Rohatsu Retreat and Bodhi Day Ceremony
December 1st-8th, 2024
[Please note schedule updates as of Dec. 5th]
The autumn training period culminates with the Rohtasu sesshin commemorating the Buddha’s awakening. This is always the most intense training period of the year in which one brings a years worth of training to bear. This year Rohatsu at Tahoma will run from December 1st through the 8th with extended practice during our regular schedule leading up to a stretch of full-time, practice and culminating in the Bodhi Day Ceremony during regular Sunday Zazenkai.
The Bodhi Day ceremony is open to all and at the very reasonable time of 8am. I would like to encourage all in the community, especially those who haven’t come to zazenkai in while, to consider coming for this ceremony and connecting with the local sangha. We will follow the Bodhi Day ceremony with a casual holiday gathering in the Tahoma kitchen.
This follows the pattern we have utilized in the past for Rohatsu at Tahoma where our days get longer and more intense as we go through the week as well as acknowledging the realities of practice here at this time. Likewise as is our tradition each evening of the retreat in the first period after golden hour we will read from Hakuin Zenji’s Rohatsu Exhortations (available here).
The Rohatsu Exhortations talks will consider practice as Hakuin exhorted his monks to engage in, but will also consider practice from several angles including what we in this retreat are doing right now. Further information on this, as well as recordings of each days talks will be posted on the Drafty Mountain Hut practice blog.. I particularly encourage those taking part in the retreat to listen to the first nights talk as in it both the retreat is introduced as well as a parallel text that we will consider along with the Rohatsu Exhortations.
Rohatsu Exhortations Talks: A Pluralistic Approach, Part 2, Part 3
All of the practice periods during this week are open to drop-in attendance and during the full-time intensive period, residential practice. Additionally the entire retreat will be broadcast via zoom. The Zoom link will be posted on the website in the days prior and sent out in the Tahoma Events weekly mailing.
Residential Retreat Options
The full time intensive training will take place December 5th-8th, with residency available. Please note that one can stay overnight from Saturday to the Bodhi Day Ceremony on Sunday for a full day intensive option. We need to know at least a few days in advance if you wish to stay here overnight. Please contact us if you would like to register for residential practice or if you have any additional questions.
Rohatsu Daily Schedule
Day 1: Sunday, December 1st
8am – 9:30am: Zazenkai and Rohatsu opening with reading from Rohatsu Exhortations.
Day 2: Monday, December 2nd
6pm: Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7pm: Rohatsu Exhortations reading; Zazen; Kinhin
8pm: Zazen
Days 3&4: Tuesday December 3rd and Wednesday December 4th
5am: Choka; Zazen; Kinhin
6am: Zazen
6pm: Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7pm: Rohatsu Exhortations reading; Zazen; Kinhin
8pm: Zazen
Days 5-7 Thursday, December 5th – Saturday, December 7th
5am: Choka; Zazen; Kinhin
6am: Zazen
10am: Zazen; Kinhin [Day 7]
11am: Zazen [Day 5, 6]
2pm: Dharma Talk; Kinhin;
3pm: Zazen
6pm: Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7pm: Rohatsu Exhortations reading; Zazen; Kinhin
8pm: Zazen; kinhin
9pm: Zazen
[Each day runs longer; please download the Schedule for complete details.]
Day 8: Sunday, December 8th
5am: Zazen; Kinhin
5:45am: Closing Sutras; Closing Remarks
8am: Zazenkai and Bodhi Day Ceremony
9:45am: Bodhi Day Celebration (in-person only)
Essential Information for those joining online
• Please tune in 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time so you can be settled.
• Download the monastery schedule: Rohatsu Sesshin Schedule [updated Dec. 5th]
• The sutra book we will be using can be downloaded here: Virtual Sutra book
• Read these posts: Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.
• To receive the links for Virtual Events by email: Tahoma Events mailing list.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84377657503?pwd=xDpLjYsEQSaT3cJpHGsZfKmnGFQmuf.1
Please email us with any questions: Contact Information
This retreat is offered without charge, however there are costs to putting it on, so please consider making a donation online or in person with this in mind.