Sesshins are silent intensive meditation retreats. Each day of sesshin typically includes ten 35-minute zazen periods, dokusan (an individual face-to-face meeting with the teacher), a dharma talk, formal oryoki meals, work practice and service assignments. You may attend one or more days. Each “day” of sesshin begins at 7:00 pm the previous evening. You are welcome to sleep at the center (sleeping bags on the floor cushions) or commute. The fee for sesshins is $45 per day ($35 per day for members) and payment in full is required at the time of registration. Previous zazen practice is required.
In addition, Clouds in Water offers several one-day Introduction to Sesshin sessions throughout the year, for those who have not participated in a sesshin before.
To register for a sesshin, contact our Program Coordinator. For questions, scheduling changes or to schedule a pre-sesshin interview (required for those doing their first sesshin at Clouds in Water) please contact the Ino (Temple Coordinator). We also recommend attending the Introduction to Sesshin.
Visitors are welcome to join sesshin participants for any scheduled sitting and walking meditation period, dharma talk and/or liturgy service. (Visitors do not participate in dokusan and meals.) Donations are welcome.
Sesshin begins at 7:00 pm on the first day and ends at 2:00 pm on the last day unless otherwise stated. The registration and payment deadline for sesshin is the Monday before first day of the retreat.
At Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Participants must attend the entire sesshin.
Participants can attend either the first three days (Saturday at noon through Monday at noon) or the entire sesshin.
This one day retreat will begin at 7:00 pm on Friday evening and end at 9:00 pm on Saturday.
At Dharma Field Zen Center. Okumura Sensei will teach on Dogen’s essay, “Buddha Nature.”
With Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi
Begins: Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Ends: Saturday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m.
At Minnesota Zen Meditation Center (MZMC)
Participants must attend the entire retreat.
$180 ($150 for members of Dharma Field, Clouds in Water, Compassionate Ocean, and MZMC)
MZMC is located at 3343 East Calhoun Parkway, Minneapolis.
For more information see http://www.mnzencenter.org/.
To register call 612-822-5313 or email
This sesshin is at capacity. To add your name to the waiting list, please submit a registration form.
Sunday Dharma Talk
May 4, 10:00 am
At Dharma Field Zen Center
Open to the public. Requested donation $15
Dharma Field is located at 3118 West 49th Street, Minneapolis. (map)
Phone: 612-928-4868. E-mail:
This retreat offers an opportunity to consider the relationship between Zen practice and the Bodhisattva Vows. How do they arise from and realize each other? We may see how the compassionate intentions and commitments of enlightening beings—Bodhisattvas—generate, play and work with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and harmony among all beings. We will explore the nature and function of vows and ways to reinterpret and reinvigorate such commitments to meet the suffering of our contemporary societies and cultures in beneficial ways.
Tenshin Reb Anderson-roshi was ordained as a priest by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in 1970; he served as abbot of San Francisco Zen Center's three training centers from 1986 to 1995. He is the author of Warm Smiles from Cold Mountains and Being Upright: Zen Meditation and the Bodhisattva Precepts.
June 7–12
With Byakuren Judith Ragir and Dokai Georgesen
Hokyoji, a Zen monastery, in southeastern Minnesota, provides a beautiful, "close to nature" experience of sesshin that is especially beloved by the Clouds in Water community. In this sesshin, we will explore the teaching of Joshu, one of the most famous Zen teachers in ancient China.
Participants can attend either the first two days (Friday evening through Sunday at 6:00 pm.) or the entire sesshin.
September 10–14
Shohaku Okumura Roshi returns to lead another genzo-e (study) sesshin. Dharma Field will host this inter-sangha sesshin. This year Okumura Roshi will continue his lectures on Dogen Zenji's essay, "Bussho" (Buddha-Nature), which is a substantial piece to study. He gave nine lectures on "Bussho" in September 2006, which was approximately one third of the text. He will offer nine more talks on "Bussho" this fall, and teach the remaining portion when he returns in 2010.
The cost of the five-day sesshin is $250 for members, $325 for nonmembers. Three-day and four-day options are available as well. Members of the sponsoring centers may register beginning June 15. Registration will be open to all, beginning July 12. Please visit www.dharmafield.org for more information.
Topical retreats focus on a specific aspect of spiritual practice and the schedule is less rigorous than a sesshin.
Retreat
Friday, May 16, 7:00–9:00 pm
Saturday, May 17, 9:00 am–7:00 pm
$60 (members $50)
Sunday Dharma Talk
May 18, 9:00–10:30 am
Conversation after service 10:45 am–12:00 pm
(Open to everyone, not just retreat participants)
With Ryūmon and Terri Karis
Rev. H. Ryūmon Gutiérrez Baldoquín is a Zen priest in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. A student of Zenkei Blanche Hartman Roshi and Acharya Pema Chödrön, she is the editor of Dharma, Color and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism.
Terri Karis is a Clouds in Water member, a white mother of black sons, and associate professor of marriage and family therapy. Over the past 20 years she has been studying racial identities and whiteness.
November 14–16
With Gregg Krech
Gregg Krech from the ToDo Institute will offer a Friday evening public talk, a Saturday workshop and a Sunday dharma talk the weekend of November 14–16. More information about the weekend will be featured in the fall 2008 newsletter.
Register for Sesshin, Retreats Online
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