I, together with all beings and the Great Earth—awaken. —The Buddha

Join us for our first non-residential city refuge sesshin. Rohatsu sesshin commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment and is a way of embodying our own deep aspiration for awakening. Practiced all over the world Rohatsu is also a culmination of a year of practice. We will be offering morning zazen and chanting service, afternoon zazen, dharma talk and chanting service, and evening zazen and chanting service (except on Thursday). 1:1 practice check-ins with Kisei Sensei and Rev. Catherine will be available for all Full Participation folks, and possibly part-time folks if space allows.

The spirit of this sesshin is opening to the silence and stillness of our original heart-mind—right here in our city life. To support this we will practice silence in the zendo, and encourage you to simplify as much as you are able this week. Some may choose to take off from work, to turn off your cellphone and/or only engage in necessary speech. Others may choose to join sesshin between work and other responsibilities.

We are offering three practice options for Rohatsu this year.

1. Full Participation — commitment to attend all of the schedule and online 1:1 practice check-ins

2. Part-time Participation — commit to attending certain parts of the schedule that you inform us ahead of time

3. Drop-in Participation — come when you are able, only available to folks who have previous meditation experience with Mud Lotus

We will send out additional information to all those who register with details about how to practice a non-residential sesshin and how to sign-up for 1:1 practice check-ins.

Schedule can be found below:

Opening Night Tuesday Dec 8th 7:30P - 9P

Zazen/Opening Talk

Mornings Wednesday through Saturday 6:30A - 8:30A (coffee and tea will be available)

6:30A — short chant begin meditation/posture adjustment/meditation

7:20A — walking meditation

7:30A — seated meditation

7:50A — morning chanting service

8:30A — clean-up

Late Mornings Wed - Sat

online practice check-ins (please register to learn more and sign-up)

Afternoons Wednesday - Saturday 1P - 5P (tea and snacks will be available)

1P — meditation/posture adjustment/meditation

1:50P — walking meditation

2P — meditation/posture adjustment/meditation

3P — dharma talk

3:45 — walking meditation (outdoors weather permitting)

4P — meditation/posture adjustment/meditation (Saturday afternoon closing ritual)

4:50P — chanting service/clean-up

Evenings Wednesday through Friday, 7P - 9P, Thursdays meditation online only

7:00P — meditation/posture adjustment/meditation

7:50P — walking meditation

8P — meditation/posture adjustment/meditation (dharma talk on Wednesday night)

8:50P — chanting service/bows