Tag: Dharma Talk

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Posted on

July Daylong Retreat

July 18th Virtual Daylong Retreat
Tahoma Zen Monastery

Join us online for our July Daylong Retreat. All of the sitting periods will be broadcast online and we will follow the schedule of the recent virtual Sesshin.  Drop-in attendance for the zazen and samu periods will be allowed though we will not be able to accommodate any communal activities beyond that.  Drop-in attendance for Choka and the Dharma Talk are not available. Masks required for attendance at any events.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86373821356?pwd=MjA3YkhMMGZQbGFBUG11bUdMSWl5dz09

Saturday July 18th Schedule 

5:00amChoka (Sutras); sampai ; Han
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:05amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast / samu / break
11:00amUninterrupted Outside Zazen 
12:00pmLunch / break
2:00pmDharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin
3:00pmZazen; Zazen
4:00pmOutside Practice / Dinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen; 
8:50pmKaichin / Yaza
All times  Pacific Time.
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Please tune into events five (5) minutes early

Download the sutra book here: Tahoma Sutra book
Dai Segaki can be found here:  Chant booklet

Before taking part in a Virtual Event at Tahoma please read this post:
Guidelines for Virtual Events

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. 

Notes and sources for the Dharma talks will be posted here, after the end of weekend.

Posted on

Summer Solstice Weekend Intensive

June 19th-21st: Virtual Summer Solstice Weekend
Tahoma Zen Monastery

June 20th is the Summer Solstice and as is our tradition we will sit from sunup to sundown on this day. We will bracket this day of practice with extended sitting Friday evening and Sunday morning, concluding with Zazenkai. All of the sitting periods will be broadcast online and we will follow the schedule of the recent virtual Sesshin.  Drop-in attendance for the zazen and samu periods will be allowed though we will not be able to accommodate any communal activities beyond that. 

Zoom Link:  [event has passed]

Friday evening Schedule

5:30pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
6:30pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
7:30pmZazen; Zazen; 
8:20pmKaichin / Yaza
All times  Pacific Time.
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Please tune into events five (5) minutes early

Saturday Schedule 

5:00amChoka (Sutras); sampai ; Han
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:05amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast / samu / break
11:00amUninterrupted Outside Zazen 
12:00pmLunch / break
2:00pmDharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin
3:00pmZazen; Zazen
4:00pmOutside Practice / Dinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen; 
8:50pmKaichin / Yaza
All times  Pacific Time.
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Please tune into events five (5) minutes early

Sunday Morning Schedule

5:00amChoka (Sutras); sampai ; Han
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00amZazen;
6:30amBreakfast / break
8:00amZazenkai
9:15amInformal Q&A
All times  Pacific Time.
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Please tune into events five (5) minutes early

Download the sutra book here: Tahoma Sutra book
Dai Segaki can be found here:  Chant booklet

Before taking part in a Virtual Event at Tahoma please read this post:
Guidelines for Virtual Events

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. 

Notes and sources for the Dharma talks will be posted here, after the end of weekend.

Posted on

Virtual Practice with Watermoon Dojo

NOTE: The Zoom link has been updated for Tuesday’s event.

The second Monday of most months the head monk from Tahoma Zen Monastery visits Watermoon Dojo in Seattle, for an evening and morning or practice. As we are currently Staying at Home we will observe these events virtually using Zoom. While we of course will miss our time at WMD, this does allow anyone to take part in this virtual visit. If interested in taking part, please read through our Virtual Practice Guidelines before joining the events.

Monday June 8th, 7:00pm to 8:30pm PDT
7:00pm: Chant Service (Heart Sutra, Song of Zazen, Dai Segaki)
7:15pm: Two periods of zazen
7:55pm: Han / Kinhin (or break)
8:00pm: Short talk and Q&A
8:25pm Concluding zazen and chanting of the Four Great Vows

Download a PDF with all the chants here: Chant booklet

Zoom Link: [event has passed]

Tuesday June 9th, 6:30am to 8:30am PDT
6:30am Choka (chant service)
7:00am Zazen
7:20am Han / Kinhin (or break)
7:30am: Dharma talk
8:00am Zazen
8:30am Conclude with a few minutes for chatting

Note
We will follow the Tahoma Choka, omitting the Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo and after the Four Great Vows we will chant Dai Segaki for the dead and dying and conclude with Sampai.

Download sutra book here: Tahoma Sutra book
Dai Segaki can be found here: Chant booklet

Zoom Link: [event has passed]

Click to Join the Tahoma Virtual Events Mailing List

Posted on

May Virtual Sesshin: Orientation


May 12th-16th: Virtual Sesshin
Tahoma Zen Monastery

We are holding a five day sesshin at Tahoma Zen Monastery with four blocks broadcast online throughout the day. All are welcome to tune in the broadcasts (links below) as they are able. While we hope that some are able to adopt the Sesshin Spirit and participate as if they were here in person, we encourage everyone to use this time as best serves them. Anyone can join in for any of the periods on any of the days as they are able.

How to best take advantage of the Virtual Sesshin
Think of the sesshin just as you would one that you are attending in person. Leave behind non-essential activities. Maintain sesshin spirit throughout the day and avoid media, non-functional conversation, casual entertainments and other distractions. During the samu period engage mindfully, as you would at the monastery, in cleaning your residence, working in the garden, perhaps even into the community. Sesshin always comes down to ones aspiration, commitment and dedication. Fully throw yourself into the practice, vow to awaken during this sesshin, turn off your notifications and just sit.

Sesshin Approach
This sesshin’s theme is Empty Awareness and is oriented around solitary practice. In this time of quarantine, stay at home orders and lockdown we are not able to practice in person with the sangha and interact with the teacher. In Zen working with the teacher is essential, at the very least, as a check on where we are at. Other practices such as koan study depend completely on engagement with the teacher. But there are myriad practices that are very fruitful on ones own and can be consistently used in conjunction with working with a teacher. This has been the orientation of all of our recent instruction and we will continue and deepen our exploration of this approach in this sesshin.

Outside Practice
One of the essential approaches we will work with is Being Outside. In classical Ch’an there was little distinction made between landscape and practice and there were myriad practices to move beyond that sense of separateness we feel from the natural word. Some of these practices will be explored and there are times on the schedule for working with these practices. If you are able to walk around outside, in your neighborhood, or in a nearby woods, beach or field, we encourage you to take advantage of that and engage in these practices. During the outside seating, we encourage you to take your phone or other device and sit on a deck, porch or just in front of a window.

Adapt to these as you are able: use your windows, porches, decks, backyards as you have them. Put on a mask and walk around your neighborhood. Maintain Physical Distancing. Your safety is the upmost importance so do everything as it makes sense. We would encourage a physical practice that can be done inside, if there are no outside options available: Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, Stretching, etc.

Choka (Sutras)
We will chant a shortened version of the Tahoma Sutras. These are done in the order printed in the Tahoma Sutra book beginning with the Maha Prajna Parmita Sutra (Heart Sutra) through to the Four Great Vows, skipping the Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo. After the Four Great Vows we will chant Dai Segaki for the victims of the virus pandemic. This can be found in our supplemental chant book. After this will be sampai (three prostrations), before we begin zazen.

Kinhin
Kinhin, (walking meditation), periods will be held every fifty minutes, except when a block ends. This practice is one of both mindfulness as well as its own empty awareness practice. Do this as you are able, walking around the room, or through your house, or outside even. Keep the volume up on your computer or device to be able to hear clappers and announcements. This is of course the time for bathroom breaks. As with all of these practices you will get out of this what you put into it.

Technical Considerations
We are using Zoom Meeting software for this Virtual Sesshin which is available for all devices and platforms. Zoom is meant for virtual meetings and we are pushing its limitations for these events. It manipulates audio when it gets too loud and tries to eliminate background sound. Look into your audio settings and turn on ‘Original Sound’ and turn off noise-cancelling options. Be sure to keep your microphone off at all times. You do not need to display your own video and it will help with bandwidth to keep it off. If you set a profile picture that image will be sent instead of video and is a nice, low bandwidth option.

The most important thing is to simply accept that there will be technical difficulties. Sometimes the sound will drop out or the app will crash. We must just roll with it and put our training to use in not being pushed around by it. We will do our utmost to keep things flowing and reset things as there are issues. But when in doubt, just keep sitting and mind the schedule. We can’t help with technical issues during broadcasts but do email with any questions.

Sesshin Schedule

5:00amChoka (Sutras); sampai
5:40amZazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:05amZazen; Zazen
7:00amBreakfast / samu / break
11:00amOutside Zazen  [on zendo deck, weather permitting]
12pmLunch / break
2:00pmDharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin
3:00pmZazen; Zazen
4:00pmOutside Practice
5:00pmDinner / Break
6:00pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7:00pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pmZazen; Zazen;
8:50pmClosing Sutra
9:00pmKaichin / Yaza
All times Pacific Standard Time.
Events in Bold will be streamed, events in Italics are self-directed.
Download the full schedule here: May Sesshin Schedule.

Zoom Meeting Link:[Event has concluded]

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Guidelines for Virtual Events

Download the sutra book here: Tahoma Sutra book
Dai Segaki can be found here:  Chant booklet

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Notes and sources for the Dharma talks will be posted here, after the end of session.