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).  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, we understand that work and family commitments may make such attendance difficult, and it is possible to attend sesshin part- or short-time.  (Part-time attendance means that one will attend for only certain blocks, e.g. evening, of the sesshin days.  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.)

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For more specific details, consult our Sesshin Guidelines.

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