San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

Introducing the Six Paramitas: Bodhisattva Practices for an Uncertain World

Given by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on September 30th, 2026 Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman provides an overview of the structure of a traditional “ango

You Are Already an Ancestor

Given by Doshin Dan Gudgel at City Center on September 26th, 2026 Doshin Dan Gudgel offers gratitude to our Buddhist and personal ancestors, who have made it possible f

The Friendliness of Not Knowing

Given by Anlor Davin at City Center on September 23rd, 2026 Anlor Davin examines the Zen teaching of “not knowing is most intimate” and from her perspective as an autis

Awe, the Satipatthana Sutra and Zen Practice

Given by Gengyoko Tim Wicks at Green Gulch Farm on September 20th, 2026 Gengyoko Tim Wicks explores the experience of awe, the Satipatthana Sutra—an important Theravada

I Don’t Know, And I Know

Given by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler at Green Gulch Farm on September 13th, 2026 Jiryu Rutschman-Byler discusses and appreciates Suzuki Roshi’s teaching that: “We should unde

The Satipatthana Sutra and Zen Practice

Given by Gengyoko Tim Wicks at City Center on September 12th, 2026 Gengyoku Tim Wicks explores the Satipatthana Sutra, an important Theravadan sutra and its relationshi

Being Where You Are: Dogen and Huaishen

Given by Henzan Roger Hillyard at City Center on September 9th, 2026 Roger Hillyard explores how we need not travel from teacher to teacher or temple to temple to recei

Women Wielding Liberating Power

Given by Paula Arai at City Center on September 5th, 2026 Dr. Paula Arai explores the question that drives her book Of Mud & Lotuses: Dreaming the Lives of Buddhist Wom

The Summit of Heat and Cold

Given by Shoren Heather Iarusso at City Center on September 2nd, 2026 Shoren Heather Iarusso discusses the koan story about avoiding heat and cold, pointing out what we

Changsha and Radiant Light

Given by Kokyo Henkel at Green Gulch Farm on August 30th, 2026 Kokyo Henkel explores three classic Zen sayings by Ninth Century Chinese Zen Ancestor Changsha: the entir

The Koan of Silence and Words

Given by Sozan Miglioli at City Center on August 29th, 2026 Sozan Miglioli examines key moments in the history of our practice: Mahakashyapa's smile, Vimalakirti's thun

Kindness and Oneness

Given by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler at Green Gulch Farm on August 23rd, 2026 Jiryu Rutschman-Byler reflects on Suzuki Roshi’s encouragement to “not lose these points: how to

Spiritual Friendship & Dharma Friends

Given by Odo Ellen Simpson at City Center on August 19th, 2026 Odo Ellen Simpson explores the nature of spiritual friendship in the context of Buddhist life is a suppor

The Gift of Attention

Given by Dan Zigmond at City Center on August 13th, 2026 Dan Zigmond explores attention itself as a form of generosity: dana, the first of the Buddhist perfections and,

Cleaning Our Environment/Cleaning Our Mind

Given by Kika Susan Hellein at Green Gulch Farm on August 9th, 2026 Kika Hellein discusses the relationship between interior and external realities.

On Gossip

Given by Hokyo Lorenzo Garbo at City Center on August 5th, 2026 Hokyo Lorenzo Garbo examines how gossip can either protect or damage communities, arguing that harmful s

Heart-Teachings of a No-Good, Lazy Monk

Given by Jan Willis at Green Gulch Farm on August 2nd, 2026 Dr. Jan Willis discusses the life of eighth-century poet and philosopher, Shantideva, and what it can teach

Attention: Practice to Benefit the World

Given by Eijun Linda Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on July 26th, 2026 Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts explores how caring with wholehearted attention to what is before us and within

Turning the Light Around to Illuminate the Light

Given by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on July 25th, 2026 Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman offers three analogies related to light as supportive practices f

Joy and Responsibility in Zen

Given by Doshin Dan Gudgel at City Center on July 22nd, 2026 Doshin Dan Gudgel explores joy as a fuel for practice and shares a practice for connecting with joy during