City Center Spring 2026 Practice Period: Nothing Lacking, Continuous Practice

This five-week practice period uses a classic Zen koan—the legendary poetic contest between Masters Shenxiu and Huineng—as its inquiry. The contest hinges on a fundamental question: Is awakening something we cultivate through sustained effort, or something already complete that we simply recognize? Rather than resolve the question, the practice period holds it as a living investigation.

The structure mixes sesshin-style intensive sitting with longer-term community rhythm. You'll sit daily, attend weekly classes and Dharma talks, and meet regularly with practice leaders. These check-ins offer the accountability and reflection that distinguish a practice period from a single retreat. The schedule builds toward a full one-day sitting midway through, culminating in a five-day sesshin in the final week.

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center is part of the San Francisco Zen Center lineage (Soto Zen, descended from Shunryu Suzuki). The center has not published the specific teacher leading this period or detailed schedule information. Contact the center directly for lodging details, meal arrangements, and work-period assignments.