Zen Retreats
Silent retreat includes meditation, mindful movement, chanting, mindful eating, dharma teaching and meeting with the teacher. For many practitioners, single day retreats help rekindle the depth of zazen and restore harmony between body, heart and mind.
Zazenkai are suitable for beginners who feel able to sustain a number of 25 minute zazen periods during the day. Sesshin are suitable for people who have attended full day meditation retreats.
Please see our CALENDAR for upcoming Zen retreats.
What happens at a Zen retreat?
We focus on extended periods of Zazen and mindful movement in silence in a simplified and focused time with others.
We practice Zen “continuously” with our whole bodies, minds, hearts and Zen spirit as we move mindfully throughout the day from zazen to kinhin to silent meals to chanting, rest, and dharma talks. We rest ourselves wit tea and rest breaks. We are supported by each other.
Zazenkai (or Day of Zen) is from 2 pm to 8:30 pm, with several breaks and bringing a bag dinner. Newcomers can attend a half day.
Sesshin (a longer retreat) happens residentially over a few days up to a week and include 7-8 hours a day of Zazen. Sesshin becomes quieter and deeper as we drop off our selves and become one with all around us. Sesshins are challenging and transforming. We recommend you have participated in a day of meditation before signing up for a Sesshin
Photos are from our 2023, 2024 and 2025 Sesshin retreats
