Autumnal Equinox Sesshin Essential Information

The Autumnal Equinox Virtual Sesshin for 2020 begins September 21st at 6pm. In this post you can find all of the vital information that you will need to take part in the sesshin.

Sesshin Zoom Link: [event has passed]

You can download full monastery schedule here:
Autumn Equinox Sesshin Schedule.

You can download the sutra book that we will be using here:
Virtual Sutra Book

In the Dharma Talks we will be reading from Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School translated by Yoko Okuda from Tuttle Publishing. Download a PDF of it here (note: links to a 43MB pdf). We will begin with the Preface by Torei Enji and Daibi Zenji on p. 11. Do read the two forwards beforehand.

Before taking part in a Virtual Event at Tahoma please read these posts:
Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.

The opening day of the sesshin is Monday September 21st at 6pm. We request that everyone join all of our events a few minutes early so that you have time to start up the connection and settle in before things begin. The schedule for the opening day is:

Monday, Sept. 21st

6:00pm	Opening Sutra (p.15) ;  Introductory Talk; Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm	Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
8:45pm	Closing sutra (p. 16); Sampai

The Schedule from Tuesday through Saturday will be our standard virtual sesshin schedule. Locals can drop-in for the late morning and evening Zazen periods (masks required).

Tuesday, Sept. 22nd – Saturday, Sept. 26th

5:00am	Choka (sutras p.3-13); sampai
5:40am	Zazen (short period); Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen;
7:00am	Breakfast / Samu / Break
10:00am	Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
12:00pm	Lunch / break
2:00pm	Sutras (p.14); Dharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pm	Physical Practice / Dinner / Break
6:00pm	Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm	Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
8:45pm	Closing Sutra (p.16); Sampai

The final day, Sunday will be quite different. Morning Sutras will be abbreviated and we will end zazen a little early. There will be no samu period, but our regularly community Zazenkai. Sesshin attendees should tune in to Zazenkai as this will incorporate the final Dharma Talk on the Inexhustible Lamp. After Zazenkai there will be a break and then our concluding activities. After sesshin has ended there will be an hour for Q&A on any topics but especially on the study material. Note: no in-person attendance at any of these events.

Sunday, Sept. 27th

5:00am	Choka (abbreviated sutras); sampai; Zazen (short period); Kinhin
6:00am	Zazen (One 45′ period); kinhin
6:30am	Breakfast / Break
8:00am	Zazenkai (sutras p.3, 10, 13)
10:00am	Zazen; Zazen; Closing Sutra (p.5)
11:00am	Q&A/Discussion

To receive the links for the Virtual Events by email:
Tahoma Virtual Events mailing list.

Thank your for your continuing support and please email us with any questions: Contact Information.