Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

Sonoma Mountain Zen Center is a meditation center spread across 80 acres with oak trees, redwood groves, and views toward the Valley of the Moon. The buildings are simply designed and house training spaces, residential quarters for extended stays, and areas for group gatherings.

Jakusho Kwong and Laura Kwong founded the center in 1973 to carry forward the teachings of Shunryu Suzuki in Northern California. This establishment was part of a broader effort to root Buddhist practice in the Western world.

The center keeps Soto Zen practice alive through daily meditation sessions and ceremonies that connect visitors with Buddhist traditions. You can feel how meditation and community life blend together in the daily rhythm here.

The center sits on Sonoma Mountain Road and offers weekend programs, residential training periods, and meditation courses for all experience levels. It helps to plan ahead since many activities require registration and the location is set on quiet mountain slopes.

In September 2023, Nyoze Kwong became the new abbot, continuing an unbroken lineage traced back to Shakyamuni Buddha. This direct succession spanning over 90 generations demonstrates how Zen tradition passes from teacher to student without interruption.

Location: California

Inception: 1973

Founders: Jakusho Kwong

Website: http://smzc.net

GPS coordinates: 38.36690,-122.57800

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:40