San Francisco Zen Center and the spread of Zen in the city

The San Francisco Zen Center, founded by Suzuki Roshi (Shunryu Suzuki) in 1962, played a central role in introducing and popularizing Soto Zen practice in San Francisco and the United States. Its City Center offers regular zazen (sitting meditation), retreats, and public programs, and the organization established affiliated practice centers such as Tassajara and Green Gulch. The center's formation and activities are frequently cited in local spiritual and cultural histories of the city.