San Francisco Zen Center Dharma Talks

Given by Myoju Erin Merk at City Center on September 19th, 2026

Myoju Erin Merk explores an ancient teaching from the Samyutta Nikaya, offering practice nourishment to fuel our collective journey toward justice and upright humanity.

Given by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on October 21st, 2026

Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman addresses some of the misconceptions we might have about renunciation, including that it means foregoing altogether both worldly pleasures and our freedom.

Given by Shundo David Haye at City Center on October 17th, 2026

In a talk given after completing dharma transmission, Shundo David Haye reflects on the generosity of the ancestors in ensuring that the dharma continues to be available to us and those to come.

Given by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on October 3rd, 2026

Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman uses ancient water analogies and parables to unpack the concept of paramita, which can be translated as “perfection” or “transcendent,” as well as “crossing over to the other shore.”

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” and how it serves as a supportive, intensified practice container. He then introduces the topic of study for the ango, the transcendent virtue or practices of the Six Paramitas: generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligent effort, meditation, and wisdom.

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 for us to practice, and who were just human beings like us.

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 autistic Zen priest, adds that not-knowing is also friendly.

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 Theravadan sutra—and the relationship of both awe and this sutra to Zen practice.

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 understand ourselves in two ways: as a particular person and as someone who has no name, no body, and no mind.”

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 relationship to Zen practice. How does Shikantaza, "just sitting" make use of this early Buddhist technique?

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 receive the dharma, we must be present where we are.

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 Women: How do we wield liberating power in a context with oppressive institutions, teachings, and practices?

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 learn when we look at our preferences and stay with our discomfort.

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 entire world is the radiant light of our true self; that we need to take a step forward from the top of a hundred-foot pole; and that when an earthworm is cut in two the buddha-nature can't be divided.

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 thundering silence, Dogen's teaching on “Dotoku" (the capacity to speak from realization), and Katagiri Roshi's two books. The question running through all of it: does something, spoken or unspoken, come from realization or from concept?

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 be kind to others and how to be one with others,” and offers practices and stories to support these inter-related practices.

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 support to our practice and a joyous component of our lives together.

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, as he puts it, the ground floor of the whole path.

Given by Kika Susan Hellein at Green Gulch Farm on August 9th, 2026

Kika Hellein discusses the relationship between interior and external realities.

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 speech has lasting consequences while mindful communication strengthens trust and compassion.