Sweetwater Zen

03/25/2026

SWZC is so honored to be working with Education Justice Project's and their Reentry Resource Program (RRP). The RRP does amazing work creating guides for people reentering into society after incarceration, and also for people who are, unfortunately, facing the threat of deportation. The challenges people face during these kinds of transitions are immense and multi-faceted. And these guides are a unique tool to help people navigate those difficult situations. EJP believes in the abolition of the carceral system, and is anti-deportation. They offer these guides as a necessary evil to help folks manage their experience with these inhumane practices.

If you or anyone you know could use some guidance on deportation or reentry, please google EJP A New Path, or EJP Mapping Your Future and download the free digital version of the guides. If you could use printed copies, please reach out to [email protected]

03/24/2026

Council Retreat begins THIS FRIDAY, so email [email protected] to register!

Council is an age-old tribal practice of sitting around the fire and sharing within a circle that can be an integral aspect of Zen training and practice. Council hones our capacity to bear witness to our many selves, listen deeply, speak from the heart, and plunge into our shared experience of life. It can impact how sanghas are organized, perspective-take, interrelate, and strengthen community.

03/21/2026

Big shout out to SWZC member Yuriko Coenen for offering her gardening skills, and being such a dedicated practitioner and volunteer. Yuri used to practice at with Maezumi Roshi many many weeds and leaves ago. We are so honored and grateful for her becoming an integral member of our community.

02/24/2026

Happy birthday, Roshi. February 24th 1931 kickstarted a fascinating and tumultuous journey that helped establish the dharma around the world, serve the Bodhisattva Vow, and give life to communities like ours here at swzc. Glad you were born, Roshi.

02/06/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Join Sweetwater Zen Center and Zen Peacemakers West Coast for a weekend of Bearing Witness to love in the streets of Downtown San Diego.

Friday night, Feb 13 from 6–8pm, we’ll gather in the zendo to make valentines with intention. On Saturday, we’ll meet at 9am to drop in through ritual & council, then head Downtown to share candies, valentines, & presence, returning around 1pm for closing council & lunch.

All are welcome. No prior Zen or Bearing Witness experience needed.
See flyer for details or email [email protected]

01/17/2026

🌺Sweetwater Zen Center Newsletter January 2026🌺 -

Our mission is a shared effort to provide access to the practices and transmission of our Zen Buddhist lineage, to nurture the evolution of its teachings, and to offer a refuge for collective awakening.

12/01/2025

Not all rebellion is loud
some begins with silence.

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Come sit with us at:
Sweetwater Zen Center
2727 Highland Ave
National City, CA
91950

11/29/2025

For those with an earnest curiosity about our true nature, a practice retreat, or "Sesshin," is an unparalleled opportunity. During Rohatsu Sesshin, we sit with the Buddha themself, who is believed to have fully awakened on December, 8th, which is known as Bodhi Day.

11/12/2025

In the middle of our Autumn Intensive Practice Period, a hazy full moon smiled on us last week. Consider joining our intensive schedule through December 7th. See how deep the moon goes into the dew drop.

Shout out to for this beautiful snap

10/31/2025

If you’re in San Diego
pop in on a Zazen with us🧘
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09/09/2025

So excited to be hosting The Death Network Discussion Group on Friday the 26th. See details below...
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The Death Network Discussion Group is a guided (but not rigid) space for deeper, topic-driven conversations around death, dying, and the many ways we relate to them. Each month, our host team of experienced death workers bring thought-provoking prompts to help spark meaningful discussion. We’re here to explore real talk, in real time, with curious and open-hearted people.

What to expect:
⏳ A welcoming space to explore death through a different lens
⏳ Discussions hosted by a team of experienced death workers
⏳ Each month features thought-provoking prompts to spark deeper conversation (see below)
⏳ Not a workshop, not a class—just honest conversation
⏳ Come curious, leave connected

September's topic: Our fears about death and dying
Death brings up a wide range of fears - some quiet and unspoken, others overwhelming and consuming. Many of us fear the unknown of what (if anything) comes after, or the possibility of pain and loss of dignity in the dying process. Some fear being forgotten, while others fear being remembered in a way that doesn’t reflect who they truly were. There can be anxiety around leaving loved ones behind, or about burdening them with decisions, grief, or unfinished business. For some, death stirs up existential fears about meaning and purpose - have I lived enough, loved enough, done enough? For others, it’s not their own death, but the deaths of those they love most, that feels unbearable. These fears are as human as death itself, and naming them together can open the door to deeper honesty, compassion, and connection.

This group is ideal for people who:

Think about death and dying as part of life
Want to connect with others in conversation that’s real, respectful, and human
Aren’t seeking support or therapy, but want a space to talk
We’ll continue to host Death Cafes for those who enjoy open-format dialogue. This group simply offers something a little different for those ready to go deeper into the conversation.

Want to know more? Visit The Death Network