Fall Practice Period at City Center, Online/Commuter: The Six Paramitas

This is a practice period rather than a single retreat — an extended stretch of structured, intensified Zen practice, the modern form of the traditional rains retreat. San Francisco Zen Center's fall period at City Center runs September 30 to December 5, 2026, and takes the Six Paramitas — generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom, the classical perfections of the bodhisattva path — as its theme. The listing describes it as a traditional eight-week intensive; the calendar dates run a little longer than eight weeks.

What participation involves

The weekly classes are taught by Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman; the listing gives no further biography. Per the listing, the period includes:

• Daily zazen
• Weekly classes with Tenzen David Zimmerman
• Dharma talks
• Small group meetings
• Three embedded retreat intensives

The center has not published a daily schedule — no session times — and has not given dates or formats for the three intensives, including whether any are held in silence.

Online and commuter

The title lists two ways to take part. Online participation is remote; the listing does not say whether sessions are live, recorded, or both. Commuter generally means attending in person during the day and returning home at night — the non-residential mode of a practice period. The listing does not mention lodging, meals, or cost differences between the two modes.

Cost and eligibility

The listed price is $294. The listing does not break down what the fee covers — whether the three intensives are included, or whether scholarships are available — so contact the center before registering. Eligibility is stated plainly: open to beginners and experienced practitioners, with no application process mentioned.