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

Continue reading “2021 Autumnal Equinox Retreat”

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.

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 ZazenZazenKinhin; ZazenZazen
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; ZazenZazen;
7:00amBreakfast / Samu / Break
10:00amUninterrupted Zazen; KinhinZazenZazen; Kinhin
12:00pmLunch / break
2:00pmSutras (p.14); Dharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pmPhysical Practice / Dinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted ZazenKinhin;
7:00pmZazen; ZazenKinhin; 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)
10:00amZazenZazenClosing 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.