Welcome to the Yokoji - Zen Mountain Center website!

We're a Zen Buddhist training and retreat center located on 160 acres of sacred Native American land and wilderness in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. We welcome people from all spiritual traditions and walks of life who would like to experience the life changing practice of meditation and awareness. 

Please check out our website, and if you have questions, give us an email or a call or come to visit us for our Sunday activities. 

Whoa dude! We're on YouTube

We've posted a video of Charles Tenshin Fletcher giving a dharma talk on Eihei Dogen's Genjokoan, titled "Moon in a Dewdrop."

Are you new to Zen practice?

Sunday programs 

Come to see us for our Sunday morning programs. We provide an introduction to Zen meditation, a traditional Soto Zen Buddhist service, complete with bells and smells, a dharma talk by our Abbott, Charles Tenshin Fletcher, Roshi, or a senior student, and a vegetarian meal. Programs start at 9:30 am, but come 15 minutes early. We always start on time! More here .

Other programs for newcomers

May 24: Introduction to Zen Practice is the best way to learn about YZMC. This one-day program includes an introduction to Zen Buddhist practice at YZMC with much discussion and opportunities to ask questions. You also have an opportunity to meet with Tenshin, Roshi. More here .

June 12-15: Beginner's Mind Sesshin is an opportunity to participate in a retreat (sesshin) that has a lighter schedule than usual. More here .

May Sesshin and Shuso Hossen

Join us for an 8-day sesshin starting May 11 and ending with a Shuso Hossen (Dharma Combat) on May 18. More here about the sesshin.  We encourage people who have never attended a retreat to first go to Introduction to Zen Practice or Beginner's Mind Sesshin, but all are welcome for the Shuso Hossen. More here about Shuso Hossen.

T'ai Chi, Qi Gong & Zen Retreat

During this weekend retreat, Sifu Lana Spraker teaches Traditional Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan forms and principles, complemented with training in Liangong Health Exercises, Zhan Zhuang "Standing" Qi Gong and Tai Chi Ruler. Sifu Spraker has taught internationally for over 33 years. This will be Sifu Spraker's 41st retreat given at YZMC. More here.