Jikoji
Jikoji is a Soto Zen temple and retreat center located approximately one hour south of San Francisco, California, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We offer workshops and sesshins and provide facilities for individual and group retreats. All are welcome.
Who we are
Jikoji is a rustic mountain retreat established in 1983 by Kobun Chino Roshi and a group of students. A Soto Zen Buddhist temple associated with Hokoji in Taos, NM and Jokoji in Japan, Jikoji exists as a unique opportunity to practice in a rural setting. At 2350 ft. elevation in the Santa Cruz mountains, the grounds comprise 13.26 acres. The property has many unique features, such as a large pond (or small lake), places to pitch a tent (in addition to hostel type accommodations), and miles of hiking trails in the surrounding 1800 acres of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
Jikoji is maintained by a group of resident practitioners and non-resident sangha members. The facilities include an institutional kitchen, community space (living/dining room, bath rooms), men's and women's dormitory rooms accommodating 6 or more, several private and semi-private rooms, and a Zendo that seats 25 or more people. All or part of the facilities are available for group as well as personal retreats at reasonable rates. Retreatants are welcome to participate in the Jikoji meditation schedule and other activities.
Our tradition is based on the Soto Zen linage of our founder, Kobun Roshi; however, other groups with compatible practices are welcome to use our facilities.
In addition to the availability of retreat accommodations, Jikoji offers regularly scheduled meditation practice and discussions which are open to the public. There are four sesshins between October and April. An on-going Sunday morning program includes two periods of meditation, service, and a discussion led by one of the Sangha's senior students or visiting teachers, followed by a social tea gathering. Many other programs and events are also hosted by Jikoji and listed on the web site and in periodic emails from Jikoji.
Mission STATEMENT
Jikoji, Compassion Light Temple, is a Soto Zen temple dedicated to the realization and embodiment of the Buddha’s teachings.
Our mission is to provide an open door to all who seek refuge and wish to encounter themselves deeply through practice. Rooted in the lineage of our founding teacher, Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi, we sustain daily practice, weekly public programs, and numerous retreats, including four annual sesshins, all supported by resident teachers and students who together offer guidance, instruction, and a living bridge to our heritage.
In service to this mission, we commit to:
Inclusive Practice:
We maintain an open practice environment without membership requirements, balancing the family-style intimacy of Kobun Roshi’s way with the quiet grace and discipline of traditional Zen forms.
Spiritual Stewardship:
We honor the Treasure of Sangha, welcoming diverse perspectives and life experiences in order to foster a vibrant, evolving practice community grounded in mutual care and deep interconnection.
Compassionate Action:
We understand practice not as separate from the world, but as preparation for meeting life with wisdom, compassion, and responsibility. We encourage the embodiment of the Dharma in daily life, relationships, and service to others.
Environmental Reverence:
We serve as stewards of our land and habitat, practicing deep care for the natural world and seeking to leave the lightest possible footprint on the earth.
Integrity in Leadership:
We govern through vow-based leadership, in which officers and directors work collaboratively and in alignment with our ethical commitments to ensure Jikoji remains a vital and enduring refuge for safety, serenity, and awakening.