Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

We put up the last post on the Fire Updates page, with the hope that we won't have to reopen it again any time soon. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, well-wishes, and encouragements these past several weeks. We're certain it helped to keep Tassajara safe!

Last night all evacuations were lifted on the Dolan Fire, although the Los Padres remains closed. All is well at Tassajara. In honor of the many firefighters still engaged in this difficult work, and in honor of ritual, culture, and the indomitable human spirit, we offer this video of Samoan firefighters from the 2017 Helena Fire. https://www.facebook.com/jeri.bridgen/videos/10209903602161958

Join Jenny Odell, author of the book How To Do Nothing, and Dan Zigmond, author, Zen teacher (and Director of Special Projects at Apple) for an illuminating and practical conversation about how we can reclaim our attentionthe most precious resource we haveand actively and consciously choose how we use it.

There's some (good) news on our Fire Updates page! While the Dolan Fire is far from over, things are quiet enough that our current crew, who have been there for over a month, can leave Tassajara and take a break. See sfzc.org/fireupdates for more details.

There's a new update on the Dolan Fire on our website. Much depends on the strength and direction of the winds in these coming days. sfzc.org/fireupdates

Dolan Fire Incident Commander Rob Allen encourages his crew to be mindful and "makaala" the Hawaiian word for watchful.

Due to extremely hot, dry weather over the past few days, the size of the Dolan Fire has grown considerably. The growth has been mostly to the south and east, and has also moved very slightly towards Tassajara. See latest post on the Fire Updates page: sfzc.org/fireupdates

There's a new post up on the Fire Updates page, including two new photos from Tassajara. sfzc.org/fireupdates Image: Erin Scott

The National Weather Service shows it's already 97 F at Arroyo Seco, with a predicted high of 115. Please join Jizo Bodhisattva, the protector of firefighters..., in sending love, fortitude, and steady strength to the Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 2 and to our own home crew as they meet this challenging moment. Image: Tassajara Jizo by Erin Scott

Fire update for the weekend: sfzc.org/fireupdates

Note: This video was filmed in the Abbot's cabin at Tassajara before evacuation

Image: Dharma Rain, post-2008 Basin Complex Fire There's a new post on the Fire Update page, including an explanation of how Dharma Rain is run. sfzc.org/fireupdates

Bodhidharma standing guard at Dream Mullick Collection's driveway in Big Sur. The Dolan Fire continues to be active but has made no significant progress towards... Tassajara. (See Friday's update sfzc.org/fireupdates) We send our hearts and bows to all who are facing loss right now, whether by fire, wind and rain, or the delusion of human activity. May all be peaceful and free from harm. See more

Dharma Rain, the Tassajara rooftop sprinkler system, is being run constantly right now. Here, it's keeping the Retreat Hall damp as a deterrent should fire come. For the 8/27 Fire Update: sfzc.org/fire-updates