To our beloved community,
Thank you so much for your outpouring of love and care about the Tassajara zendo fire, and for the people there. We want to ensure you are as up-to-date as possible during this difficult time. Here is what we know so far:
Again, most importantly, no one was physically hurt.
The fire broke out toward the end of the final sesshin of the Winter Ango, led by Abbot David Zimmerman, who was one of the five Fire Monks who helped save Tassajara during the 2008 Basin Complex Fire. The sangha has been practicing closely together for nearly 90 days and is now taking time to process what has happened together and to care for one another.
Deep bows to the Cachaqua Volunteer Fire Department and to Steve Scarlett for their efforts to contain the blaze. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Everything in the zendo was destroyed, including the restored Buddha statue that had survived the Tassajara zendo fire of 1978. It is too early to know if anything can be recovered.
The outpouring of offers to help has been deeply moving and greatly appreciated. We will need a few days to determine next steps and will share more information as soon as we can.
We do have insurance, but it is not yet clear what will be covered or what the full impact of the fire will be. At this time, we still hope to open for the summer guest season, but a full assessment is needed before we can confirm.
Many have asked about making a donation. While the full extent of the damage is not yet known, there will be significant costs to SFZC, even with insurance. We are grateful for your care and support, and we have created a fundraising page for those who wish to contribute.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a precious part of our history, and at the same time, we recognize that it could have been much worse. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
With deepest appreciation and gratitude,
SFZC Sangha
Zendo Fire Donations: giving.sfzc.org/zendo-fire
thanks for connecting us, ive been there but years ago
What started the fire? Does anyone know?
It is still being investigated. Doesn’t mean there is a person who started it, could have been an electrical fire. No one knows yet, how it started.
As my friend Margaret says: impermanence insists on being recognized again and again.
A memory: when I was a teenager, in the mid-1960s, my Dad would drive us (myself and two girlfriends) to Tassajara. We’d fill up our water bottles and backpack over the mountains. Several days later, he’d meet us on Highway 1 to bring us home to Monterey.