September 21st-27th: Autumnal Equinox Virtual Sesshin
Tahoma Zen Monastery
Join us online over the Autumnal Equinox for a weeklong virtual sesshin. Due to the restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic this event will be primarily online. Read this post, Orientation to Virtual Sesshin, on how to best take advantage of this opportunity. For those local you are welcome to drop-in (masks required) for any of the Zazen periods, but Choka and the Dharma talk remain closed and online only. Please contact us with any questions.
Dharma Talks will be from Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School. This text is rarely engaged with in the west but presents a complete description of Rinzai Zen Training in the Hakuin tradition. We will conclude the sesshin with a Q&A and discussion of the text. If you’d like your own copy you can purchase the book here (scroll down) or download a free PDF of it here (note: links to a large pdf). If you are searching for your own copy be sure to get the edition translated by Yoko Okuda and published by Tuttle Publishing.
Before taking part in a Virtual Event at Tahoma please read these posts:
Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.
Sesshin Schedule
Monday, Sept. 21st
| 6:00pm | Opening Sutra (p. 15) and Introductory Talk |
| 6:30pm | Zazen; Kinhin |
| 7:00pm | Zazen; Zazen; kinhin |
| 8:00pm | Zazen; Zazen; kinhin |
| 8:45pm | Closing sutra; (p. 16); sampai |
| 9:00pm | Kaichin / Yaza |
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Tuesday, Sept. 22nd – Saturday, Sept. 26th
| 5:00am | Choka (Sutras p. 3-13); sampai |
| 5:40am | Zazen [short period]; Kinhin |
| 6:00am | Zazen; Zazen |
| 7:00am | Breakfast / samu / break |
| 10:00am | Zazen; Zazen; kinhin |
| 11:00am | Uninterrupted Outside Zazen |
| 12:00pm | Lunch / break |
| 2:00pm | Dharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin |
| 3:00pm | Zazen; Zazen |
| 4:00pm | Outside/Physical Practice |
| 5:00pm | Dinner / Break |
| 6:00pm | Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin |
| 7:00pm | Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin |
| 8:00pm | Zazen; Zazen; |
| 8:45pm | Closing Sutra (p. 16); Sampai |
| 9:00pm | Kaichin / Yaza |
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Sunday, Sept. 27th
| 5:00am | Choka (abbreviated sutras); sampai |
| 5:40am | Zazen [short period]; Kinhin |
| 6:00am | Zazen (One 45′ period); |
| 6:45am | breakfast |
| 8:00am | Zazenkai (Sutras: p. 3, 10, 13) |
| 10:00am | Zazen; Zazen; Closing Sutra (p. 3, 4) |
| 11:00am | Q&A/Discussion |
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Download the full schedule here: Autumn Equinox Sesshin Schedule.
Sutra book: Virtual Sutra book
To receive the links for the Virtual Events by email:
Tahoma Virtual Events mailing list.
There is no fee for participating in this event but do be mindful that virtual events also utilize resources and the monastery does have regular expenses in order to keep open. We wish to facilitate the practice and promote the dharma as widely as possible, thus our practice of putting on these events without cost. This is especially important in these times with so many out of work and confined to home. For those who are able to offer support, we appreciate your including us in your consideration. Thank your for your continuing support and please email us with any questions: Contact Information.