Zazenkai, CC 3/20
Soto Zen
One-day zazenkai at San Francisco Zen Center's City Center location. Open to beginners and experienced practitioners. Includes instruction in posture and breath, with alternating periods of zazen and kinhin.
A zazenkai is a full day devoted to sitting practice — typically five to seven periods of zazen (seated meditation) alternating with kinhin (walking meditation), bookended by instruction and minimal ceremony. This format offers a taste of sesshin structure without the week-long commitment, making it ideal for someone testing whether silent retreat practice fits their life or as a regular anchor for an established sitter.
San Francisco Zen Center's City Center location, in the urban heart of the city, hosts these day-sits regularly. The $12 fee is a donation-style entry point; the center operates on a dana (gift) basis, meaning you pay what the practice is worth to you. Morning instruction covers posture, breath work, and how to approach the mind during sitting — useful whether you've never sat or you sit regularly at home.
Full details from San Francisco Zen Center
A zazenkai (full day of zazen sitting) dedicated to zazen practice with minimal traditional formalities. The session includes instruction in posture, breath, and mental disposition, with scheduled periods of sitting and walking meditation suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Wednesday – Sunday · 5 days
Introductory Four-Day Sesshin
San Francisco Zen Center