2026 SLOZC Fall Practice Period
September 17 - December 20, 2026
Ango—an intensified time of practice—has its roots in the Buddha’s own time. In the monsoon season, traveling on foot for alms or to share the teachings became more difficult so the monks would settle into one area and focus more devotedly on their practice. Although our modern lives are very different, we continue this tradition with a special practice period each fall that invites us deeper into our vows and intentions.
This fall, the theme of our practice period is Living the Life of a Bodhisattva.
We invite you to engage with the offerings of the season and investigate for yourself what it might mean to apply more vigor and dedication to your zazen and study. The Practice Period Commitment Form is designed to help provide direction and focus, to hold us accountable to ourselves and to each other. It includes “the four methods of guidance,” enumerated by Eihei Dogen in a teaching that we’ll be studying together. These four methods are Giving, Kind Speech, Beneficial Action, and Manifesting Sympathy. Although the practice period may seem intimidating for those new to the concept, it is designed to work with your life, here and now.
For more information on the theme, and to track updates about the Practice Period, visit this web page.
PRACTICE PERIOD ENTERING
Everyone is invited to attend the Fall Practice Period Entering Ceremony for all participants and the Head Trainee Leave- taking Ceremonies on Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. at Crows End. The Sangha is especially encouraged to attend in person. Those unable to may join via Zoom. Details will be sent by Rōshi Shōgen. The Practice Period Closing Ceremony will be held on December 20.
Click here to fill out your commitment form.
ENTERING SHUSO
ZCLA Shuso Jenny Jūsen Bright
Jenny Jūsen Bright will be the 2026–2027 ZCLA Shuso under the guidance of Sensei Daiki Senshin Griffith. Jūsen began her Zen practice at ZCLA in 2015. Prior to that, beginning in the late ’90s, she studied in the Tibetan tradition with Ken McLeod. At ZCLA, Jūsen initially studied under Roshi Egyoku, later continuing her koan practice with Sensei Senshin, with whom she still studies. She received Tokudo in 2025 from Sensei Baiko Myoho Fjeld. Jūsen has been a resident of ZCLA since 2023 and is the Zendo Co-Steward and Co-Steward of the Introduction Instructors Circle. She was a visual effects producer for many decades but is winding that down now. She has a 25-year-old daughter, a dog named Zak, and lots of extended family, both in LA and on the East Coast.
LEAVE-TAKING SHUSOs
SLO Head Trainee Eduardo Kyōzen Zambrano
Eduardo served as the San Luis Obispo Zen Circle’s fifth Head Trainee. He has practiced meditation since 1988, with a path that includes Zen (since 1995), Theravāda (since 1999), and Dzogchen (since 2005). He received jukai from Roshi Shōgen on May 11, 2025.
A student of The Work of Byron Katie since 2002, Eduardo was certified as a facilitator in 2007, and has staffed her events regularly since 2005. He has offered The Work in Buddhist settings since 2007 and leads retreats twice a year at Great Vow Zen Monastery.
Eduardo has been teaching economics at the university level since 1999. He is currently a professor of economics at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he has taught since 2007. He lives with his wife, Katya, and their two young children, and enjoys rock climbing in his free time.
ZCLA Shuso Glenn Gikai Davis
Glenn Gikai Davis is the 2025–2026 Shuso under the guidance of Sensei Tom Dharma-Joy Reichert, with continuing koan training by Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao. Gikai began his formal meditation practice in the mid-2000s, practicing with Trudy Goodman at Insight LA (becoming a teacher at Insight LA), Shinzen Young (becoming a facilitator for Shinzen) and Anam Thubten Rinpoche. Gikai was inspired by Shinzen Young to practice with his teacher, Joshu Sasaki Roshi, with whom Gikai practiced for about 5 years (until his death in 2014). Thereafter, Gikai discovered ZCLA where he began koan practice with Roshi Egyoku and Roshi Ryodo. He received jukai in 2017 and tokudo in 2023 from Roshi Egyoku. Gikai became a resident of ZCLA in 2018. Gikai and his spouse, Treya, have been married 17 years, and have a home on Atlas Peak mountain in Napa. Gikai is an entertainment and media lawyer, a musician, and an avid sailor.
STUDY TEXT
With our theme of Living the Life of a Bodhisattva, our study text will be Dōgen Zenji’s Bodaisatta Shishōbō, a fascicle of the Shōbōgenzō translated here as The Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance.
Sometimes translated as Four Elements of a Bodhisattva’s Social Relations, the four methods are Giving, Kind Speech, Beneficial Action, and Manifesting Sympathy.
Click here for the chart comparing the various translations.
Join from wherever you happen to be!
Participating Sanghas: Zen Center of Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo Zen Circle, California Men’s Colony (CMC) Buddhist Fellowship Group (San Luis Obispo, CA), Joyful-Mind Sangha (Rolling Hills, CA), Prism Zen Circle (Lincoln Heights, CA), Monday Night Meditation Group (Pasadena, CA), Empty Hands Circle (Campinas, SP, Brazil), Zen-Center Bambushain (Zhulinci, Aachen, Germany).