Tassajara Shrine

 

Tassajara Creek Canyon

For most of its history the Tassajara Creek canyon has been a sacred place of healing. Over thousands of years, many indigenous people seeking remedies for ailments of the body and spirit traveled to the area, knowing it was a place where shamans—those in deep reciprocity with the healing powers of the land and waters—resided and held ceremonies. 

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

 

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center was the first to have men, women, and couples practicing together. Because nothing quite like this has ever been done before, many aspects of monastic life had to be determined. Whether to wear temple-type robes or American style clothes? Which ceremonies to adopt? How to arrange the living space? Kobun Chino Sensei and Dainin Katagiri Sensei (both of whom would later be called roshi) assisted Suzuki Roshi in helping the new students. A few other priests from Japan came later. 

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center opened on July 3, 1967

 

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, a Zen master from Japan, came to San Francisco in 1959. Suzuki Roshi wanted a place in the mountains where Zen students could follow traditional practice, including meditation, study, and daily life.  The opening day for Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Zenshinji (the Japanese name) was on July 3, 1967.