Category: Samu

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May 2026 Samu Sesshin

Update (05.04.26):
The online registration window has closed. If you are interested in taking part in this sesshin contact the registrar and she will inform you of next steps..

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Dear One Drop Sangha and Friends,

The May 2026 Samu OSesshin with Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of Friday, May 15th and concludes the evening of Friday, May 22nd. The samu sesshin has a two-hour samu in the morning.

OSesshin: Friday, May 15th – Friday May 22nd, 2026

  • Kokuho is Friday evening, May 15th.
  • Partial attendance for two, three, or five consecutive days is permitted. Attendance must begin with the orientation and kokuho on Friday, May 15th. Priority will be given to those who can attend for the full week. If you sign up for fewer days, then during sesshin decide you want to stay longer, that will be permitted.
  • A reduced schedule with a later start in the morning or an earlier end in the evening is available for those over 70. This may also be available for those whose physical needs require an abbreviated schedule. Those following the reduced schedule will need to find accommodations outside of the monastery. Unfortunately, Enso House is no longer available for this.
  • OSesshin concludes the evening of Friday, May 22nd.
  • The link to the OSesshin application is near the bottom of this email. 
  • The application deadline is Monday, March 30th. We will send out acceptance emails around April 2nd. If you are accepted, we’ll send you a link to a page where you’ll confirm your attendance and agree to the sesshin policies. Payment information will be included in the acceptance email. Please pay your sesshin fee as soon as possible.
  • You must confirm your attendance by April 15th or you might be placed on the wait list and your place given to someone else. You will be able to change your arrival/departure dates later if necessary. 
  • The fee is $450 for the week, or $75 a day for partial attendance. Donations to support financial aid are welcome. Details about financial aid are on the application form.
  • Information about our covid protocol is below.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS OSESSHIN

  • We are not requiring a covid vaccination, but you are encouraged to get one. You are also encouraged to get a flu shot. It’s best to get vaccinations at least six weeks before the sesshin.
  • We might require masks during chanting, so please bring some N95/KN95 masks. Also, if you fly or use public transit to get to Tahoma, please wear a mask at those times.
  • Covid protocols are subject to change. If you are accepted into the sesshin, please read any updated information that may be provided on the Policies Agreement you will receive.
  • If you are accepted into the sesshin, but feel unwell before you come, please consider cancelling. We’ll refund your fee and accept you into the next sesshin if you wish.
  • If you would like to arrive a day or two before sesshin and/or stay a day or two after sesshin please give us your arrival and departure dates when you complete the Policies Agreement. Any help with set up before or clean up following OSesshin would be greatly appreciated. 
  • Sesshin begins the evening of May 15th. If you haven’t been to Tahoma before, we strongly suggest that you arrive on the 14th to orient yourself to the grounds, buildings, and practices of Tahoma. If you’ve attended sesshin at Tahoma before, please plan to arrive early in the afternoon on May 15th. Plan for possible delays due to traffic or ferry lines. On May 15th, supper is at 4 pm, orientation is at 5 pm, zendo orientation is at 7:15 pm, and kokuho is a 7:50 pm.
  • In the first half of May, there will be an online meeting for people who have not attended sesshin at Tahoma before.
  • We hope that we will be able to conduct this OSesshin, but please be aware that our plans, as well as the dates, may need to change suddenly and without notice. If you are purchasing airline tickets please be prepared to cancel your reservations.
  • There may be a wait list. Those on the wait list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.

Apply here: [application period closed]
 

Thank you,
ZenE Tami Settergren
OSesshin registrar
Tahoma Zen Monastery
tahomaapplication@gmail.com

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Community Samu January 31st

January 31st Community Samu Day
We encourage everyone in the general vicinity of the monastery to come join us in samu (work practice) toward the maintenance and upkeep of our monastery. Samu is a an opportunity to take part in practice in the midst of regular activities, engaging the One Mind in the actions we are engaged with. There are indoor tasks and outside tasks that need doing as we ready the monastery for the February OSesshin.

Please join us Saturday, January 31st for a morning of work practice. We meet at the kitchen deck (coffee and tea provided) at a bit before 8:30am. We will work until a little after noon and then share in a simple meal at 12:30pm.

Community Samu, January 31st, 2026
8:15-8:30am – Meet on the Kitchen deck
8:30am – Inside and outside cleaning
12:15pm – Cleanup
12:30pm – Vegetarian lunch

Directions to the monastery: Getting to Tahoma

Please contact us if you have any questions. As always we are deeply appreciative for the support of the sangha; we couldn’t exist without your continuing support.

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Community Samu February 17th

February 17th Community Samu Day
We encourage everyone in the general vicinity of the monastery to come join us in samu (work practice) toward the maintenance and upkeep of our monastery. Samu is a an opportunity to take part in practice in the midst of regular activities, engaging the One Mind in the actions we are engaged with. There are indoor tasks and outside tasks that need doing as we ready the monastery for the February OSesshin.

Please join us Saturday, February 17th for a morning of work practice. We meet at the kitchen deck (coffee and tea provided) at a bit before 8:30am. We will work until noon and then share in a simple meal at 12:30pm.

Community Samu, February 17th, 2024
8:15-8:30am – Meet on the Kitchen deck
8:30am – Inside and outside cleaning
12 noon – Cleanup
12:30pm – Vegetarian lunch

Directions to the monastery: Getting to Tahoma

Please contact us if you have any questions. As always we are deeply appreciative for the support of the sangha; we couldn’t exist without your continuing support.

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Community Samu Weekend August 26th and 27th

As we roll into the Autumn Training period and the sesshin being held here at the end of summer we will hold a weekend of work practice to prepare the monastery and work on various projects. We will gather together at the monastery Saturday and Sunday mornings to engage in myriad tasks: preparing our buildings for retreat, working on the grounds, prep work for several construction projects, kitchen and sewing projects. There is a diverse array of tasks for all abilities, time commitments, physical condition and energy. The monastery is much more than the grounds and buildings, it is the community, the sangha, and we would dearly love to have your support over this weekend.

We will be following the regular monastery schedule on this weekend and if you’d like take take part in morning or evening zazen you are more than welcome to join in. Each morning will have a period of several hours for working in which you are welcome to come when you can and stay as long as you are able. We will conclude each day with an informal lunch at the dining hall and deck. The schedule for the work practice will be as follows

Saturday August 26th 8:30am, to 1:00pm (PDT)
8:15-8:30am: Meet at the kitchen deck (coffee and tea provided)
8:30am: Work Practice (samu)
12:30pm: Cleanup
1:00pm: Informal Lunch

Please Note:
For those who are so inclind, or are staying at the monastery for the subsequent KoSesshin, there will be an afternoon work period. Inquiry about this during the lunch if interested.

Sunday August 27th 8:00am, to 1:00pm (PDT)
8:00am: Zazenkai in the Zendo (optional)
9:30am: Coffee/Tea at the kitchen deck
10:00am: Work Practice (samu)
12:30pm: Cleanup
1:00pm: Informal Lunch

Please Note:
On Sunday we will hold our regular community practice (Zazenkai) which I encourage everyone to attend, but there is no requirement to do so if you’d like to just come for the samu.

Directions to Tahoma Zen Monastery: Getting Here.
Please contact us if you have any questions: contact information.

We hope to see you this weekend as we all pull together in support of our monastery!

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February 11th Samu Day

Event has passed. Thanks to everyone who came out!

February 11th Samu Day
We encourage everyone to come join us in samu (work practice) toward the maintenance and upkeep of our monastery. Samu is a an opportunity to engage in practice in the midst of regular activities, engaging the One Mind in the actions we are engaged with. One of the primary activities we engage in during the February months is the pruning of the trees in our orchard and shrubs in the garden. Over the last few years that has been undertaken by the monastery staff and it is a task that we could use help with. Please join us Saturday, February 11th for a morning of work practice. We will have indoor tasks as well that need doing for those not up for outside work. We meet at the kitchen deck (coffee and tea provided) at a bit before 8:30am. We will work until noon and then share in a simple meal at 12:30pm.

Samu Day, February 11th, 2023
8:15-8:30am Meeting on the Kitchen deck
8:30am – Inside and outside cleaning
12 noon – Cleanup
12:30pm – Vegetarian meal

Contact information: Contact Us

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April 30th Samu Day

April 30th Samu Day at Tahoma

Spring with all its fecundity means that the flora in the garden, columbarium and grounds have entered a phase of riotous growth. As we prepare our buildings and ground for May Sesshin after a long hiatus there is much work to be done and your help is needed more than ever.  We will work until around noon and then a light lunch will be offered. Please join us in getting our monastery ready for summer!

April 30th 8:30am, to 12:00 (PDT).
Please do not arrive overly early.
Gather at the Kitchen deck.
Be prepared for outside work, though we will also have inside work for those so inclined.
We are able to widely spread out people if desired distanced work.
Directions to Tahoma Zen Monastery: Getting Here.

Please contact us if you have any questions: contact information.

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April 24th Samu Day

April Samu Days at Tahoma

Spring with all it’s fecundity means that the flora in the garden, columbarium and grounds have entered a phase of riotous growth. Without our May samu sesshin to bring many hands to the epic amount of work required your help is needed more than ever.  Over the next few months we will periodically be open on Saturdays for safe Physically Distanced samu.  We can have people wildly separated in the multiple regions that need work and we can all safely work out of doors.  We will provide refreshments to fuel our labor and strive to keep everyone safe and happy. We hope to see you here!

April 24th 9:00am, to 12:30 (PDT).
Please do not arrive overly early. Meet at the Kitchen deck and please wear your mask.
Directions to Tahoma Zen Monastery: Getting Here.

Please contact us if you have any questions: contact information.

If you can’t make it this weekend, our next samu day will be May 8th.

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April 17th Samu Day

April Samu Days at Tahoma

Spring with all it’s fecundity means that the flora in the garden, columbarium and grounds have entered a phase of riotous growth. Without our May samu sesshin to bring many hands to the epic amount of work required your help is needed more than ever.  Over the next few months we will periodically be open on Saturdays for safe Physically Distanced samu.  We can have people wildly separated in the multiple regions that need work and we can all safely work out of doors.  We will provide refreshments to fuel our labor and strive to keep everyone safe and happy. We hope to see you here!

April 17th 9:00am, to 12:30 (PDT).
Please do not arrive overly early. Meet at the Kitchen deck and please wear your mask.
Directions to Tahoma Zen Monastery: Getting Here.

Please contact us if you have any questions: contact information.

If you can’t make it this weekend, our next samu day will be April 24th.

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April Weekend Intensive, 2021

April 9th-11th, 2021
 –Online-


Join us online this April for a weekend retreat as we continue with the Spring Training Period. We will begin with evening Zazen on Friday, have a full day of practice on Saturday and conclude with Zazenkai on Sunday.  Take this opportunity to maintain and deepen your practice. We encourage you to try to adhere to as much of the schedule as you are committing to. Online retreats require some extra commitment as we must self-direct much of our practice. But the rewards are just as great.  

We begin Friday April 9th with an evening block of zazen:
5:55pm to 8:45pm: Zazen

On Saturday April 10th will be four broadcast blocks throughout the day:
4:55am – 6:55am: Choka and zazen
10:25am to 11:55am: Zazen
1:55pm to 4pm: Dharma Talk and Zazen
5:55pm to 8:45pm: Zazen

On Sunday April 11th there will be two broadcast blocks to conclude our weekend:
4:55am – 6:30am: Choka and zazen
7:55am to 10:00am: Zazenkai: chanting, zazen, short talk, q&a

Drop-in attendance is allowed at all events on Friday and Saturday with masks required. There are no public events on Sunday. At this time we still are not able to allow for residency or shared meals. We encourage people to come for the samu period from 8:15am-10am. Please see the website for details or contact us with any questions.

Dharma Talks will be from Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School. Download a free PDF of it here (45MB pdf). An archive of previous talks can be found here: Torei zenji’s Discourse talks.

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.

Zoom Link: [event has passed]

Retreat Schedule

Friday, April 9th

6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin;
8:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:45pmKaichin
ll times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed. All other events are self-directed
All Bolded events can be attended in-person (masks required). Please contact us for details.

Saturday April 10th

5:00amChoka  (Sutras p.3-14); Han; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast Break
8:15amSamu*
10:30amZazen Zazen; Kinhin
11:00amZazen;
11:55amLunch Break
2:00pmDharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pmPhysical/Outside practice
5:00pmDinner Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen
8:45pmKaichin
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed. All other events are self-directed
Samu and all Bolded events can be attended in-person (masks required). Please contact us for details.

Sunday, April 11th

5:00amChoka  (sutras p.3-7,10,12,13); Han; Kinhin
6:00amZazen
6:30amBreakfast break
8:00amZazenkai  (sutras p.3,10,14)
9:30am“Tea” – Conversation and questions
ll times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed. All other events are self-directed
No In-Person events on this day.

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

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Samu Day at Tahoma April 27th

The May 2019 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Sunday May 5th.  We will have a day of samu on Saturday, April 27th so that we may all work together to ready the monastery for this period of training. Samu is a natural extension of our training allowing us to freely move from work on the cushion to simple work with our hands, to the complex interactions of our daily lives. This day of samu will allow us to engage in this deep work and to share our efforts with the sangha.  So please join us for any part of the work period that you can. A simple lunch will be provided after the samu period.

Samu Day Schedule
5:00am Choka
6:00am Zazen
7:00am Formal Breakfast
8:30am Samu begins
12:15pm Samu Ends/Cleanup
12:30pm Lunch

We will be on the regular monastery schedule on this day and everyone is welcome to come for any part of it. If you would like to come for choka and take part in the formal morning meal do let us know you are coming for planning purposes. Please email us at tahoma@whibey.com.

Directions to the monastery can be found here.