âFire Monksâ Defend Tassajara Zen Monastery From Wildfire Eight monks protecting the Buddhist center near Big Sur, Calif., are relying not only on training from professional firefighters but also on their Zen practice. Smoke rising from the Willow fire, which has burned about 2,800 acres in Los Padres National Forest since it began on June 17.Credit...California Interagency Willow Fire Incident, via Associated Press June 23, 2021 Eight Buddhist monks working to defend the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center near Big Sur, Calif., from a nearby wildfire have relied not only on the training they have received from professional firefighters but also on their Zen practice.