August/September Sesshin at Tahoma

Dear One Drop Sangha and Friends,

The September 2023 OSesshin with Harada Roshi at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with kokuho on the evening of September 5th and concludes the evening of September 12th. 

There will also be two retreats in August that will be lead by Tahoma monks: 

August 25th – 27th: a weekend samu (work) retreat. 

August 28th – September 1st: a samu KoSesshin.


OSesshin: Tuesday, September 5th – Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

Signups for the OSesshin are closed.

  • Kokuho is Tuesday evening, September 5th.
  • Full time participation is required. OSesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Tuesday, September 12th.
  • The application for OSesshin will be available July 14th. The link to the application is near the bottom of this email. 
  • The cost of OSesshin is $450. 

The application deadline for OSesshin is Tuesday, August 8th. You will receive an email regarding your acceptance or wait list status soon after the deadline date of August 8th. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance. Payment information will be included in the acceptance email. 
 

Samu Weekend Retreat, August 25th – 27th

Stay the full weekend or come when you can. No registration is required, but please give one day’s notice before you come so we can prepare enough food for everyone.

We’ll start with zazen in the Zendo on Friday evening, August 25th, and continue through Sunday afternoon. Saturday will be the main samu day with work periods and a casual lunch. Sunday will start with Zazenkai followed by a short work period and then lunch. A detailed schedule will be posted on the website and in the July newsletter.
 

5-day KoSesshin, August 28th – September 1st 

If you’d like to sign up for the KoSesshin please contact the registrar.

We’ll hold a KoSesshin starting the evening of August 28th through to the evening of September 2nd. Registration is required. Register for as many days as you wish.

If you’re coming to OSesshin, consider coming early and participating in this KoSesshin. The KoSesshin will have a longer samu period in the morning, and a teisho (lecture) or question and answer session for part of the afternoon, along with an opportunity for self-practice. Breakfast and lunch will be formal with a free-style supper. 

The samu weekend retreat and the KoSesshin are offered for a suggested donation of $20/day. 

For both events we’ll be working on repairing the yurt, which will include installing a new outer wall, new insulation, and improved flooring so that it is once again usable as sleeping quarters during sesshin. The work to replace the walls will require a few people working together to maneuver the heavy fabric so your help will be appreciated.

We’ll also be working in the garden and in the kitchen to harvest and store produce for sesshin and into the fall. 

Full schedules for these events will be published on the website. 

When you register for the KoSesshin, please select the dates you will attend. The application for the KoSesshin will be available available July 14th, along with the application for the OSesshin. The link to the application is near the bottom of this email.


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
  • We are hopeful that we will be able to conduct our September 2023 OSesshin but recognize that our plans, as well as the dates, may need to change suddenly and without notice. If you are purchasing airline tickets please be prepared to cancel your reservations.
  • There may be a wait list for this OSesshin. Those on the wait list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.

Apply here: Signups are closed for the OSesshin.
Contact the registrar to attend the KoSesshin

May 2022 Sesshin

REGISTRATION FOR ALL SESSHIN HAS CONCLUDED

To be placed on the waitlist for the OSesshin please complete the below application.
You can register for the KoSesshin through May 7th.

Dear One Drop Sangha and Friends,

The May 2022 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins with a Samu Kosesshin May 8th through May 12th.  This Samu Kosesshin will take place prior to the arrival of Harada Roshi and Daichi Zenni.  An Osesshin led by Harada Roshi follows.  Please note that applications are available to those fully vaccinated with a booster.  

Samu Kosesshin: Sunday, May 8th – Thursday, May 12th, 2022
Kokuho is Sunday evening, May 8th.  Samu Kosesshin, led by Tendo and Tahoma staff, concludes the evening of Thursday, May 12th.  Part time participation is permitted and encouraged.  Please contact Tendo at tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com if you have questions about this Samu Kosesshin.    

Osesshin: Saturday, May 14th – Saturday, May 21st, 2022
Kokuho is Saturday evening, May 14th.  Osesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Saturday, May 21st.  Full time participation is required.

The application deadline for Osesshin is Sunday, April 10th.  The application deadline for the Samu Kosesshin is May 7th. Osesshin acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date of April 10th.  Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance.  Payment information will be included in the acceptance email. 

The cost of Osesshin is $400.  There is no cost to attend the Samu Kosesshin.  Those attending the Kosesshin may consider making a donation to the temple.  

Apply Now: [Deadlne has passed]

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS OSESSHIN

*Following our long hiatus in gathering, any help with set up before or clean up following Osesshin would be greatly appreciated.

*As we plan for May 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 May 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.

*Please consider that the monastery does not have any facilities available to isolate should you become ill and does not have staff to assist in your care if you become ill.  If you are not able to continue with the Osesshin schedule you will need to find a place to quarantine outside of the monastery.  

*There is no financial aid available for the Osesshin.  

*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

September 2021 Training Month

Application deadline is August 6th.

Apply now: [registration is closed]

The September 2021 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Saturday the 4th, and concludes Wednesday the 22nd.  Please Note: Applications are available to those who are fully vaccinated.  The online application provides a field to upload an image of your vaccination document.

OSESSHIN: Saturday, September 4th – Saturday, September 11th, 2021
Kokuho is Saturday evening, September 4th.  Osesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Saturday, September 11th.  Full time participation is required.

KOSESSHIN: Sunday, September 12th – Wednesday, September 15th, 2021
Kokuho is Sunday evening, September 12th.  Three full days of sitting led by Harada Roshi concludes the evening of Wednesday, September 15th.  

KOSESSHIN: Friday, September 17th – Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021
Kokuho is Friday evening, September 17th.  Five full days of sitting led by Daichi Zenni concludes the evening of Wednesday, September 15th.  

The application deadline is Friday, August 6th .  Acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance.  The cost of Osesshin is $400. The cost of kosesshin is $60/day.  Dates may be subject to change.

Payment information will be included in the acceptance email.

Schedules, guidelines for conduct, and directions to the monastery can be found here: Sesshin Guidelines.

Please note: Attending Osesshin is a commitment to full time participation.  Kosesshin allows for less than full time participation.  In order for kosesshin to run smoothly, we request that you provide your arrival and departure dates and approximate times, and keep us updated of changes. Temple housing is limited and we appreciate your flexibility.  Any help with set up before or clean up following sesshin will be greatly appreciated.  There may be a wait-list for any segment of this month of practice. People on the wait-list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.  

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.

May Training Period at Tahoma Zen Monastery

As of the date of this mailing we are moving forward with our plans for the May 2020 Samu Practice Period at Tahoma Zen Monastery. Due to the fluid nature of COVID-19, our plans may change. We are closely monitoring the situation. If you plan to fly to Tahoma we encourage you to investigate trip insurance in the event of cancellation. Applicants will be notified of any changes.

The May 2020 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Tuesday, the 5th, and concludes Friday, the 22nd. The application deadline is April 3rd.

FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL TRAINING is available May 5th – 22nd, 2020

SAMU OSESSHIN – Tuesday, May 5th – Tuesday, May 12th, 2020
Kokuho is Tuesday evening, May 5th. OSesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Tuesday, May 12th. The fee is $400. Full time participation is required.
The application is here: Registration Form.

SAMU KOSESSHIN – Wednesday, May 13th – Saturday, May 15th, 2020
Kokuho is Wednesday evening, May 13th. Two day KoSesshin led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Saturday May 15th. The fee is $120.
The application is here: Registration Form.

KOSESSHIN – Sunday, May 17th – Friday, May 22nd, 2020
Kokuho is Sunday evening, May 17th. Five full days of sitting led by Daichi Zenni. Part time participation is permitted. If not attending full time please provide your arrival and departure dates and approximate times. Please keep us updated of any changes. The fee for this KoSesshin is $300 or $60/day.
The application is here: Registration Form.

Daichi Zenni will lead an event at Water Moon Dojo in Seattle on Sunday, May 24th.

The application deadline for the OSesshin and both KoSesshin is Friday, April 3rd.

Acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance. The maximum cost for the entire month is $600. The cost of Osesshin is $400. The cost of kosesshin is $60/day.

Schedules, guidelines for conduct, and directions to the monastery can be found here,: Tahoma Zen Monastery Sesshin Information.

Temple housing is limited so we appreciate your flexibility. Any help with set up before or clean up following sesshin is greatly appreciated. There may be a wait-list for any “segment” of this month of practice. People on the wait-list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.

Please consider that Tahoma is a communal space with no facilities for effective isolation of members who become ill. If you have a compromised immune system and are prone to infections you may be placing yourself at risk by attending. Should people become ill during the training period it may be necessary to transfer them to a local hospital.

Rohatsu at Tahoma Schedule

The post outlines what we will be engaging in at Tahoma Zen Monastery for the week of January 12th through the 19th. We encourage anyone interested in taking part in any of this to contact us (see the contact page). Part time attendance is perfectly acceptable and drop-in opportunities are available in the mornings, evenings and during the dharma talks. More details below.

General Overview

Rohatsu is an eight day sesshin that is thought of as one continuous day. This is in commemoration of the Buddha’s vow to sit under the Bodhi tree until awakening. In honoring this event we will engage in activities for a full eight days from Sunday the 12th through Sunday the 19th. We will sound the Han in the morning of the 12th and not sound it again until the Bodhi Ceremony on the 19th. From the 12th to the 15th we will follow our normal monastery schedule (which can be found here) but will have readings from Hakuin Ekaku Zenji’s Rohatsu Exhortations.  

At 5pm on January 15th, we will offer an option orientation for the kosesshin. There will be information useful for all attendees but would be of particular value for first timers and those who will be staying at the monastery. There will be a light meal available at this time as well.  

We will begin the kosesshin, on the 16th at 4:50am and this will continue throughout the day until around 9pm. There will be a complete schedule posted around campus and individual copies will be handed out at orientation and then made available in the kitchen. On Saturday the 18th the evening will continue until 11pm or so. Sunday the 19th we will start at 3:50am with the Bodhi Day ceremony. There will then be an informal breakfast in the kitchen and a period of cleanup. This will conclude the Rohatsu Observance but we will as alway have zazenkai at 8pm followed by an informal tea. I would encourage everyone who can to stay for this.

Rohatsu Observance Week Schedule

January 12th
4:50am – Regular morning Choka and Zazen with reading from the Rohatsu Exhortations
January 13th
6:20pm – Regular Evening Zazen with reading from the Rohatsu Exhortations
January 14th
4:50am- Regular morning Choka and Zazen
6:20pm- Regular Evening Zazen with reading from the Rohatsu Exhortations
January 15th  
4:50am – Regular morning Choka and Zazen
6:20pm – Regular Evening Zazen with reading from the Rohatsu Exhortations

Rohatsu Observance Kosesshin
January 16th  
Rohatsu Observance day 1 – 4:50am to 9:00pm
January 17th
Rohatsu Observance day 2 – 4:50am to 9:30pm
January 18th
 Rohatsu Observance day 3 – 4:50am to 11:00pm
January 19th  
Rohatsu Observance day 4 -3:50am Bodhi Ceremony Breakfast and cleanup

During the kosesshin drop-in opportunities for zazen are available from:
4:50am to 7am – morning sutras and zazen with kinhin at the hour
1:50pm to 4pm – dharma talk and zazen with kinhin at the hour
5:20 to 8:30 – three periods of zazen with kinhin at the half hour

Dharma Talk Study Material

There will be a Dharma Talk every day during the kosesshin during the 2pm to 4pm block. This is open for people to drop in if they wish. If you would like to do so, you should be seating in the zendo by 1:50. You can then leave during the 2pm Kinhin or remain for the next period of zazen until 4pm

During this retreat we are going to work with Chan Master Sheng Yen’s Shattering the Great Doubt. We are going to be working through the Ch’an approach to zazen and several other practices leading up to the Huatoa (Jp: wato) practice that is the core of this book. There will be daily talks oriented around these practices as well as an overview of the Ch’an approach with historical material describing and advocating for these practices. There will also be times where new techniques are introduced and Q&A periods for deeper investigation into our personal practice.  

Each evening we will read from Hakuin Zenji’s Rohatsu Exhortations. We will be using the Eido Shimano translation published by the Zen Studies Society. This can be purchased here:  ZSS Books.

It is not necessary to have a copy of either of these books for the retreat. If however you would like to have a copy for personal study this is encouraged. During sesshin one typically only engages in reading material related to their practices (koans for instance) or teisho.  These texts will be considered appropriate to read during this sesshin during the breaks or before the Dharma Talks.

Kosesshin Schedule

4:50amSeated in Zendo; Gosei
5:00amChoka (Sutras)
5:40amZazen; Kinhin
6:05amZazen; Zazen
6:55amBreakfast
Breakfast Cleanup
Nitten Soji (temple cleaning)
8:30amSamu (Clappers; meet at deck)
10:00amSamu ends (Clappers)
10:20am Seated in Zendo; Gosei
10:30amZazen; Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen;
11:55amLunch
Kitchen Cleanup
1:50pmSeated in Zendo; Gosei
2:00pmDharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pmSupper (optional, informal)
5:20pmSeated in Zendo; Gosei
5:30pmUninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
6:30pmZazen; Zazen; Kinhin;
7:30pm Zazen; Zazen;
8:30pmKaichin in kitchen
Yaza (unstructured zazen)

On day 2, there will be another round of kinhin and zazen until around 9:30.
On day 3 there will be two more rounds of kinhin and zazen until around 11.
Day 4 begins at 3:50 seated on the cushion for choka.
Detailed schedule will be posted around the monastery.

Rohatsu Observance at Tahoma

Rohatsu Observance January 16th-19th, 2020

This January, 2020 we will hold a KoSesshin at Tahoma Zen Monastery in observance of the traditional Rohatsu sesshin. There will be three full days concluding with an early morning Bodhi Day Ceremony on Sunday the 19th. Attendance can be for the whole period or any fraction that works for you. We ask that those interested in attendance in any capacity please email us with your desired attendance. During these days drop-in attendance is available in the morning period before breakfast and the evening period after dinner.

 Schedule

The schedule for the first two days (January 16th and 17th) will follow our standard Day of Practice Schedule with an extended period of zazen into the late evening of the third day (January 18th).  Sunday, January 19th, we will have Choka and zazen an hour earlier at 4am followed by a Bodhi Day Celebration and an informal breakfast. For those who wish to sit with the local sangha we will wrap everything up with Zazenkai at 8am.  

Information

For attendance of a day or more, we require registration. Part time attendance is allowed. Please email tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com to signup and let us know your attendance plans.

Directions to the monastery can be found here: location and directions
Sesshin guidelines can be found here: Sesshin Guidelines

There is no fee for this sesshin but donations of food, funds or time are always welcome.

Drop in attendance

If you wish to drop in for a period of zazen, the following times are available:
4:50am to 7:55am: Choka and two periods of zazen
5:20pm to 8:30pm: Three blocks of two periods of zazen with kinhin in between.

You can sit for one hour in any of these blocks, please arrive during the kinhin, or before Gosei and leave during kinhin or at the end of the period. Sesshin attendees will be continuing directly to the next event and we ask that you directly leave and not interact with sesshin participants.

Call for Assistance

We could use your help for this sesshin. We would like to have prepared dishes: soups, salads, casseroles and other food that can be stored for a few days. We would also gratefully accept food donations of sweets for tea, coffee and snacks for breaks, fruit and vegetables that we can use at meals and really any other food items we could put to use for sesshin

Additionally if you are planning to attend we would like people to help with meal preparation, tea serving, chant services and the like. If you have taken part in any of these activities or would like to learn please let us know. Everyone will need to help in one way or another and we will do in situ training as needed.

September 2019 Training Month at Tahoma

The September 2019 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Thursday the 5th, and concludes Monday the 23rd. The online application can be found here: Sesshin Application

FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL TRAINING is available September  5 – 23, 2019

OSESSHIN: Thursday, September 5 – Thursday, September 12, 2019
Kokuho is Thursday evening, September 5.  Osesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Thursday, September 12.  Full time participation is required.
Apply here: Sesshin Application

CALLIGRAPHY DEMONSTRATION, Friday, September 13th, 1:00 p.m.
Nalanda West
3902 Woodland Park Ave North
Seattle, Washington, 98103

KOSESSHIN: Friday, September 13 – Monday, September 16, 2019
Kokuho is Friday evening, September 13.  Three full days of sitting led by Harada Roshi.
Apply here: Sesshin Application

JUSEN GARDEN BLESSING & OPENING, September 17th, 10:00 a.m.

KOSESSHIN – Wednesday, September 18 – Monday, September 23, 2019
Kokuho is Wednesday evening, September 18. Five full days of sitting led by Daichi Zenni.
Apply here: Sesshin Application

The application deadline is Friday, August 2.  Acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance.  The maximum cost for the month is $600.  The cost of Osesshin is $400. The cost of kosesshin is $60/day.
Schedules, guidelines for conduct, and directions to the monastery can be found here: Sesshin Guidelines.

 

Attending Osesshin is a commitment to full time participation.  Kosesshin allows for less than full time participation.  In order for kosesshin to run smoothly we request that you provide your arrival and departure dates and approximate times, and keep us updated of changes.  Temple housing is limited so we appreciate your flexibility.  Any help with set up before or clean up following sesshin is greatly appreciated.  There may be a wait-list for any “segment” of this month of practice. People on the wait-list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.

 

Thank you,
Rozan Lenny Gerson
lenogerson@gmail.com

Sesshin Application – September 2018

Dear One Drop Sangha and Friends,

The September 2018 training period at Tahoma Zen Monastery begins on Wednesday the 5th, and concludes Monday the 24th. The online application can be found here:

FULL TIME RESIDENTIAL TRAINING is available September  5 – 24, 2018*

OSESSHIN: Wednesday, September 5 – Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Kokuho is Wednesday evening, September 5.  Osesshin, led by Harada Roshi, concludes the evening of Wednesday, September 12.

KOSESSHIN: Thursday, September 13 – Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Kokuho is Thursday evening, September 13.  Five full days of sitting led by Harada Roshi.

KOSESSHIN – Wednesday, September 19 – Monday, September 24, 2018
Kokuho is Wednesday evening, September 19. Led by Daichi Zenni.  *This kosesshin will conclude on the 23rd or 24th.  To be confirmed at a later date.

The application deadline is August 3.  Acceptance emails will be sent soon after the deadline date. Please send your sesshin fee once you have been notified of your acceptance.  The maximum cost for the month is $500.  The cost of Osesshin is $350. The cost of kosesshin is $50/day.
September 28, 2018
One Day Sesshin with Daichi Zenni
Water Moon Dojo, Seattle
Register for this event by sending email to: contact@watermoondojo.us
Schedules, guidelines for conduct, and directions to the monastery can be found here,
www.tahomazenmonastery.com/sesshin/
Attending Osesshin is a commitment to full time participation.  Kosesshin allows for less than full time participation.  In order for kosesshin to run smoothly we request that you provide your arrival and departure dates and approximate times and keep us updated of changes.  Temple housing is limited and we appreciate your flexibility.  Any help with set up before or clean-up following sesshin is greatly appreciated.  There may be a wait-list for any part of this month of practice. People on the wait-list will be contacted immediately as spaces become available.
Thank you,
Rozan Lenny Gerson
lenogerson@gmail.com
MONASTERY ADDRESS
Tahoma One Drop Zen Monastery
6499 Wahl Road
Freeland, WA 98249
Email:   tahoma@whidbey.com
Phone:  360.331.4142

Daichi Zenni in residence Oct 17-21

Happening now-

Chisan is here for the week offering sanzen and instruction.

Come sit!

Write Tahoma@whidbey.com or call 360 331-4142
October 17-21, 2016

Schedule

Morning
3:50 A.M. On Cushion
4:00 Choka (morning chanting)
4:40 Zazen
5:00 Zazen, Sanzen
7:00 Breakfast

7:40 Personal cleaning
8:00 Temple Cleaning
8:30 Samu (work)
10:15 tea break- until 10:45 A.M.
12:00 Samu ends

12:30 Lunch
4:00 Freestyle supper
4:50 On Cushion
5:00 Zazen
6:30 zazen, sanzen
8:30 Sarei (tea)
9:00 Kachin
9:30 Yaza