4 Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm June 10, 17, 24 and July 8, 2026

• Empathy is the capacity to share the feelings of others.  We can feel happy when we share joy, but sharing someone’s suffering can be painful. Excessive empathy can lead to burn out. Compassion is a feeling of warmth and concern for others accompanied by an active wish to relieve their suffering.  Compassion is a pleasant experience contributing to good health.
• While feelings of compassion are innate, we can refine and strengthen our compassion skills. In this compassion training we explore the difference in empathy and compassion and the importance of self-compassion.  We practice techniques to switch from empathy to compassion, thereby feeling energized and inspired instead of depleted or overwhelmed
• Compassion is based on wisdom; therefore, it is essential to integrate meditation practice into compassion skills training. But this class is open to anyone: practitioners of other Buddhist tradition and people with no prior meditation experience are welcome.
• Each class includes a short presentation followed by a discussion, an opportunity for sharing experiences in a small group, and includes a 20-minute guided meditation.

Myoju Edmée Danan has been practicing Zen since 1981. Her first teacher was Robert Aitken Roshi of the Diamond Sangha on Maui, HI. After moving to California, she continued practicing with Jakusho Kwong Roshi at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. She began studying with Jisho Warner Roshi in 1995, who authorized her to teach in April 2023. As a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, she is interested in determining when it is helpful to consider therapy to support Zen practice. She teaches meditation to both patients and health care professionals.

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We are very happy to have the opportunity to spend time again this year as part of a Sangha Week at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, the monastic center of the San Francisco Zen Center. It is located deep in the heart of the Ventana Wilderness Area east of Big Sur and is the site of a natural hot springs. We’ll have the chance to be there with one or two other sanghas for an immersion in Zen daily practice.

Sangha weeks will follow the resident student schedule of zazen, service, and meals, with a half day of work practice each day. The daily Sangha Week schedule also provides time for a class, study session, or other activity for our group each day in the retreat hall. Our Sangha Week this year will be led by Head Priest Myogen Kathryn Stark.

We will be working a half-day each day. Work opportunities will vary from light to more strenuous, including kitchen work, cleaning, and daily tasks to care for the temple.

There also will be free time to enjoy the hot springs, pool, and hiking trails.

A copy of the schedule (subject to change) can be found HERE.

If you have questions about the experience, you may want to speak with someone who attended last year. You can reach out to Jude at jude@stonecreekzen.org for more information.

Please note that Tassajara is located in a remote wilderness area and that participation for the full week is required.

Cost for the event is separated into two parts:
1) Tassajara’s fee for accommodation, meals, and programming
2) A Stone Creek donation to support the presence of the teacher as well as administration.

This page is for registering through Stone Creek, and another link will be sent to register with Tassajara. 

Tassajara Fees
Single occupancy will be available on a limited basis. The rates in 2026 will be $130 per person per night for shared housing (which Tassajara encourages) and single occupancy will be $190 per night if available. Double occupancy will also be available for $260 per night (covering two people.)

Tassajara has listings for different types of accommodations. You may request your preference when you register on the Tassajara form.

Stone Creek Donation (separate from Tassajara fees)
SCZC Members – $150
General (Non-Members) – $300

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships for Stone Creek donations as well as Tassajara fees may be available.
– Requests for support funds for Tassajara fees can be made directly to supportfunds@sfzc.org.
– If you are requesting a scholarship from Tassajara and also need support for the Stone Creek donation, please use the scholarship (reduce amount) option when registering on this page.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

REGISTER HERE

1. Pay the Stone Creek Donation through the link above. (If you will be requesting a scholarship, please use the Scholarship option for a reduced amount.)
2. You will receive an email shortly with information for signing up for accommodations at Tassajara.
3. Please add your name to the waitlist if there is one, as people’s plans can change.

TASSAJARA WILL ONLY BE HOLDING OUR ROOMS UNTIL SIX WEEKS BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL DATE, SO PLEASE PLAN TO SIGN UP EARLY.

BATHHOUSE
Please also note that the bathhouse/hot springs is segregated male/female and is clothing optional. A private room with a separate entrance also is available with a shower and bathtub with hot spring water. Please reach out to Kathryn (Kathryn@stonecreekzen.org) if you have any questions or concerns.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Please allow a full day on the first day and the last day for traveling to and from Tassajara. Stages (shared rides in a large four-wheel drive vehicle) will be available on a limited basis for those who cannot drive or carpool and will be $75 roundtrip.

More about Tassajara:
https://www.sfzc.org/locations…

If you have questions, contact Baladine at baladine@stonecreekzen.org.

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 PM, Apr 29-May 27, 2026

“All beings sing the dharma.” Are we listening? In this five week study group we will consider our place in this great dharma chorus of all beings through encounters with the “natural” world. We will reference writers and poets including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gary Snyder, Mary Oliver. The text will be Jisho Warner Roshi’s essay “All Beings Sing the Song of Dharma” (Mujo Seppo) from Receiving the Marrow, teachings on Dogen by Soto Zen Women Priests.

Myozen Barton Stone participated in his first Zen retreat in 1960 under the guidance of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and has lived a life dedicated to Zen practice and social activism. He received Dharma Transmission from Jisho Warner.

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