We are fortunate to have an ample building that makes it possible to accommodate up to 24 people for frequent 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. Most anyone who has established their practice at the Center may take part in sesshin, and we warmly welcome practitioners from other Dharma centers, regardless of practice tradition.

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

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Dec 10, 7:30pm–Dec 14, 2025, noonish

Feb 25, 7:30pm–Mar 1, 2026, noonish

May 20, 7:30pm–May 24, 2026, noonish

July 20, 7:30pm–July 26, 2026, noonish

Oct 14, 7:30pm–Oct 18, 2026, noonish

Dec 9, 7:30pm–Dec 13, 2026, noonish

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All participants live at the center, take part in daily cleaning and cooking activities, and spend upwards of ten hours a day in formal zazen (there is no Zoom option).  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.​

 

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.

 

Because sesshin is not just a bunch of rounds of zazen but is instead a full practice involving all the components of the sesshin day, no one will be accepted for sesshin if they only wish to attend isolated blocks. Simply put, if your intentions for sesshin attendance do not involve being on hand for any meals, teisho, work periods, and chanting services, then it is not sesshin that you are looking for. Consult with or email the Head of Zendo (nathaniel.namowicz@gmail.com) 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.