara a safer place for residents, guests, and future emergency responders. We’re planning for a group of 5 to 10 people who can take crucial steps towards preparing the area for the high-alert fire seasons that are unfortunately expected this year and in the future.
The crew will work on a number of fire safety projects and begin clearing the surrounding underbrush to reduce flammable material.
Tassajara is grateful for your love and support as we navigate this extraordinary time. We look forward to when we can open the gates and share this beautiful valley with you once again. Read more

Featured Photo February 6
Chatting on the bridge over Cabarga Creek, Tassajara summer 2019. Photo by Tasja Keetman.

Featured Photo January 2
Congratulations to Jody Greene – Shogen Enkyo / Auspicious Source, Complete Mirror, the Fall 2019 Tassajara shuso. Photos by Tova Green and Mako Voelkel.

Featured Photo December 5
In the summer of 2019, the photographer and artist Tasja Keetman visited the three San Francisco Zen Center locations. Her playful and creative interpretations, such as this one taken in the abbot’s garden at Tassajara, are delightful and evocative versions of these familiar locations and images.

Featured Photo October 10
Reading by Tassajara Creek. Practice period is in its third week, and it is still warm enough in the afternoons to sit by the creek, and to enjoy soaking one’s feet and listening to the water and the breeze in the trees. Photo by Shundo David Haye.

Featured Photo September 12
Kobun Chino, Shunryu Suzuki, Li Gotami (born Ratti Petit in Bombay 1906, died 1988; wife of Lama Govinda), Lama Govinda (born Ernst Hoffmann in Germany 1898, died 1985), with a group of Zen students at Tassajara, fall 1968. Photo by Tim Buckley.

Featured Photo August 29
Relaxing under the grape arbor in the main courtyard at Tassajara, 2019. Photo by Erin Scott.

Thank You from Kannon Do
To Greg Fain and the residents at Tassajara, and the organizers of the guest practice program, Steve, Siobhan, and Minoria,
On behalf of Kannon Do, I offer deepest gratitude for your incredible hospitality, kindness, and practice of the Way. Everyone who came to visit from our sangha was deeply moved by our experience at Tassajara. Thank you for making us feel at home with you.

Featured Photo May 16 – Dharma Transmission
Anshi Zachary Smith and Doshin Mako Voelkel completed Dharma Transmission with Ryushin Paul Haller at Tassajara Zen Center on April 17, 2019. Photo by Zenshin Greg Fain.

Featured Photo April 4
Congratulations to Winter 2019 Practice Period shusos at City Center/Beginner’s Mind Temple and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center!
Photos at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Dana Velden and photo at Tassajara by Shundo David Haye.