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

The theme

The practice period's title and inquiry draw from one of Zen's most famous exchanges: the Sixth Patriarch's Platform Sutra, where two leading disciples—Shenxiu and Huineng—composed verses on the nature of awakening. Shenxiu's teaching emphasized gradual cultivation and polishing the mirror of mind; Huineng's pointed directly to non-dual nature already complete. This isn't historical debate; it's a living question that shapes how practitioners approach their own sitting. Exploring it over five weeks means sitting with the tension rather than resolving it intellectually.

What to expect

A residential practice period at SFZC follows a contained, rhythmic schedule: daily zazen (usually early morning and evening sits), communal meals with oryoki if practiced, work practice, weekly Dharma talks, and regular check-ins with practice leaders (informal meetings, not formal dokusan). The intensity builds toward the concluding five-day sesshin, which typically means longer sitting hours, silence, and deeper focus. This is structured practice in community—you're not designing your own schedule; you're entering an established form.

Location and setting

City Center is SFZC's urban location in San Francisco. Green Gulch Farm, their rural practice site in Marin County, is about 30 minutes north. The spring dates (late April through May) fall in mild Bay Area weather. Residential means you live on-site for the full five weeks—bring clothes for cool mornings and warm afternoons, a meditation cushion if you have a preference, toiletries. The center provides meals and lodging.