Tag: Autumn Training Period

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November 2023 Daylong Retreat

November 4th, 2023, 4:50am to 9pm (PST)

This first weekend of November 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, November 3rd
6:30pm to 8:15pm: Zazen 

Saturday, November 4th
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

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September 2022 Osesshin Applications  Available

Dear One Drop Sangha and Friends,

The September 2022 Osesshin at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of September 5th and concludes the evening of September 12th.  Please note that applications are available to those fully vaccinated with a booster.  

Osesshin: Monday, September 5th – Monday, September 12th, 2022
Kokuho is Monday evening, September 5th.  Osesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Monday, May 12th.  Full time participation is required.  The cost of Osesshin is $400.  

The application deadline for Osesshin is Sunday, July 31st.  Osesshin acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date of July 31st.  Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance.  Payment information will be included in the acceptance email. 

Apply here: [Registration is now Closed]

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

*As we plan for September Osesshin, the Tahoma staff is working to organize as safe a practice period as possible.  The Covid situation is quite fluid.  We are following the Washington State regulations and will continuously update our policies to conform.  We are hopeful that we will be able to conduct our September 2022 Osesshin but recognize that our plans, as well as the dates, may need to change suddenly and without notice.  For those purchasing airline tickets please be prepared to cancel your reservations. 

*We recommend that persons who are immunocompromised or have chronic medical issues not attend this practice period. 

*There may be a waitlist for this Osesshin.  Those on the waitlist will be contacted immediately as spaces become available. 

Thank you,
Rozan Lenny Gerson
Osesshin registrar
Tahoma Zen Monastery

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November 20th Daylong Retreat

Saturday, November 20th, 2021

Staying with the practice, moment by moment, fully engaged throughout the ninety day training period we will build on our momentum with a daylong retreat in November. The last event before Rohatsu it is a perfect way to work out the kinks and acclimate to online practice. As with the rest of the Autumn Kessei we will continue to investigate the Letters of Dahui and his teachings for lay practitioners without ready access to a teacher. Truly valuable teachings for these times and for lay practice in general.    This retreat is offered virtually with limited in-person attendance, restricted to those in the local area, contact us if interested.  

Essential Information
• 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 Virtual Events mailing list.

Zoom Link for Online Retreat: [Event has Passed]

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October 2021 Weekend Retreat

October 22nd-24th, 2021

Keeping ones practice solid, energetic and ever deepening is why we push hard during the training period. Keeping up the momentum in October we offer a long weekend retreat. Two full days followed by a half day on Sunday to deepen or renew your commitment.  We will continue our investigation of the Letters of Dahui and his teachings for lay practitioners without ready access to a teacher. Truly valuable teachings for these times and for lay practice in general.  This retreat is offered virtually with limited in-person attendance, restricted to those in the local area, contact us if interested.  

Essential Information
• Download the full schedule: October Weekend 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 Virtual Events mailing list.

Zoom Link for Online Retreat:  [Event has passed]

Continue reading “October 2021 Weekend Retreat”
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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

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Autumnal Equinox 2021 Sesshin


September 20th-26th, 2021
Tahoma Zen Monastery Online

 
The changing of the seasons into Autumn heralds the start of the most intense period of practice in the training year. Please join us online from September 20th though 26th, for a weeklong retreat. This retreat is offered virtually with limited in-person attendance, restricted to those in the local area, contact us if interested.  With a virtual retreat one can take part as ones schedule, energy and interest allows. But, as always, we recommend committing to what you are able to attend and then holding fast to the sesshin spirit for that period.  Sesshin is always and only as deep and powerful as you make it.

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.

The retreat begins Monday September 20th at 5am and concludes Sunday morning after Zazenkai. All days apart from the final day with follow this basic schedule:

General Broadcast schedule (all times PDT)
5am to 6:55am: Choka and zazen
10:30am to noon: Zazen
2pm to 4pm: Dharma Talk and Zazen
6pm to 8:45pm: Zazen

The full, final schedule for the retreat with all the activities we will engage in at the monastery will be posted in the days before the retreat as well as mailed out in a stand alone email. This post will also include all of the essential information, Zoom Link and etc.  Please email us with any questions: tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com

As we wish to share the dharma with everyone we are not setting a fixed cost for the retreat. However there are costs to us for food, utilities and operations. So please do consider making a donation online or in person with this in mind.

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Autumnal Equinox Sesshin Essential Information

The Autumnal Equinox Virtual Sesshin for 2020 begins September 21st at 6pm. In this post you can find all of the vital information that you will need to take part in the sesshin.

Sesshin Zoom Link: [event has passed]

You can download full monastery schedule here:
Autumn Equinox Sesshin Schedule.

You can download the sutra book that we will be using here:
Virtual Sutra Book

In the Dharma Talks we will be reading from Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School translated by Yoko Okuda from Tuttle Publishing. Download a PDF of it here (note: links to a 43MB pdf). We will begin with the Preface by Torei Enji and Daibi Zenji on p. 11. Do read the two forwards beforehand.

Before taking part in a Virtual Event at Tahoma please read these posts:
Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.

The opening day of the sesshin is Monday September 21st at 6pm. We request that everyone join all of our events a few minutes early so that you have time to start up the connection and settle in before things begin. The schedule for the opening day is:

Monday, Sept. 21st

6:00pmOpening Sutra (p.15) ;  Introductory Talk; Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
8:45pmClosing sutra (p. 16); Sampai
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events

The Schedule from Tuesday through Saturday will be our standard virtual sesshin schedule. Locals can drop-in for the late morning and evening Zazen periods (masks required).

Tuesday, Sept. 22nd – Saturday, Sept. 26th

5:00amChoka (sutras p.3-13); sampai
5:40amZazen (short period); Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen;
7:00amBreakfast / Samu / Break
10:00amUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
12:00pmLunch / break
2:00pmSutras (p.14); Dharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pmPhysical Practice / Dinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
8:45pmClosing Sutra (p.16); Sampai
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.

The final day, Sunday will be quite different. Morning Sutras will be abbreviated and we will end zazen a little early. There will be no samu period, but our regularly community Zazenkai. Sesshin attendees should tune in to Zazenkai as this will incorporate the final Dharma Talk on the Inexhustible Lamp. After Zazenkai there will be a break and then our concluding activities. After sesshin has ended there will be an hour for Q&A on any topics but especially on the study material. Note: no in-person attendance at any of these events.

Sunday, Sept. 27th

5:00amChoka (abbreviated sutras); sampai; Zazen (short period); Kinhin
6:00amZazen (One 45′ period); kinhin
6:30amBreakfast / Break
8:00amZazenkai (sutras p.3, 10, 13)
10:00amZazen; Zazen; Closing Sutra (p.5)
11:00amQ&A/Discussion
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.

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

Thank your for your continuing support and please email us with any questions: Contact Information.

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Autumnal Equinox Virtual Sesshin

September 21st-27th: Autumnal Equinox Virtual Sesshin
Tahoma Zen Monastery

 Join us online over the Autumnal Equinox for a weeklong virtual sesshin. Due to the restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic this event will be primarily online. Read this post, Orientation to Virtual Sesshin, on how to best take advantage of this opportunity. For those local you are welcome to drop-in (masks required) for any of the Zazen periods, but Choka and the Dharma talk remain closed and online only. Please contact us with any questions.

Dharma Talks will be from Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School. This text is rarely engaged with in the west but presents a complete description of Rinzai Zen Training in the Hakuin tradition. We will conclude the sesshin with a Q&A and discussion of the text. If you’d like your own copy you can purchase the book here (scroll down) or download a free PDF of it here (note: links to a large pdf). If you are searching for your own copy be sure to get the edition translated by Yoko Okuda and published by Tuttle Publishing.

Before taking part in a Virtual Event at Tahoma please read these posts:
Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.

Sesshin Schedule

Monday, Sept. 21st

6:00pmOpening Sutra (p. 15) and  Introductory Talk
6:30pmZazen; Kinhin
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen; kinhin
8:45pmClosing sutra; (p. 16); sampai
9:00pmKaichin / Yaza
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.

Tuesday, Sept. 22nd – Saturday, Sept. 26th

5:00amChoka (Sutras p. 3-13); sampai
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast / samu / break
10:00amZazen; Zazen; kinhin
11:00amUninterrupted Outside Zazen
12:00pmLunch / break
2:00pmDharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin
3:00pmZazen; Zazen
4:00pmOutside/Physical Practice
5:00pmDinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen;
8:45pmClosing Sutra (p. 16); Sampai
9:00pmKaichin / Yaza
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.

Sunday, Sept. 27th

5:00amChoka (abbreviated sutras); sampai
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00amZazen (One 45′ period);
6:45ambreakfast
8:00amZazenkai (Sutras: p. 3, 10, 13)
10:00amZazen; Zazen; Closing Sutra (p. 3, 4)
11:00amQ&A/Discussion
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.

Download the full schedule here: Autumn Equinox Sesshin Schedule.
Sutra book: Virtual Sutra book

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

There is no fee for participating in this event but do be mindful that virtual events also utilize resources and the monastery does have regular expenses in order to keep open. We wish to facilitate the practice and promote the dharma as widely as possible, thus our practice of putting on these events without cost. This is especially important in these times with so many out of work and confined to home. For those who are able to offer support, we appreciate your including us in your consideration. Thank your for your continuing support and please email us with any questions: Contact Information.

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Autumn Training Period at Tahoma

While we remain unable to offer in-person retreats and our teachers remain safely ensconced at Sogen-ji we intend to have as vigorous of an Autumn Training period as possible.  In light of this we will offer Virtual Sesshin every month during the this period.  We will have a week long sesshin in September, KoSesshin in October and November and a full eight day Rohatsu in December.  The September retreat will be held to coincide with the Autumnal Equinox and details will be published here shortly.. Information regarding upcoming events will be added to the website as the schedule firms up with an announcement in each months newsletter. We will also send out a general email on this list a day or two before the sesshin to encourage people to take advantage of this opportunity.

Autumn Training Period Retreat Calendar
September 21st-27th: Autumn Equinox sesshin
October 16th-18th: October KoSesshin
November 14th: Day of Practice
December 1st-8th: Rohatsu sesshin
December 19th: Solstice Practice Day

During this training period we will also engage in study material that will be the subject of the dharma talks during retreat. For the Autumn Training period our study material will be Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School. This text is rarely engaged with in the west but presents a complete description of Rinzai Zen Training in the Hakuin tradition. In the three sesshin’s leading up to Rohatsu we will conclude the final day with an open discussion of the text. If there is interest we will continue in 2021 with a reading group around this text.  You can purchase your own copy of the text  from here (scroll down) or download a PDF of it here (note: links to a large pdf). If you are searching for your own copy be sure to get the edition translated by Yoko Okuda and published by  Tuttle Publishing.