Tassajara Zen Mountain CenterTassajara Zendo FireLate at night on March 26, a fire broke out in the Tassajara zendo. While no one was hurt, the entire building burned to the ground. To help keep the community informed, a blog post was created as a central source for information on the fire and its aftermath. We are happy to report that as of May 14, the Summer Guest Season is open and Summer Student Program is running strong and accepting applications. Deep bows of appreciation to all who have sent in their heartfelt condolences, memories, and donations.For the most recent updates, visit the Tassajara Zendo Fire Blog. For donations, please see our Zendo Fire Recovery Fund and our Offers of Support form. Our gratitude is boundless.______________________________________________ Tassajara is nestled in a mountain valley located in a remote part of California’s Ventana Wilderness, inland from the Big Sur coast. Anchored by its natural hot springs, the Tassajara valley is home to one of three Soto Zen practice communities that comprise San Francisco Zen Center. Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, also referred to as Zenshinji (Zen Heart-Mind Temple), was founded in 1967 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and is dedicated to San Francisco Zen Center’s mission, which is “to embody, express, and make accessible the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha.” Decades of Zen Buddhist practice have made the Tassajara valley a sacred land not only for the Esselen tribe, its original occupants, but also for Buddhists of all lineages. A heartfelt testimonial by the Esselen Tribal Chairman Tom Little Bear Nason illustrates the wonderful shared stewardship of this land between Zen Center and the descendants of the Esselen tribe.All seasons at Tassajara present opportunities to partake in the transformative energy of the valley. Tassajara remains completely closed to the general public from September to April, when it is a cloistered and mostly silent Soto Zen training monastery, populated only by monks. During this time, Tassajara hosts fall and winter practice periods open only to practitioners whose application has been accepted (see tout below for description and application process). During the summer season (from the end of April to the beginning of September) Tassajara opens to the general public by reservation only. Guests are welcome to share the relaxed, informal, monastic environment of Tassajara summers, and may come for various group retreats anchored in the Dharma and led by experienced retreat leaders. Reservations for summer 2026 guest retreats will become available at the beginning of 2026.The summer season is bookended by two “work periods” (September and April) during which experienced professionals of various trades volunteer to take care of skilled maintenance and improvement projects in the valley. If interested in volunteering for one of the work periods, please contact the monastery’s director at [email protected]. Tassajara 2026 ScheduleApril 7–April 26Spring Work Period. By invitation only.April 28–September 6Guest Season. Open to the public for Zen Retreats and Sangha Weeks. Summer Student Practice. Stay for the whole summer (or a shorter period).September 8–September 22Fall Work Period. By invitation only.September 23–December 19Practice Period. By application only.
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