Bay Area Sits and Centers

Jikoji Zen Center

  • Jikoji Zen Center is a jewel-box of a Soto Zen monastery. It's located next door to San José, in the foothills of Los Gatos, which are above San José. It is within the Penninsula Open Space Preserve.
  • It was founded by Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi in the 1970's. Suzuki Roshi brought Kobun Roshi to the US from Eiheiji to help Suzuki Roshi start the Practice at Tassajara and more.
  • Jikoji offers weekly hybrid practice opportunities as well as day-long and longer retreats/Seshins. All teachings are held on a donation basis. All are welcomed there.
  • Jikoji also makes its facilities available to Insight Meditation and other Buddhist groups/teachers who hold their retreats and day-longs there.

Floating Zendo

  • Founded decades ago by students of Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi, the Floating Zendo offers an online weekly sit (with a Dharma talk by amazing teachers) on Tuesday evenings and a monthly in-person sit on a Saturday at the San José Friends House. Many of its students and teachers also train at Jikoji Zen Center.

Kannon Do Zen Center

  • The Kannon Do Zen Center is in Mountain View – nestled between Palo Alto and San Jose. Suzuki Roshi's early students founded "Haiku Zendo". Lead by Kobun Chino Otake, Haiko Zendo morphed from a home's garage in Los Altos into two centers: Kannon Do Zen Center and Jikoji

Mission Dharma

  • Sangha led by Howarsd Cohn.
  • St. John's Episcopal Church at the corner of 15th St and Julian
  • Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 pm

San Francisco Insight Meditation Community

  • Sunday evenings are led by Eugene Cash or a guest teacher, and Wednesday evenings are led by Pamela Weiss or a guest teacher.
  • Sundays, 7pm to 9pm in the Chapel
  • Wednesdays, 7pm to 9pm in the Fireside Room
  • First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin Street at the corner of Geary Blvd.

Gay Buddhist Fellowship

  • The Gay Buddhist Fellowship supports Buddhist practice in the Gay men’s community. It is a forum that brings together the diverse Buddhist traditions to address the spiritual concerns of Gay men in the San Francisco Bay Area, the United States, and the world. GBF’s mission includes cultivating a social environment that is inclusive and caring.
  • Sunday, 10:30am - 12:30pm
  • Weekly rotating teachers
  • 30 minute silent meditation followed by Dharma talk by guest teachers and social time
  • SF Buddhist Center, 37 Bartlett St., San Francisco

Other sits

Other places where the greater Bay Area goes to meditate and engage with the Dharma


San Francisco Dharma Collective415-404-9333sfdharmacollective@gmail.com

All classes and sits are open to all. Check individual class details for access information. We are supported by your generosity (dana). No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

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