The Sweetwater Zen Center, a spiritual refuge and residential Zen Buddhist training center in National City is holding a ceremony on Feb. 2 at 10 a.m., announcing the historic installation of its new abbot, Bobby Chowa Werner.
This rare and auspicious event, known in Japanese as shinsanshiki (Ceremony of Ascending the Mountain), symbolizes the ascension of a new spiritual leader. The ceremony, steeped in Zen Buddhist tradition, will take place in the courtyard of SWZC.
The event will honor the contributions of SWZC founder and outgoing abbot Anne Seisen Saunders, who has led the center since its establishment in 2000, and celebrate the ascension of her longtime student, 39-year-old Bobby Chowa Werner.
“When I founded Sweetwater Zen Center 25 years ago, I could only dream of the community it has become – a haven for spiritual growth, meditation, and belonging,” said Saunders in a press release. “Passing the torch to Bobby is a testament to the strength of our sangha and the enduring relevance of Zen in our modern lives.”
Werner, a lay Zen practitioner with two decades of training under Saunders, brings a fresh, creative perspective to the role. His leadership will mark a bold and novel shift for the Zen Buddhist tradition, as he becomes one of the youngest abbots of an American Zen temple and one of the few lay practitioners to hold this position.
“Sweetwater Zen Center has always been a sanctuary – a place for stillness and connection in a world that moves so fast,” stated Werner. “I’m excited to bring fresh energy and creativity to ensure this sacred space remains vibrant and relevant for the next generation.”
Sweetwater Zen Center is an urban Zen Buddhist community in San Diego’s South Bay. Since its founding in 2000 in National City, the center has been a cornerstone of spiritual refuge, offering meditation, training, and community engagement to people of all backgrounds. With members spanning San Diego and across the U.S., the center is a space where Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike come together to practice stillness, compassion, and mindfulness.
The Sweetwater Zen Center is located at 2727 Highland Ave, National City.
