Bodhi Day Ceremony / Zazenkai Sunday, December 8th, 2024
Bodhi Day celebrates the awakening of the Buddha. It culminate the week long end of year Rohatsu retreat. The Bodhi Day ceremony this year is open to all, whether you took part in any of the rest of the retreat or not, and at the very reasonable hour 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 (or reconnecting) with the local sangha. We will follow the usual Zazenkai schedule and hold the ceremony in the second half of the program. The whole morning will be broadcast via Zoom (details below
Celebration We will follow the Bodhi Day ceremony with a casual celebratory gathering in the Tahoma Dining Hall. This is open to everyone, no participation in any of the week, or even days events required. We would like to celebrate with all in our community. We will provide hot and cold drinks and sweet and savory snacks. If you want to bring something to share, by all means please do, but just bringing yourself will suffice. We’ll be in the Dining Hall by 9:45am.
Sunday, December 8thSchedule
Day 8: Morning Schedule 5am; Zazen; Kinhin; Kaimei Han 5:45am: Closing Sutras (p. 3,4,7); Sampai; Closing Remarks 6:25am Breakfast
The February 2025 OSesshin with Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of Thursday, February 20th and concludes the evening of Thursday, February 27th.
OSesshin: Thursday, February 20th – Thursday, February 27th, 2025
Kokuho is Thursday evening, February 20th.
Full-time participation is required. OSesshin concludes the evening of Thursday, February 27th.
The link to the OSesshin application is near the bottom of this email.
The fee is $450. Donations to support financial aid are welcomed.
Information about our covid protocol is below.
The application deadline for OSesshin is Thursday, January 9th, 2025. You will receive an email regarding your acceptance or wait list status soon after the deadline date of January 9th. If you are accepted, we’ll send you a link to a page where you’ll confirm your attendance and agree to the sesshin regulations. Payment information will be included in the acceptance email. Please send your sesshin fee as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS OSESSHIN
Covid protocol: We’ll ask that you take a covid test before you come to Tahoma, upon arrival, and on day 3. Please wear a mask during your trip to Tahoma. We’ll also require masking during chanting. So please bring a supply of N95/KN95 masks and any extra covid tests you have.
We are not requiring a covid vaccination for this sesshin, but you are encouraged to get one. It’s best to get it about six weeks before the sesshin, which is about when we’ll send the acceptance emails.
Covid protocols are subject to change. If you are accepted into the sesshin, please read the most current information provided on the Policies Agreement that you will receive.
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. You must contact us to make arrangements for the extra days.
We hope that we will be able to conduct our February 2025 OSesshin but please recognize 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 for this OSesshin. Those on the wait list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.
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 Exhortationsreading; 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 Exhortationsreading; 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 Exhortationsreading; 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)
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.
Every day during the OSesshin there will be Teisho (dharma talk) from Shodo Harada Roshi. Talks are in Japanese with translations by Daichi Zenni. The talks begin at 1pm and it is requested that attendees arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow time to walk to the zendo and get settled. There will be staff to assist with parking and making your way to zendo. There will be chairs and cushions available for seating and staff on hand to facilitate finding your seat.
Roshi will be speaking on koans from the Blue Cliff Record, please do come for this unique opportunity to hear a living Zen Master speak on the words of our Zen ancestors.
PLEASE NOTE The monastery will otherwise be closed to the public during the sesshin. Please see our calendar for the resumption of our regular schedule.
Registration has closed. Please contact the Registrar if you’d like to be placed on the waitlist.
Dear One Drop Sangha and Friends,
The September 2024 OSesshin with Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of Thursday, September 5th and concludes the evening of Thursday, September 12th.
OSesshin: Thursday, September 5th – Thursday, September 12th, 2024
Kokuho is Thursday evening, September 5th.
Full-time participation is required. OSesshin concludes the evening of Thursday, September 12th.
The link to the OSesshin application is near the bottom of this email.
The fee is $450. Donations to support financial aid are welcomed.
Information about our covid protocol is below.
The application deadline for OSesshin is Thursday, August 1st. You will receive an email regarding your acceptance or wait list status soon after the deadline date of August 1st. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance. Payment information will be included in the acceptance email.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS OSESSHIN
Covid protocol: Currently, we’ll ask that you take a covid test before you come to Tahoma, upon arrival, and on day 3. Please wear a mask during your trip to Tahoma. We’ll also require masking during chanting. So please bring a supply of N95/KN95 masks and any extra covid tests you have. We are not requiring covid vaccinations for this sesshin.
Covid protocols are subject to change. If you are accepted into the sesshin, please read the most current details about the covid protocol that we’ll provide on the Policies Agreement.
Special event on September 14th: On September 14th, Tahoma will celebrate its 25th anniversary and will also host the transmission ceremony for Daichi Roshi (Chisan) and Sozui Roshi. Please join us if you can!
Any help with set up before or clean up following OSesshin would be greatly appreciated. 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 and contact the monastery to make arrangements.
We hope that we will be able to conduct our September 2024 OSesshin but please recognize 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 for this OSesshin. Those on the wait list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.
Registration has closed. Please contact the Registrar if you’d like to be placed on the waitlist.
Every day during the OSesshin (May 16th – 22nd), there will be Teisho (dharma talk) from Shodo Harada Roshi. Talks are in Japanese with translations by Daichi Zenni. The talks begin at 1pm and it is requested that attendees arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow time to walk to the zendo and get settled. There will be staff to assist with parking and making your way to zendo. There will be chairs and cushions available for seating and staff on hand to facilitate finding your seat.
Roshi will be speaking on koans from the Blue Cliff Record, please do come for this unique opportunity to hear a living Zen Master speak on the words of our Zen ancestors.
The May 2024 OSesshin with Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of Wednesday, May 15th and concludes the evening of Wednesday, May 22nd.
OSesshin: Wednesday, May 15th – Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
Kokuho is Wednesday evening, May 15th.
Full-time participation is required. OSesshin concludes the evening of Wednesday, May 22nd.
The link to the OSesshin application is near the bottom of this email.
The fee is $480. $450 is for the OSesshin, and $30 is for covid testing supplies and masks. Information about our covid protocol is below.
Donations to support financial aid are welcomed. Information about financial aid is provided on the application.
The application deadline for OSesshin is Sunday, April 14th. You will receive an email regarding your acceptance or wait list status soon after the deadline date of April 14th. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance. Payment information will be included in the acceptance email.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS OSESSHIN
After a covid outbreak during our February Osesshin, we updated our safety protocol, which will include vaccination with the latest booster, a self-testing protocol, and masking. Please note that your application for Osesshin will be considered only if you have gotten or commit to getting the most recent booster (released in the Fall 2023) and provide documentation. In addition, you must self-test before leaving for sesshin and mask consistently during public transportation.
Please note that if you require a Covid-19 booster you must get it two or more weeks prior to traveling for sesshin.
Any help with set up before or clean up following OSesshin would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to arrive a day or two before sesshin and/or stay a day or two after sesshin please contact the monastery to make arrangements. The monastery email address is tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com
We hope that we will be able to conduct our May 2024 OSesshin but recognize 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 for this OSesshin. Those on the wait list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.
Every day during the OSesshin (February 20th – 26th), there will be Teisho (dharma talk) from Shodo Harada Roshi. Talks are in Japanese with translations by Daichi Zenni. The talks begin at 1pm and it is requested that attendees arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow time to walk to the zendo and get settled. There will be staff to assist with parking and making your way to zendo. There will be chairs and cushions available for seating and staff on hand to facilitate finding your seat.
Roshi will be speaking on koans from the Blue Cliff Record, please do come for this unique opportunity to hear a living Zen Master speak on the words of our Zen ancestors.
The February 2024 OSesshin with Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of February 19th and concludes the evening of February 26th.
OSesshin: Monday, February 19th – Monday, February 26th, 2024
Kokuho is Monday evening, February 19th.
Full-time participation is required. OSesshin concludes the evening of Monday, February 26th.
The link to the OSesshin application is near the bottom of this email.
The fee is $450.
Donations to support financial aid are welcomed. If you are requesting financial aid, please contact the registrar.
The application deadline for OSesshin is Monday, January 15th. You will receive an email regarding your acceptance or wait list status soon after the deadline date of January 15th. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance. Payment information will be included in the acceptance email.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS OSESSHIN
Any help with set up before or clean up following OSesshin would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to arrive a day or two before sesshin and/or stay a day or two after sesshin please contact the monastery to make arrangements. The monastery email address is tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com
We hope that we will be able to conduct our February 2024 OSesshin but recognize 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 for this OSesshin. Those on the wait list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.
Bodhi Day celebrates the awakening of the Buddha. It culminate the week long end of year Rohatsu retreat. The Bodhi Day ceremony this year is open to all, whether you took part in any of the rest of the retreat or not, and at the very reasonable hour 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 (or reconnecting) with the local sangha. We will follow the usual Zazenkai schedule and hold the ceremony in the second half of the program. The whole morning will be broadcast via Zoom (details below
Celebration We will follow the Bodhi Day ceremony with a casual celebratory gathering in the Tahoma Dining Hall. This is open to everyone, no participation in any of the week, or even days events required. We would like to celebrate with all in our community. We will provide hot and cold drinks and sweet and savory snacks. If you want to bring something to share, by all means please do. But just bringing yourself will suffice. We ill be in the Dining Hall around 9:35am.
Sunday, December 10thSchedule
Day 8: Morning Schedule 5am; Zazen; Kinhin; Kaimei Han 5:45am: Closing Sutras (p. 3, 7); Sampai; Closing Remarks 6:25am Breakfast
