2021 Autumnal Equinox Retreat

September 20th-26th, 2021

The Autumn Training period begins with our Autumnal Equinox Retreat starting Monday September 20th. This will kick off a 90 day period of intense practice where ones primary focus is training. This is a time to give oneself over completely to ones method. This retreat is offered virtually with limited in-person attendance, restricted to those in the local area, contact us if interested.  

The online retreat will have four major broadcast blocks throughout the day:
5am to 7am: Choka and Zazen
10:30am to Noon: Zazen
2pm to 4pm: Dharma Talk and Zazen
6pm to 9pm: Zazen

Zoom Link for Online Retreat:  [Event has passed]

I encourage those who are able to give themselves completely to this week as they would to any sesshin. While of course everyone is welcome to attend events as circumstances allow, if you are able do engage in the full days schedule and maintain sesshin spirit throughout the self-directed portions.  While there are many periods where one has to be the master of their own practice, set a routine for meals and engage in work around your place that coincides with the practice schedule. Undertake your own physical practice or follow the outdoor practice during periods when that is offered.

 Some suggestions and procedure for getting the most out of a virtual sesshin can be found in our Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.

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

Throughout the Autumn Training Period we will be working on the practice of questioning utilizing the procedures established in Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. We will investigate these methods and put them into practice via Dahui’s methodology for working with lay practitioners found in his Letters. Over the course of the three retreats of the training period we work with both principle and practices of questions and survey Dahui’s many pieces of advice, suggestions, methods and technique. With so many of us still unable to attend retreats in person and work directly with a teacher Dahui shows the way toward deep committed practice done remotely. We will also continue to engage in the outside practices described in Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles – Outside Practices which can be downloaded as a pdf.

Essential Files
• Download the full schedule: Autumnal Equinox Retreat Schedule
• The sutra book we will be using can be downloaded here: Virtual Sutra book
• An excerpt of our text covering the outside practices can be downloaded here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles – Outside Practices

Retreat Schedule

Monday September 20th – Saturday September 26th

5:00am	Choka  (sutras p.3-14); Sampai; Han
5:40am	Zazen (short period); Kinhin
6:00am	Zazen; Zazen
7:00am	Breakfast; Cleanup; Break
8:15am	Samu [meet on kitchen deck]
10:30am	Outside Zazen; Kinhin
11:30am	Zazen
11:55am	Lunch; Cleanup; Break
2:00pm	Dharma Talk; Kinhin
3:00pm	Zazen; Zazen
4:00pm	Outside practice [meet at zendo]
5:00pm	Dinner (informal, optional); Cleanup; Break
6:00pm	Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm	Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pm	Zazen; Zazen
8:45pm	Han; Closing Sutra (sutras p.17); Sampai
9:00pm	Kaichin

Sunday, September 27th

5:00am	Abbreviated Choka (sutras p.3, 4, 10, 12, 13); Han;
5:20am	Zazen (short period); Kinhin
5:45am	Zazen
6:15am	Closing Sutra (sutras p. 6,7); Closing Talk
6:30am	Breakfast; Cleanup; Break
8:00am	Zazenkai  (sutras p.3, 10, 14)

 

Please email us with any questions: Contact Information

This retreat is offered without charge, however there are costs to us for food, utilities, printing and operations. So please do consider making a donation online or in person with this in mind.