Yokoji-Zen Mountain Center

Welcome to Yokoji

We are an internationally renowned, fully accredited Zen Center located in the beautiful mountains of Southern California.

Yokoji provides a place for people from all walks of life to practice Zen Buddhism. There are many ways you can do this.

Every Sunday we run introductory classes in zazen (Zen meditation). Throughout the year there are events, often on weekends, which focus on various aspects of Zen practice. We hold sesshin (silent meditation retreats) almost every month of the year, ranging from 2-7 days.

It is possible to stay at Yokoji for any period of time. You can join our residential training program and follow the schedule for a number of days, months or years. Overnight and weekend stays are also an option if you would like to join in with the programs that we offer. Check the events page for details.

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Yokoji Podcast

Latest from the monthly Yokoji Podcast

Yokoji Zen Blog

Recent posts from the Yokoji Zen Blog

  • News & Events | January 2020

    News & Events | January 2020

    Season’s greetings from wintry Yokoji! As is our tradition, marking the conclusion of 2019 and the dawn of 2020, staff, residents, and participants gathered for Yokoji’s annual New Year’s Sesshin. While December brought a white Christmas and significant snowfall throughout the month with recent new snow accumulation, we are glad to report that the access road is presently open for all.

    January 08, 2020 | Comments: 0

  • News & Events | November 2019

    News & Events | November 2019

    It feels amazing that we are now approaching the end of our Fall training period. We have enjoyed welcoming our regular guest groups to Yokoji as they are more like old friends than visitors.Fall is definitely upon us and the temperatures have cooled as well as the days becoming more windy.

    December 07, 2019 | Comments: 0

Upcoming Events

Visit our events page for the full Yokoji calendar

  • Sunday Schedule

    Every Sunday (call to check during holidays and bad weather)

    Join us every Sunday morning at 9:30am for meditation, dharma talk and lunch. Meditation instruction classes offered for beginners. More details on events page.

  • February 15, 2020

    Take this opportunity to examine your life through the lens of the precepts. During dawn zazen, the precepts are recited in a short service and...

  • March 8, 2020 - May 24, 2020

    The Spring Training Period at Yokoji is a time of intensified practice for the whole community—where we have the wonderful opportunity to recommit...

  • March 8, 2020 - March 15, 2020

    Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice—a chance to give full attention to one’s life without...

  • March 21, 2020

    Take this opportunity to examine your life through the lens of the precepts. During dawn zazen, the precepts are recited in a short service and...

  • April 10, 2020 - April 12, 2020

    Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice - a chance to give full attention to one’s life without...

  • April 18, 2020

    Take this opportunity to examine your life through the lens of the precepts. During dawn zazen, the precepts are recited in a short service and...