Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Buddhist monastery in Los Padres National Forest, California
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center is a Buddhist monastery in Los Padres National Forest, California, set on forested land with hot springs and Japanese-style bathhouses. The grounds include meditation halls, wooden dormitories, and a creek running through the valley.
The site was acquired by the San Francisco Zen Center in 1967 and converted into the first Sōtō Zen monastery outside Japan. Before that, the hot springs had served as a private resort since the 19th century.
Daily life follows a rhythm of shared meals and work periods where guests join monks in cooking, gardening, or maintaining the property. The vegetarian kitchen combines Japanese methods with ingredients grown on site.
Access is possible only during the summer months when the grounds open to visitors. Reservations are necessary because guest capacity is limited and the approach follows a long unpaved road.
During the 2008 wildfire threat, a small group of monks remained on site to defend the property and created a new role as trained fire watchers. Since then, the monastery prepares each season for potential fires.
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