Category: Retreats

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April Daylong Retreat 2026

April Daylong Retreat

April 18th, 2026

With the advent of the spring Equinox daylong retreat we have entered the spring training period.  During this time we devote more of our time and energy to our practice. We might add an extra period to our daily sitting practice. Or engage in practices that can be done outside. Or work more with putting our attention fully into what we are doing: that is single-tasking. And when the opportunity arises to devote a day, or the bulk or a day to sustained practice we take it. Here now in the depths of spring we offer a daylong retreat here at the monastery and online for people anywhere.

In order to facilitate sustained practice for the myriad situations that we moderns find ourselves in we offer several options to allow you truly take advantage of this daylong retreat.

Option 1 – Drop in Attendance
You are welcome to come for any of the four blocks of practice offered throughout the day. You should arrive ten minutes early and be seated in the zendo before the outside bell is rung (gosei). Alternatively you can arrive during the midpoint of the period during kinhin (walking meditation). and join the line. If you arrive while a period is still in progress please wait in the entrance (the gaitan) until kinhin. After the block concludes, you should depart in a timely manner.

Option 2 – Part Time attendance
You can join in for part of the day across multiple periods, or arrive at a point during the day and stay until the next day, or whatever works with your schedule. Arrivals and departures should take place in-between the practice blocks so as to seamlessly integrate into the sesshin. To arrange for part time attendance it is essential to contact us with your plans some days in advance.

Option 3 – Full Time attendance
To take part in the entire retreat you need to contact us at least several days in advance to register. For full time attendance you can arrange to stay at the monastery Friday and/or Saturday night as needed.  We encourage people to arrive around 5:30 Friday evening and to stay through Sunday Zazenkai, allowing for a weekend of practice.

Please Note
We offer these events without a set cost, but please be aware that there are costs associated with putting them on and donations are very welcome.

During the spring training period we will continue to utilize Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles, along with various supplementary material, for the various talks. This book is oriented around practice in our times and thus provides guidance for how we approach and engage in our practice in every circumstance. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

The Dharma talk will continue our consideration of the practice of Gazing, a body of techniques for utilizing our senses and surroundings as a site of practice. This is the second talk in a series considering the theory and practice of gazing. This second part will be more oriented toward considering the various elements of this practice. The previous talk can be found here: The Practice of Gazing.

During the Instructional talk, as well as applied during the afternoon outside period of Walking, we will discuss Raindrops.  Raindrops are a technique that uses minimalist poems to engage the conceptual mind. This practice is the orientation of Tendo’s forthcoming book Raindrops on Still Water.

Previous dharma talks, Instructional Talks and Guided meditations are archived on this page: Dream Mountain Teachings.

Join us Online

We will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day.  

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:  April Daylong Retreat Schedule [updated 4.15.26]
• 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.

Friday Broadcast Schedule
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen

Saturday Broadcast Schedule
5:00am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
10:00 to Noon: Morning Talk; Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:45pm: Zazen; Closing Sutra

Zoom Link: [Event has passed]

Continue reading “April Daylong Retreat 2026”
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March Daylong Retreat 2026

March Daylong Retreat

March 21st, 2026


Update
The talks from this retreat have been posted online. If you’d like to revisit them, or were unable to make the retreat they can be downloaded here: March Daylong Retreat Talks.

—

Please join us during the vernal equinox for a day devoted to practice. The winter is winding down and we dedicate ourselves to a period of spring cleaning. It is not just the dusty corners of our houses that need attention, but our minds as well. Please join us at the monastery for a day oriented around throwing the windows wide and air out those dusty corners of the mind.

Daylong retreats are an opportunity for sustained practice, to delve into this great matter in a more concentrated way. In order to facilitate sustained practice for the myriad situations that we moderns find ourselves in we offer several options to facilitate taking advantage of this daylong retreat.

Option 1 – Drop in Attendance
You are welcome to come for any of the four blocks of practice offered throughout the day. You should arrive ten minutes early and be seated in the zendo before the outside bell is rung (gosei). Alternatively you can arrive during the midpoint of the period during kinhin (walking meditation). and join the line. If you arrive while a period is still in progress please wait in the entrance (the gaitan) until kinhin. After the block concludes, you should depart in a timely manner.

Option 2 – Part Time attendance
You can join in for part of the day across multiple periods, or arrive at a point during the day and stay until the next day, or whatever works with your schedule. Arrivals and departures should take place in-between the practice blocks so as to seamlessly integrate into the sesshin. To arrange for part time attendance it is essential to contact us with your plans some days in advance.

Option 3 – Full Time attendance
To take part in the entire retreat you need to contact us at least several days in advance to register. For full time attendance you can arrange to stay at the monastery Friday and/or Saturday night as needed.  We encourage people to arrive around 5:30 Friday evening and to stay through Sunday Zazenkai, allowing for a weekend of practice.

Please Note
We offer these events without a set cost, but please be aware that there are costs associated with putting them on and donations are very welcome.

In 2026 we will continue to utilize Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles, along with various supplementary material, for the various talks. This book is oriented around practice in our times and thus provides guidance for how we approach and engage in our practice in every circumstance. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

The Dharma talk will by on the practice of Gazing, a body of techniques for utilizing our senses and surroundings as a site of practice. This talk will consider how this technique is at the root of all our practices and just what is actually happening when we engage in it. There will also be an instructional talk mid-morning covering some of the many practical techniques utilized in the practice of gazing. Previous dharma talks, Instructional Talks and Guided meditations are archived on this page: Dream Mountain Teachings.

Join us Online

We will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day.  

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:  Spring Daylong Retreat Schedule
• 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.

Friday Broadcast Schedule
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen

Saturday Broadcast Schedule
5:00am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
10:00 to Noon: Instructional Talk; Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:45pm: Zazen; Closing Sutra

Zoom Link: [ Event has Passed]

Continue reading “March Daylong Retreat 2026”
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January Daylong Retreat 2026

January Daylong Retreat

January 17th, 2026


Update 01.24.26:
The talks from this retreat has been posted. See here for details:

Talks on Non-Dwelling

—

The New Year is a time for renewal–a time to renew our vows to liberate all beings, to rededicate ourselves to investigation into this great matter and to engage in Serious Practice. To best take advantage of the sesshin we engage in, we must practice seriously throughout the year. Week long retreats should be devoted to awakening and thus we must sustain our practice in between. Daily practice, deeper monthly practice, this is what nourishes us, keeps our condition strong, the practice simmering along. 

Daylong retreats are an opportunity for sustained practice, to delve into this great matter in a more concentrated way. In order to facilitate sustained practice for the myriad situations that we moderns find ourselves in we offer several options to facilitate taking advantage of this daylong retreat.

Option 1 – Drop in Attendance
You are welcome to come for any of the four blocks of practice offered throughout the day. You should arrive ten minutes early and be seated in the zendo before the outside bell is rung (gosei). Alternatively you can arrive during the midpoint of the period during kinhin (walking meditation). and join the line. If you arrive while a period is still in progress please wait in the entrance (the gaitan) until kinhin. After the block concludes, you should depart in a timely manner.

Option 2 – Part Time attendance
You can join in for part of the day across multiple periods, or arrive at a point during the day and stay until the next day, or whatever works with your schedule. Arrivals and departures should take place in-between the practice blocks so as to seamlessly integrate into the sesshin. To arrange for part time attendance it is essential to contact us with your plans some days in advance.

Option 3 – Full Time attendance
To take part in the entire retreat you need to contact us at least several days in advance to register. For full time attendance you can arrange to stay at the monastery Friday and/or Saturday night as needed. 

Please Note
We offer these events without a set cost, but please be aware that there are costs associated with putting them on and donations are very welcome.

In 2026 we will continue to utilize Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles, along with various supplementary material, for the various talks. This book is oriented around practice in our times and thus provides guidance for how we approach and engage in our practice in every circumstance. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

The Dharma talk will by on the practice of Gazing, a body of techniques for utilizing our senses and surroundings as a site of practice. There will also be an instructional talk mid-morning considering Non-Dwelling. Previous dharma talks, Instructional Talks and Guided meditations are archived on this page: Dream Mountain Teachings.

Join us Online

We will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day.  

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:  2026 Winter Retreat Schedule
• 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.

Friday Broadcast Schedule
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen

Saturday Broadcast Schedule
5:00am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
10:00 to Noon: Instructional Talk; Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:45pm: Zazen; Closing Sutra

Zoom Link: [Event has Passed]

Continue reading “January Daylong Retreat 2026”
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November Daylong Retreat 2025

November Daylong Retreat

November 15th, 2025


As it turns cold, rainy and dark this is the best time to renew our dedication to practice. Practice is a muscle that must be exercised to maintain its conditioning and to increase its strength and endurance These daylong retreats are an opportunity for sustained practice, to delve into this great matter in a more concentrated way. In order to facilitate sustained practice for the myriad situations that we moderns find ourselves in we offer several options to facilitate taking advantage of this daylong retreat.

Option 1 – Drop in Attendance
You are welcome to come for any of the four blocks of practice offered throughout the day. You should arrive ten minutes early and be seated in the zendo before the outside bell is rung (gosei). Alternatively you can arrive during the midpoint of the period during kinhin (walking meditation). and join the line. If you arrive while a period is still in progress please wait in the entrance (the gaitan) until kinhin. After the block concludes, you should depart in a timely manner.

Option 2 – Part Time attendance
You can join in for part of the day across multiple periods, or arrive at a point during the day and stay until the next day, or whatever works with your schedule. Arrivals and departures should take place in-between the practice blocks so as seamlessly integrate into the sesshin. To arrange for part time attendance it is essential to contact us with your plans some days in advance.

Option 3 – Full Time attendance
To take part in the entire retreat you need to contact us at least several days in advance to register. For full time attendance you can arrange to stay at the monastery Friday and/or Saturday night as needed. 

Please Note
We offer these events without a set cost, but please be aware that there are costs associated with putting them on and donations are very welcome.

The talks during this retreat will be from the recently released second edition of Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. This completely revised and expanded edition of the book is available everywhere including as an eBook on all major platforms, for last minute acquisition. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

The Dharma talk will continue with the Introduction to the Dream Mountain Way began at the Summer retreats. The earlier parts are all archived and can be dowloaded from the Teachings page on the Dream Mountain site.. This fourth and final part will be on Right Orientation for Practice. There will also be an instructional talk mid-morning considering Investigating Thoughts. All of the previous instructional and dharma talks are archived on this page: Dream Mountain Teachings.

Join us Online

We will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day.  

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:  November Retreat Schedule
• 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.

Continue reading “November Daylong Retreat 2025”
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October Daylong Retreat 2025

October Daylong Retreat

October 18th, 2025


Please join us for a full day of practice as we move deeper into the Autumn intensive period. The weather is turning cooler, signs of change into winter are everywhere–signs that we should turn inward and even more rigorously probe into this matter. These daylong retreats are an opportunity for sustained practice, to delve into this great matter in a more concentrated way.

This event is open for residential and drop-in attendance. If you would like to stay on campus and take part in the regular monastery schedule surrounding the retreat please contact us to make arrangements. Please be aware that there is a minimum number of attendees required for us to support residential practice. We request that everyone who intends to join us beyond dropping in for a single period contact us with your plans, sooner rather than later.

The talks during this retreat will be from the recently released second edition of Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles as we continue with the launch for the book. This completely revised and expanded edition of the book is available everywhere including as an eBook on all major platforms, for last minute acquisition. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

The Dharma talk will continue with the Introduction to the Dream Mountain Way began at the Summer talks. The first part can be listened to here and the second part here) The third part will be on Good Friends and how we practice with others. There will also be an instructional talk mid-morning on Focus. All of the previous instructional and dharma talks are archived in this page: Dream Mountain Teachings.

Continue reading “October Daylong Retreat 2025”
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Beginners Retreat with Sozui

WEEKEND SESSHIN with SOZUI, organized by Kashu and Michelle at TAHOMA MONASTERY
Runs from the evening of OCTOBER 10th until ~2pm on OCTOBER  12th. 

Part time participation is possible and relative beginners are welcome! 
Please SIGN UP with MICHELLE: [Event has passed]

INTRODUCTION to ZAZEN+ZEN PRACTICE, SATURDAY OCTOBER 11th 9:50am-noon: can be joined separately and all are welcome!

Continue reading “Beginners Retreat with Sozui”
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August Daylong Retreat 2025

August Daylong Retreat

August 2nd, 2025


Join us for a day of practice this August for a middle of summer retreat.  In recognition of the dog days of summer we will use a slightly reduced schedule for this retreat. This event is open for residential and drop-in attendance. If you would like to stay on campus and take part in the regular monastery schedule surrounding the retreat please contact us to make arrangements. Please be aware that there is a minimum number of attendees required for us to support residential practice. We request that everyone who intends to join us beyond dropping in for a single period contact us with your plans.

The talks during this retreat will be from the recently released second edition of Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. This will continue the “soft launch” for the book which is now widely available. This completely revised and expanded edition of the book is available everywhere including as an eBook on all major platforms, for last minute acquisition. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

The Dharma talk will continue the Introduction to the Dream Mountain Way began at the Summer Solstice retreat (the first part can be listened to here) considering nature and naturalness, vital aspects of this practice. There will also be an instructional talk mid-morning on Sitting Outside.

There will also be a QA after the Dharma Talk. Please submit questions in advance using the form on this page: August Event: Retreat Talks and Q&A

Join us Online

We will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day.  

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: Daylong Retreat Schedule [updated 08.01.25]
• 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.

Friday Broadcast Schedule
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen

Saturday Broadcast Schedule
5:30am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
10:30 to Noon: Instructional Talk; Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Q&A; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:25pm: Zazen

Zoom Link: [Event has passed]

Continue reading “August Daylong Retreat 2025”
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Summer Solstice Daylong Retreat 2025

Summer Solstice Daylong Retreat

June 21st, 2025


Join us for a day of practice on the Summer Solstice as we conclude the Spring training period.  This weekend event, centered on Saturdays full day of practice, is open for residential and drop-in attendance. If you would like to stay on campus and make the most of this weekend of practice please contact us to make arrangements. Please be aware that there is a minimum number of attendees required for us to support residential practice. We request that everyone who intends to join us beyond dropping in for a single period contact us with your plans.

The talks during this retreat will be from the recently released second edition of Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. This will serve as a sort of “soft launch” for the book which will become increasingly available over the next few weeks. The second edition of this book is available everywhere. Additional information can be found here: Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles. 

Join us Online

We will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day.  

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: Daylong Retreat Schedule [updated 6.20.25]
• 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.

Friday Broadcast Schedule
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen

Saturday Broadcast Schedule
5am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
10:30 to Noon: Instructional Talk; Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:45pm: Zazen

Zoom Link: [event has passed]

Continue reading “Summer Solstice Daylong Retreat 2025”
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April 2025 Daylong Retreat

April 19th, 2023, 4:50am to 9pm (PDT)

Join us for a full day of practice in the midst of the spring training period. This weekend event, centered on Saturdays full day of practice, is open for residential and drop-in attendance. If you would like to stay on campus and make the most of this weekend of practice please contact us to make arrangements. Please be aware that there is a minimum number of attendees required for us to support residential practice. We request that everyone who intends to join us beyond dropping in for a single period contact us with your plans.

Additionally we will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day. 

The Dharma talk will be on Fa-Tsang’s Brief Commentary on the Prajnaparamita-hrdaya-sutra which looks at the much beloved Heart Sutra from a Huayan perspective. Previous talks that provide a background can be found on the Drafty Mountain Hut blog:
Introduction to Huayan thought
Fa-Tsang’s Commentary on the Heart Sutra (forthcoming)

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: Daylong Retreat Schedule
• 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.

Broadcast Schedule

Friday, March 14th
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen 

Saturday, March 15th
5am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
11am to Noon: Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:45pm: Zazen 

Zoom Link: [Event has Passed]

Continue reading “April 2025 Daylong Retreat”
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March 2025 Daylong Retreat

March 15th, 2023, 4:50am to 9pm (PDT)

This third weekend of March we will dive into intensive investigation of this great matter with a period set aside for extended practice.  This weekend event, centered on Saturdays full day of practice, is open for residential and drop-in attendance. If you would like to stay on campus and make the most of this weekend of practice please contact us to make arrangements. Please be aware that there is a minimum number of attendees required for us to support residential practice. We request that everyone who intends to join us beyond dropping in for a single period contact us with your plans.

Additionally we will continue to broadcast these retreats via Zoom for those unable to join us in person.  We will begin the online broadcast during regular Friday evening zazen and conclude after Sunday’s Zazenkai allowing for one to be able to extend ones practice beyond the full day. 

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: Daylong Retreat Schedule
• 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.

Broadcast Schedule

Friday, March 14th
6:30pm to 8:00pm: Zazen 

Saturday, March 15th
5am to 7am: Choka; Zazen
10:30am to Noon: Zazen
2pm to 4:00pm: Dharma Talk; Zazen
6:00pm to 8:45pm: Zazen 

Zoom Link: [Event has passed]

Continue reading “March 2025 Daylong Retreat”