Sesshins (Formal Retreats) and Contemporary Retreats
Upcoming Retreat Days
- August 7: "Just Sitting" Saturday
- August 28: Half-day Sesshin
- September 21-26 : Hokyoji Retreat
- October 16: Half-day Sesshin
- November 13: Mindfulness Day
- December 3-10: Rohatsu Sesshin
- December 18: "Just Sitting" Saturday
Intensive Meditation Opportunities
Extended periods of meditation are the backbone of our practice, allowing us the opportunity to quiet our minds in shared silence. At MZMC, we offer: sesshins, which include the traditional elements including liturgy and formal meals with oryoki bowls; and retreats, which do not. All sesshins and retreats include 40-minute periods of sitting meditation followed by walking meditation, and one-to-one meetings with the teacher.
Half-day Sesshins
August 28 with Ted O'Toole
October 16 with Guy Gibbon
Hours: 5:45 am – noon
Cost: $20 members; $25 non-members
Register
These brief immersions in the traditional sesshin schedule are a good opportunity to become familiar with the routines, stay in practice, or brush up after some time away. These mornings include an orientation, zazen, kinhin (walking meditation), liturgy, a formal vegetarian breakfast using oryoki bowls, one-to-one meetings with the teacher, and work practice.
Mindfulness Days
November 13 with Ted O'Toole
Hours: 8 am – 5 pm
Cost: $45 members; $60 non-members
Register
Mindfulness Days are one-day retreats in a contemporary context, without the formal elements involved in sesshin. They include walking and sitting meditation, a dharma talk, one-to-one meetings with the teacher, a vegetarian buffet lunch, and work practice. Meditators at all levels of experience are invited.
"Just Sitting" Saturdays
August 7 with Rosemary Taylor
December 18 with Susan Nelson
Hours: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $15 donation is requested. No pre-registration required.
All are welcome, regardless of ability to pay.
These concentrated days of meditation begin with our usual Saturday morning public schedule, including liturgy, and continue into mid-afternoon. No work period, no dharma talk — just sitting. Practice meetings are available. Please bring your own bag lunch.
Retreat at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community
Eitzen MN
with Tim Burkett
Tues., Sept. 21, 7:30 pm through Sun., September 26, noon
Two-day option on Saturday and Sunday
There will be an orientation on Tuesday night, and on Friday night for weekend participants.
Per day: $45 members; $60 non-members
Register
The fall retreat at Hokyoji, in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota, is an opportunity to practice surrounded by nature, far from the distractions of city life. We alternate sitting and walking meditation throughout the day, along with daily dharma talks, one-to-one meetings with the teacher, vegetarian meals, a work period, and outdoor group meditation walks. Bring camping gear or sleep in dorm-like accommodations.
Rohatsu Sesshin, 2010
with Tim Burkett
Seven-day: Fri., Dec., 3, 7 pm through Fri., Dec. 10, 4 pm
Five-day: Fri., Dec., 3, at 7 pm through Wed., Dec. 8, 9 pm
Two-day: Fri., Dec., 3, at 7 pm through Sun., Dec. 5, 9 pm
Hours: 5:45 am – 9:00 pm
Per day: $45 members; $60 non-members
Register
Rohatsu (Buddha's Enlightenment) sesshin is arguably the year's most important event for Zen Buddhists. All over the world we sit in meditation, celebrating Buddha's awakening to an intimacy with all life as our own awakening. This formal retreat includes zazen, kinhin (walking meditation), liturgy, dharma talks, formal vegetarian meals using oryoki, dokusan (one-to-one meetings with the teacher), and work practice.