Important Announcements

Thanksgiving Saturday and Visiting Teacher

On Saturday, November 26, the physical zendo will be closed, but our morning program will continue on Zoom using our normal Saturday program link.

On Wednesday, November 30, visiting teacher Gregg Howard will join us online. Gregg is the Guiding Teacher for Ordinary Mind Zen Brisbane and a dharma successor of Joko Beck’s. He is also an ethnomusicologist and, on the 30th, will be talking on the topic of hearing/listening in practice. There will be sitting from 6:30 to 7:00, followed by a 5-minute break before Gregg’s dharma talk. Everyone is welcome to attend live (maximum occupancy is currently 15) or on Zoom using our normal Wednesday program link

Zendo Now Open With Some Restrictions

The zendo is now open to those who are fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Please bring proof of vaccination with you. For the time being, we are continuing to wear masks in the hall. We will post any changes to this policy in this section of the website.

Those who are not vaccinated are welcome to join us via Zoom; links can be found here. Please stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms of the coronavirus (fever, sore throat, coughing, runny nose, body aches, etc.). See here for a fuller list of symptoms.

Newcomer Orientation Has Gone Virtual

Click here for information and links.

Announcement Concerning Litigation Against the Zen Center

The Board of Trustees of the Zen Center of San Diego has always taken claims of sexual harassment and abuse very seriously. In addition, the Board of Trustees has always endeavored to provide a safe environment for every person attending the Zendo. In July 2019, the Board of Trustees received actual claims of sexual abuse by Ezra Bayda, and it immediately suspended him from teaching and retained Faith Trust Institute to undertake an independent investigation and analysis of the claims being presented. Faith Trust Institute, at the board’s direction, invited everyone having an interest in the investigation to participate. After Faith Trust Institute delivered its findings and analysis to the Board, the Board dismissed Mr. Bayda and presented a summary of the investigation’s findings to the ZCSD membership at the Zendo on November 2, 2019.

Subsequently, two of the women who participated in the investigation filed litigation in the San Diego Superior Court against the Zen Center and Mr. Bayda. That litigation has now been resolved in a global settlement of all parties. As part of the terms of that settlement, all parties have acknowledged that the settlement constitutes a compromise of disputed claims that is not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of any party.

In moving forward, we remind the membership that the Board continues its commitment to providing a safe environment to all. ZCSD’s Sexual Misconduct Complaint Procedure and its Code of Ethical Conduct for Teachers/Practice Leaders can be found here.

The 2022 ZCSD Board of Trustees

April 2022

Request for Donations

ZCSD relies on donations to help support our practice. The Coronavirus pandemic has put a
strain on both our expenses and income. For many of us, practice through ZCSD has been
transformative in our lives. Donations to ZCSD as a non-profit organization
may be tax deductible.

We welcome your support.

You may donate by check or online via Paypal:

Checks can be sent to:

ZCSD
2047 Felspar Street
San Diego, CA 92109-3551

Drop the story line of “me.”