Tag: Dharma Talk

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Rohatsu Retreat and Bodhi Day Ceremony

Rohatsu Retreat and Bodhi Day Ceremony
November 30th-December 7th, 2025

Update 12.05.25
We have added to the schedule an Instructional Talk on the investigative method of Interrogation (huatou, koan). This will be 10am on Saturday, Dec. 6th. These techniques, of working skillfully with words, are so often approached in an ineffective manner. We will try to clearly present the technique with this talk.

Update 12.01.25
The opening talk from this retreat, given on Sunday Nov. 30th, is now available for download. This talk discussed how we approach retreat and the necessity and level of commitment we should bring to intensive practice. It concludes with the first entry from Haukin Zenji’s Rohatsu Exhortations.
Download here: Approaching Retreat–Rohatsu 2025

The autumn training period culminates with the Rohatsu 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 November 30th-December 7th with extended practice during our regular schedule leading up to a stretch of full-time, practice and culminating with 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.

The retreat will follow 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). 

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.  

Reading
The dharma talks will be selections from the Investigation section in Tendo’s practice book Dewdrops on Stinging Nettles: A Companion for Practice. In addition there will be selections from the first two entries in Benjamin Brose’s Buddhist Masters of Modern China: The Lives and Legacies of Eight Eminent Teachers.

Residential Retreat Options
The full time intensive training will take place December 4th-7th, with residency available. Please note that one can stay overnight any of these days, so you could, for instance, be resident from Saturday through the Bodhi Day Ceremony on Sunday for more of a weekend retreat. 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.

Drop in and part time options are available as usual, please  contact us with any questions. We need to be notified in advance if you wish to stay through any meals to aid in our food preparation.

Rohatsu Daily Schedule

Day 1: Sunday, November 30th
8am – 9:30am: Zazenkai and Rohatsu opening with reading from Rohatsu Exhortations.

Day 2: Monday, December 1st 
6pm: Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7pm: Rohatsu Exhortations reading; Zazen; Kinhin
8pm: Zazen

Days 3 & 4: Tuesday December 2nd and Wednesday December 3rd 
5am: Choka; Zazen; Kinhin
6am: Zazen
6pm: Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7pm: Rohatsu Exhortations reading; Zazen; Kinhin
8pm: Zazen

Days 5-7  Thursday, December 4th – Saturday, December 6th
5am: Choka; Zazen; Kinhin
6am: Zazen
10am: Instructional Talk [Day 7] / Zazen [Day 5, 6
11am: Zazen
2pm: Dharma Talk; Kinhin;
3pm:  Zazen
6pm: Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7pm: Rohatsu Exhortations reading; Zazen; Kinhin
8pm: Zazen; kinhin
9pm: Zazen
[Each day runs longer; please download the Schedule for complete details.]

Day 8: Sunday, December 7th
5am: Zazen; Kinhin
5:45am: Closing Sutras; Closing Remarks
8am: Zazenkai and Bodhi Day Ceremony
9:45am: Bodhi Day Celebration (in-person only)

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: Rohatsu Sesshin 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.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86467758907?pwd=08NxPMwr0PZWqVD2PpGSzWFQvMOfYT.1

Please email us with any questions: Contact Information

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.

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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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Public Teisho During September OSesshin

Public Teisho During September OSesshin

September 9th through 15th, 1pm

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 public cases (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. 

Directions to the Monastery can be found here:
Visiting Tahoma Zen Monastery

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.

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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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Public Teisho During May OSesshin

Public Teisho During May OSesshin

May 16th through 22nd, 1pm

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. 

Directions to the Monastery can be found here:
Visiting Tahoma Zen Monastery

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.

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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”