The authorities in Monterey County, California, have announced the arrest of a 36-year-old woman in connection with a fire that damaged Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, the oldest Soto Zen Buddhist monastery in the United States.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said on Tuesday that Fiona GuoGuo Lu, of Mountain View, California, was arrested after investigators identified online social media posts allegedly connecting her to the 27 March fire at the monastery. The sheriff’s office said the posts also included threats of further violence toward Buddhist temples.
“Among the things that are posted on Ms. Lu’s social media pages are that she does take responsibility for what happened at the Tassajara Zen Center, and she makes what we believe are credible threats toward harming other Buddhist temples in the state of California,” said Monterey County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Andres Rosas. (KSBW)
Lu is currently being held at Napa County Jail on charges unrelated to the Tassajara fire and is awaiting extradition to Monterey County. She faces charges of arson, criminal threats, and felony hate crime. Her bail has been set at US$130,000.
“The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting every member of our community and ensuring that all people can safely practice their faith without fear of violence, intimidation, or threats,” Sheriff Tina Nieto said in a statement. “We take allegations involving crimes motivated by bias or hatred very seriously and will continue to work diligently to investigate these incidents and hold those responsible accountable under the law.” (CBS News)
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, operated by the San Francisco Zen Center, is located in a remote area of the Los Padres National Forest. Founded in 1967, Tassajara is widely regarded as the first Soto Zen training monastery established outside of Asia. The center, founded by Shunryu Suzuki, has long been associated with the transmission of Japanese Zen practice in the US.
The March fire destroyed Tassajara’s wooden meditation hall, or zendo, and damaged part of the center’s library. No injuries were reported. Earlier reports noted that the fire broke out late at night during Tassajara’s three-month winter practice period, when residents were nearing the end of a sequestered retreat. Residents were quick to respond to the fire, utilizing available hoses, buckets, and a sprinkler system to help contain the fire as emergency services made their way to the blaze.
In a statement from the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, officials noted, “Charred wood, scorched metal, grey ash, and open space are all that remain of the structure, which had stood since 1978.” (SF Gate)
In a statement on 2 June, the monastery’s abbot David Zimmerman added, “While this is difficult news, we are sustained by our vow to uphold the Bodhisattva Way and meet the causes and conditions surrounding the zendo fire with wisdom and compassion as they become known.” (SF Gate)
The sheriff’s office thanked Tassajara staff and faculty, along with responding fire personnel, for acting quickly to contain the fire. Officials said the site’s remote location, limited access, and communications challenges complicated the emergency response, but that quick action helped prevent the blaze from spreading further in the surrounding forested area.
See more
Tassajara Zendo Fire 2026 (San Francisco Zen Center)
Woman accused of setting Tassajara Zen Center fire arrested in Napa County (KSBW)
Mountain View woman accused of setting Zen monastery on fire (KRON4 News)
Woman facing arson, hate crime charge following fire at Tassajara Zen Buddhist monastery (CBS News)
Bay Area woman accused of setting fire to nation’s oldest Buddhist monastery (SF Gate)
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