Tag: Dharma Talk

Posted on

Public Teisho During September OSesshin

Please Note
There will be no public teisho on September 9th.

Every day during the September OSesshin (Sept 6th – 12th) except for the 9th, there will be a daily 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

Posted on

Public Teisho During May OSesshin

Each day during the May OSesshin (May 6th – 12th) there will be a daily 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. We require that all visitors be fully vaccinated and masked to attend this event.

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

Posted on

Summer Solstice 2021 Weeklong Retreat

June 20th – 27th

Registration is open, please email us at:  tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com

As we transition into summer we conclude the Spring Training period with a weeklong retreat.  This will mark the fifth retreat that has been held at Tahoma since the pandemic began. These retreats have all been put on by the monastery staff and have all been available online.  This retreat will be available in person for those fully vaccinated and will bring to a culmination the practice that has been presented over the last year.

This retreat will feature expanded activities taking place outside and will emphasize practice that integrates into our daily lives and lay practice. All of the indoor activities will be presented online via Zoom for those who are unable to be fully vaccinated by the retreat. But this will be a very valuable experience for everyone as we resume full time in person practice and we encourage everyone who is able to to come in person. The text that we will be using for the retreat will be presented to all attendees. For those practicing at home you can acquire your own copy, or download an excerpt with just the outdoor practices here: Dewdrops on Stringing Nettles.

There will be options for full time or part time residential participation,  drop-in attendance and online participation.  We ask that everyone who attends email us stating their desire to attend and in what capacity. We will allow drop-in attendance without prior notification either in person or via Zoom if one is unable to commit beforehand or discovers some free time. We absolutely encourage participation in whatever way that works for you. For those attending full time registration will be required as we need to have attendance information for meals, allergies, emergency contact and so on.  

We are still being cautious and of course have to follow WA State guidelines. This limits us to twenty (20) people in the Zendo as of this mailing, so this is our limit for in-person attendance. So please register soon and if we exceed that number there will be a waitlist. We will expand the limits if the State changes the guidelines which are dependent on vaccination rates. We also are asking that people staying in residence arrive the afternoon of the 20th, and depart by the afternoon on the 27th. On the final day we will conclude with choka and a closing ceremony followed by Zazenkai for those who wish to sit with the local sangha.  Below is the schedule of the weeks events (subject to change).

June 20th, 2021
1pm: Campus opens for residents.
5pm: Informal Dinner
6pm: Orientation
7:30pm: Opening Ceremony/Zazen 

June 21st-26th, 2021
4:50am –  9:00pm: Retreat Daily Schedule

June 27th, 2021
4:50am: Zazen/Closing Ceremony
8am: Zazenkai
10am: Cleanup
Noon: Departure

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.

If you’d like to volunteer to help with cooking,  to prepare food beforehand, or to donate snacks or sarei treats, please email:  tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com

There will be a post early next week with the full schedule, Zoom Information and other information for the retreat. Additionally an email will be sent to the mailing list with this information. Sign up to our mailing list here: Monastery Messages.

Registration is open, please email us at:  tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com

Posted on

May Weekend Intensive Schedule

May 28th-30th, 2021
Tahoma Zen Monastery


Join us in person at Tahoma Zen Monastery or online this May for a weekend retreat as we continue with the Spring Training Period.

For all in-person attendance you must be be fully vaccinated (two weeks past the final shot). For those interested in participating in-person please contact us to express your interest so we can accurately plan meals. For those who would like to stay on campus for the weekend please contact us to arrange accommodations

To participate online please download the Virtual Sutra book and check out these posts for getting the most out of a virtual sesshin:  Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.

Zoom Link:   [event has passed]

Retreat Schedule

Friday, May 28th

6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin;
8:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:45pmKaichin
All times Pacific Time. Please arrive/tune in ten minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed.

Saturday May 29th

5:00amChoka  (Sutras p.3-14); Han; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast Break
8:15amSamu
10:30amOutside Zazen; Kinhin
11:30amZazen;
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 arrive/tune in ten minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed.

Sunday, May 30th

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
All times Pacific Time. Please arrive/tune in ten minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed.

Download the full schedule: Weekend Intensive Schedule

Posted on

May Weekend Intensive

May 28th-30th, 2021
Tahoma Zen Monastery


Join us in person at Tahoma Zen Monastery or online this May for a weekend retreat as we continue with the Spring Training Period. We will begin with extended 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. For those participating online the retreat requires some extra commitment toward self-direction for much of the practice. But the rewards are just as great.  

For in-person attendance you must be able be fully vaccinated (two weeks past the final shot). As per new CDC Guidelines which Washington State is following if everyone is fully vaccinated no masking is required. Thus we will require vaccines for all attendance and no masks. The zendo is setup for people to be well spaced and there will be open windows in all public spaces for increased airflow. We will also expect regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer before meals. As we navigate the return of in-person events we hope that everyone will practice forbearance and understanding. We all must respond to circumstance.

For those interested in participating in-person please contact us to express your interest so we can accurately plan meals. For those who would like to stay over the weekend camping is available and a very limited amount of indoor residency options. Please contact us to arrange accommodations

Zoom Link:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85952797446?pwd=RGJNQlhvRUtMajFQWkNaYlJYVFVxZz09

We begin Friday May 28th with an evening block of zazen:
5:55pm to 8:45pm: Zazen

On Saturday May 29th 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 May 30th 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

Part time and drop-in attendance for the vaccinated is allowed at all events. Only those taking part all day on Saturday can attend meals. 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.

Retreat Schedule

Friday, May 28th

6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin;
8:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:45pmKaichin
All times Pacific Time. Please arrive/tune in ten minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed.

Saturday May 29th

5:00amChoka  (Sutras p.3-14); Han; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast Break
8:15amSamu
10:30amOutside Zazen; Kinhin
11:30amZazen;
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 arrive/tune in ten minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed.

Sunday, May 30th

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
All times Pacific Time. Please arrive/tune in ten minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed.

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

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Vernal Equinox Online Retreat

Vernal Equinox Retreat
March 15th-21st, 2021 –Online Only-

March heralds the beginning of spring and with it our spring training period. Please join us online from March 15th through the 21st for a weeklong retreat. This retreat is a fully virtual sesshin meaning that anyone, anywhere can take part for as much as one is able. As always we recommend committing to what you are able to attend and then holding the sesshin spirit for that period.  Sesshin is always and only as deep and powerful as you make it.

Broadcast Periods
4:55am – 6:55am: Choka and zazen
9:55am to 11:55am: Zazen
1:55pm to 4pm: Dharma Talk and Zazen
5:55pm to 8:45pm: Zazen

As with all of our online events there will be four broadcast blocks throughout the day. Beyond that we have a detailed daily schedule that is posted below. Please note the different schedules on the first and final days. We strongly encourage you to try to adhere to as much of the schedule as you are committing to;  have your meals when we do, work around your domicile during the samu period, engage in some form of exercise during the physical practice period, keep conversations to a bare, functional minimum, eliminate media consumption and so on.  Hold the sesshin spirit!  

The Dharma Talk 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.

Download the full schedule here: Vernal Equinox Retreat Schedule (pdf).

Join Zoom Meeting: [event has passed]

Retreat Schedule

Monday, March 15th

6:00pm*Opening Sutra (p.16); Introductory Talk
6:30pm*Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:30pm*Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:45pm*Han; Closing Sutra (p.17); Sampai
9:00pmKaichin/Yaza
ll times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed. All other events are self-directed
*These Events can be attended in-person (masks required) please contact us for details.

Tuesday, March 13th-Saturday March 21st

5:00amChoka  (Sutras p.3-14); Han; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast; Cleanup
8:30amSamu
10:00am*Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
11:00am*Zazen; Zazen
11:55amLunch; Cleanup
2:00pmDharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pmPhysical/Outside practice
5:00pmDinner; Cleanup
6:00pm*Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm*Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pm*Zazen; Zazen
8:45pm*Han; Closing Sutra (p.17); Sampai
9:00pmKaichin/Yaza
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events.
Events in Bold will be streamed. All other events are self-directed
*These Events can be attended in-person (masks required) please contact us for details.

Sunday, March 21st

5:00amChoka  (sutras p.3-7,10,12,13); Han; Kinhin
6:00amZazen
6:30amBreakfast
8:00amZazenkai  (sutras p.3,10,13)
9:30ambreak
10:00amZazen; Zazen; Closing Sutra (p.6,7)
11:00amQ&A/Book Discussion
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.

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.

Posted on

February Virtual Daylong Intensive

On Saturday February 13th, we will devote ourselves to a full day of intensive practice. Deep into winter we can take advantage of the cold, limited daylight and moody weather to spend the day in practice. We will follow our standard virtual sesshin schedule with four blocks broadcast via Zoom.

The Dharma Talk 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.

Join Zoom Meeting:  [cvent has passed]

Event Schedule

Saturday, February 13th

5amChoka; Sampai; Kinhin; Zazen
6amZazen; Zazen
7amBreakfast; Cleanup
8:30am-9:30amSamu
10amUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
11amZazen; Zazen
11:55amLunch; Cleanup
2pmDharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4pmPhysical/Outside practice
5pmDinner; Cleanup
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm–8:45pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8amZazen; Zazen
8:45pmKaichin
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events.
All Events will be streamed. Events in Italics are self-directed
Blocks in Bold can be attended in-person (masks required).

Download 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.

Posted on

Virtual Rohatsu 2020

Rohatsu is the traditional peak of the practice year and commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment.  The classic story is that after his years of ascetic practice the Buddha sat under the Bodhi Tree vowing to sit there until complete awakening. Nine days later on seeing the morning star (Venus) he penetrated to the depths.  Rohatsu Sesshin commemorates this with an eight day sesshin that models a single day of practice. We play the Han as we sit on the first day and not again until on the eighth morning we conclude this one long single day with the Kaimei Han. The amount of sitting increases as the sesshin wears on and it is expected that one sits through the night on the final day.  

Tahoma will hold a Virtual Rohatsu Sesshin on the traditional days, December 1st through 8th.  While we are not able to gather in person, we can all dedicate ourselves to an extended week of zazen. This is an intense schedule and while participating virtually one is not as held by the social pressure we encourage those who can to take full advantage of this opportunity. The broadcast simply provides a structure just as attending a sesshin in person does. The commitment is up to the individual.  If one is able commit to doing the entire sesshin, prepare yourself a space where you can minimize distractions. Have your meals planned out and the shopping completed. Work out a way to do kinhin and physical practice. Then just flow along with the schedule.

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. If you’d like your own copy you can purchase the book here (scroll down) or download a free PDF of it here (45MB pdf).

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

Schedule Notes
Monday November 30th: No evening zazen
Sunday December 6th: No Zazenkai
Wednesday December 9th: No scheduled events

Sesshin Schedule

Tuesday, December 1st – Monday, December 7th

5:00amChoka (morning sutras); sampai
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast / samu / cleanup
9:30amUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
10:30amZazen;Zazen; Kinhin
11:30amZazen
12:00pmLunch / break
2:00pmDharma Talk; Kinhin
3:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
4:00pmBanka (afternoon sutras); sampai
4:30pmOutside/Physical Practice
5:00pmDinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen;
8:45pmKaichin / 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
As the sesshin progresses the schedule runs later. Download the full schedule for details.

Tuesday, December 8th

5:00amChoka (abbreviated sutras); sampai
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00amZazen; Zazen
6:50ambreak
7:00amBodhi Day Ceremony
7:30amClosing Remarks
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: Rohatsu Sesshin Schedule.
Updated for Rohatsu 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.