ZMC Summer Work Practice Application

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San Francisco Zen Center

TASSAJARA ZEN MOUNTAIN CENTER
Summer Work Practice Program Application

Join us for one to six months work practice at Tassajara, Summer 2025!


Available dates are between April 8 - September 22, 2025


Tassajara welcomes new and returning students.


New students are strongly encouraged to first experience a guest student stay or apprenticeship at Green Gulch Farm. New students may come directly to Tassajara with a recommendation from a teacher or a reference very familiar with Tassajara work practice. Please include contacts for your reference with your application.
Please see sfzc.org for more information about applying to Green Gulch.

Fields marked with an asterisk are required. 
REQUESTED DATES
Please plan to arrive on the first Tuesday of the month unless otherwise arranged with the director, zmcdirector@sfzc.org
Specify Dates

mm/dd/yyyy

mm/dd/yyyy
Most rides will be on Tuesdays; please plan to arrive on a Tuesday.  

April stays: If you are interested in coming only during the month of April, please contact zmcworkperiod@sfzc.org, instead of filling out this application.
If you wish to be considered for the Work Practice Apprenticeship (WPA) program, a three-month commitment or longer is required between April 30 and September 10
Personal Information




mm/dd/yyyy


Address







Emergency Contact Information









Practice 

Precepts



Ordination


Teacher



Roommate



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Vaccinations
At this time, Tassajara asks that residents receive a booster covid vaccine when eligible.






If any of the following situations occur prior to visiting a San Francisco Zen Center temple, you are required to contact temple staff and may need to postpone your visit: 
  • The onset of symptoms of COVID-19 
  • Contact with anyone known to test positive with COVID-19 within 14 days of visiting the temple
COVID RELEASE
I have voluntarily agreed to visit  Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (the “Facility”) which is a practice center within the San Francisco Zen Center (“Zen Center”).

I acknowledge the highly contagious nature of COVID-19. By signing this document, I voluntarily assume all risk of exposure, infection or other adverse consequences of COVID-19 arising out of my visit, including the period in transit to and from the Facility.  I further acknowledge that the term “risk”, as used in this release, includes exposure or infection that may result in my personal injury, illness, disability, and/or death. I understand that the risk may be caused by the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, Zen Center’s or the Facility’s directors, officers, employees, teachers, residents, agents, and representatives, contractors and volunteers and visitors, and further including family members of such persons.  Accordingly, I understand and agree that this Release covers any claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of any and all persons listed in the preceding sentence, whether a COVID-19 infection may manifest itself. 

I understand that this document is written to be as broad and inclusive as legally permitted by the State of California.  I agree that should any portion be held invalid or unenforceable, I will continue to be bound by the remaining terms. 
KNOWLEDGE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK; WAVER OF LIABILITY
1. Voluntary Participation

I, the undersigned, have voluntarily chosen to travel to, visit and/or reside in the San Francisco Zen Center's Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Carmel Valley, California ("Tassajara").

2. Inherent Risks at Tassajara

Tassajara is located at the bottom of a gorge with steep rock walls.  At all times, both in the immediate area of Tassajara and in the surrounding areas, there is a high risk from land falls, falling rocks and boulders and, particularly after rainfall, flooding and injury associated with flooding. 

Tassajara is located in Los Padres National Forest, an area that has been subjected to frequent fires.  As a result, there is a significant risk to persons and property for those who may be resident at, or visiting, Tassajara. Smoke from fires in the region may cause unhealthy air quality which could adversely affect the health of residents and visitors.

In addition, the County Road that provides sole vehicular access to/from Tassajara may be impacted by fires, debris flows, heavy rain, rockfalls, flooding and hill failures rendering it difficult to negotiate and/or impassable.  Such conditions may seriously compromise access to, and egress from Tassajara, impeding or preventing evacuation and/or access to healthcare and other regular and emergency services.  

3. Waiver of Liability

As consideration for being permitted by the San Francisco Zen Center to visit and use related facilities at Tassajara, I hereby agree that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians and legal representatives will make no claim against, or sue, or attach the property of San Francisco Zen Center, its employees, agents, or directors, on account of any physical or mental injury, accidents, illness (including death), economic loss, or damage to personal property resulting from the negligence or other acts, howsoever caused, by any employee, agent, director or contractor of the San Francisco Zen Center as a result of my presence in Tassajara and participation in the practice session at Tassajara, and/or my travel to/from Tassajara,  whether arising out of the risks described in this release or otherwise.  I hereby release the San Francisco Zen Center from all actions, claims, or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians and legal representatives may now, or hereafter, have for physical or mental injury, accidents, illness (including death), economic loss, or damage to personal property arising out of the risks and conditions described in this Release.


4. Knowing and Voluntary Execution

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS ASSUMPTION OF RISK, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE, AND I AM SIGNING IT FREELY.  I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT AND THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF SIGNING IT, INCLUDING (A) THE RELEASE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND DIRECTORS, FROM ALL LIABILITY, (B) WAIVER OF MY RIGHT TO SUE THE SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND DIRECTORS, AND (C) ASSUMPTION OF ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MY PRESENCE AT TASSAJARA, INCLUDING TRAVEL TO AND FROM TASSAJARA. 

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Health Record
If you answer Yes to any question, please describe, including dates when applicable.











Legal

Note: No applicant will be denied residency solely on the grounds of conviction of a criminal offense. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to being a student at Tassajara may, however, be considered.

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Personal Statements (may be brief or lengthy)







Work Practice Requirements 
  1. Follow the schedule of morning and evening meditation, and morning, and evening services of bowing and chanting.
  2. Attend the work practice schedule.
  3. Attend talks and ceremonies.
  4. Attend small group meetings and community meetings.
  5. Refrain from drug and alcohol use.
  6. Refrain from initiating any new sexual relationships.
  7. Follow the Tassajara Guidelines (Monastic Regulations for Summer Zen Training).
  8. Do not leave Tassajara during your stay if it is your first summer (except for vacation, if applicable, or emergencies).
Headshot 

You may skip this step if you are a returning student or having difficulties with the upload.

Cancellation
Contact zmcdirector@sfzc.org if you have questions or need help with this application
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