We are fortunate to have an ample building that makes it possible to accommodate up to 24 people for regular live-in, multi-day retreats known as sesshin.  There is no question but that sesshin is the highest expression of Zen training and a vehicle second to none for developing a focused, concentrated practice.  

We offer sesshin four to five times a year, ranging in length from two to six days (most are four days). The next scheduled sesshins are

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Dec11, 7:30pm–Dec 15, 2024, noonish

Feb 26, 7:30pm–Mar 2, 2025, noonish

May 14, 7:30pm–May 18, 2025, noonish

July 21, 7:30pm–July 27, 2025, noonish

Oct 1, 7:30pm–Oct 5, 2025, noonish

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Participants live at the center, take part in daily cleaning and cooking activities, and spend upwards of ten hours a day in formal zazen.  The day is broken up by meals, a work period, a calisthenics period and a rest period.  Two chanting services are held, and teisho is offered daily.  Dokusan is generally offered three times in the course of a normal sesshin day.

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Most anyone who has established their practice at the Center may take part in sesshin, and we welcome practitioners from other Zen centers.

 

While full-time attendance is optimal, work and family commitments may make such attendance difficult, so it is possible to attend sesshin part- or short-time. Part-time attendance means that one will need to excuse oneself from some part of the sesshin day.  Short-time attendance means that one will attend complete sesshin days, but not all of the days of sesshin, e.g. Friday-Sunday rather than a full Wednesday-Sunday. If one is coming part- or short-time, please make every effort to plan your arrivals/departures so they fall between two blocks in the sesshin schedule. Consult with the Head of Zendo if you have any questions.

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For more specific details about sesshin proper, consult our Sesshin Guidelines. For the run of the sesshin day, consult the Sesshin Schedule.