Honoring the Path of the Warrior—a program for vets returning home

Honoring the Path of the Warrior is a program for modern military vets that aims to assist them in transitioning from military life to civilian life. Events combine physical activities and nature excursions centered on meditation exercises, sensory awareness and mindfulness practice.

The 2012 program includes six one-day events, one 4-day river rafting trip and retreat, and a retreat for women only. Events are sponsored by the San Francisco Zen Center.

According to the program’s flyer, “The intent is to provide Veterans with connection, community and tools that support them in using their strengths and experiences to find a meaningful and productive path in civilian life. Mindfulness-­based interventions have proven to be successful at transforming stress, anxiety and trauma in a number of diverse populations and are being used within the VA system for returning veterans as well as deployed soldiers.”

Lee Klinger Lesser and Chris Fortin of the San Francisco Zen Center co-founded the program in 2007. For more information, visit www.honoringthepath.org.


If you’re interested in making a charitable donation to help ensure the program continues through 2012, send a cheque made out to the San Francisco Zen Center (Honoring the Path of the Warrior in the memo section) and mail it to:

Honoring the Path of the Warrior, c/o San Francisco Zen Center
300 Page Street
San Francisco, CA 94102