Jikoji Zen Center is a Soto Zen Buddhist practice center nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos, California. Rooted in the teachings of Shunryu Suzuki, Jikoji offers a peaceful and contemplative environment where practitioners of all backgrounds can come together for meditation, study, and mindful living.
I had the opportunity to attend the Sunday program, which is open to all, and the experience was both grounding and quietly profound. There is a distinct quality of peace that emerges when we sit together. The morning includes beginning meditation instruction, a Dharma Talk, and time for informal connection, offering a gentle entry point into practice while also reflecting the depth of the sangha, a living community that supports and mirrors each person’s path.