“The more you sense the rareness and value of your own life, the more you realize that how you use it, how you manifest it, is all your responsibility. We face such a big task, so naturally we sit down for a while.”
― Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi
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 lunch. Many other programs and events are also hosted by Jikoji and listed on the web site and in periodic emails from Jikoji.