To study the Buddha Way is the study the Self.
To study the Self, is to forget the self and to be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas.
No trace of enlightenment remains, and this traceless enlightenment continues forever. —Dogen Zenji, Genjo Koan
During this silent, Zen-style retreat we will practice-awakening to our interdependence with all beings. Silent meditation retreats provide an opportunity to deepen our awareness and experience the truth of interconnection directly. The silence and support of meditation can give us the courage to live our lives more fully as we discover the spacious freedom and compassion of our original heart-mind.
Led by: Kisei, Sensei and Dharma Holder Patrick Dunn with support from Seth Josephson
Retreat Details:
We will follow a rigorous daily schedule which includes roughly seven hours of seated meditation, interspersed with periods of walking meditation, chanting practice, dharma talks, opportunities to check-in with one of the practice leaders, outdoor meditation sessions, mindful eating practice during meals, a late morning care-taking practice and breaks where participants have the opportunity to rest, exercise and explore the beautiful grounds and nature. Scroll down to see a sample schedule.
In the spirit of a silent meditation retreat, we ask that participants agree to follow the schedule, and refrain from reading, writing or cell-phone use during the retreat.
They also can be challenging as they invite us to stay with our direct experience, including experiences that can be uncomfortable.
In order to attend this multi-day retreat, prior meditation retreat experience is required. Please connect Kisei (amy.kisei@gmail.com) before registering for this retreat if you do not practice regularly with the Mud Lotus Sangha and have never done a sesshin before.
Registration
Please fill out the registration form below to reserve your spot for the retreat.
Lodging options include camping, dorms and a few private rooms, please indicate your preference on the registration form. Please know that the number of private rooms is extremely limited, and we may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests a private room.
Cost/Payment Details
Cost: $180 - $300 sliding scale ($50 deposit due at registration, nonrefundable; the remainder is due the week before the retreat). Scholarships are available, please contact amy.kisei@gmail.com to inquire.
Cost includes lodging and food. We are looking for volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up and possibly meal prep.
Deposits and Full Payments can also be made via Check to Seth Josephson and Venmo to @MudLotusProject Seth Fossils
Schedule
Retreat will begin on Monday night, arrival and set-up starts at 4P, dinner will be at 5:30P and we will open the retreat at 7P with some basic guidelines, followed by zazen (meditation) and an opening dharma talk. Retreat will end on Sunday after a community brunch. With clean-up, we hope that folks can start heading out around 1P. Below is a sample schedule for the full days of the retreat.
Approximate Schedule (Tues - Sat)
5:20A – Wake-up
6A – Early Morning Zazen
7:20A – Chanting Service
8A – Breakfast
9:15A — Chore Period (Samu)
11A — Late Morning Zazen
12:20P — Exercise Period
1:30P – Lunch
3P – Dharma Talk
4P – Zazen / Practice Check-ins
5:30P – Simple Supper
7P – Zazen / Practice Check-ins
8:50P – Formal Tea / Closing Chant
9:40P — Yaza (optional late night zazen) / Lights Out
Sunday
6:20A — Wake-up
7A — Zazen
8:30A — Closing Circle
9:30A — Chore Period
10:15A — Brunch
11:30A — Clean-up and Goodbyes
*All zazen periods will include periods of walking meditation