Tuesday August 9th, 2022, 6:30am to 8:30am Pacific Time Morning Practice with Watermoon Dojo Now back to in-person practice. Drop by the Dojo for a morning of practice with Seattle’s OneDrop group. Address and directions can be found here: Water Moon Dojo.
The morning events will consist of Choka (chant service), zazen and dharma talk with a casual “tea” to follow. For the Dharma Talk we will be reading from Torei Enji’s Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School. Download a PDF of it here (note: links to a 43MB pdf). You can find notes and recordings of the previous discussions here: Discourse on the Inexhaustible Lamp.
Virtual Practice
Water Moon will continue to broadcast their practice periods for those unable to attend in person.
12.08.21 – Thanks to all who took part in our Rohatsu Sesshin, I dearly hope it was a fruitful experience. My apologize for being unable to broadcast the very final session, the Bodhi Day Ceremony. As I had feared the strong winds brought down trees all over the Island and we were without power for nearly 12 hours.
“Every sit builds toward sesshin; every sesshin builds toward Rohatsu.”
Tahoma will hold Rohatsu Sesshin on the traditional days, December 1st through 8th. This will be offered as an online retreat but there also be limited opportunities for those in the local area to attend in-person and our evening session will remain open to drop-in attendance (vaccination and masks required) As the culmination of the Autumn Kessei as well as the training year, we can all dedicate ourselves to an extended week of zazen. OSesshin is always an opportunity to go deep and push ourselves beyond our limits, Rohatsu even more-so as we are asked to leave it all on the table. A virtual sesshin does demand more from us in order to deeply take advantage of the opportunity. The broadcast provides a structure, just as attending a sesshin in-person does, but 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. During the Dharma talks we will continue our investigation of the Letters of Dahui and his teachings for lay practitioners without ready access to a teacher. Truly valuable teachings for these times and for lay practice in general.
Online Retreat Information
We will begin with a period of zazen and kokuho on November 30th. Kokuho will include any orientation information needed for online participants. During the week of retreat Zoom broadcast throughout the day will be in four blocks with the evening broadcast becoming longer and longer as as the week goes on.
September 20th-26th, 2021 Tahoma Zen Monastery Online
The changing of the seasons into Autumn heralds the start of the most intense period of practice in the training year. Please join us online from September 20th though 26th, for a weeklong retreat. This retreat is offered virtually with limited in-person attendance, restricted to those in the local area, contact us if interested. With a virtual retreat one can take part as ones schedule, energy and interest allows. But, as always, we recommend committing to what you are able to attend and then holding fast to the sesshin spirit for that period. Sesshin is always and only as deep and powerful as you make it.
I encourage those who are able to give themselves completely to this week as they would to any sesshin. While of course everyone is welcome to attend events as circumstances allow, if you are able do engage in the full days schedule and maintain sesshin spirit throughout the self-directed portions. While there are many periods where one has to be the master of their own practice, set a routine for meals and engage in work around your place that coincides with the practice schedule. Undertake your own physical practice or follow the outdoor practice during periods when that is offered. Some suggestions and procedure for getting the most out of a virtual sesshin can be found in our Guidelines for Virtual Events and Orientation to Virtual Sesshin.
The retreat begins Monday September 20th at 5am and concludes Sunday morning after Zazenkai. All days apart from the final day with follow this basic schedule:
General Broadcast schedule (all times PDT) 5am to 6:55am: Choka and zazen 10:30am to noon: Zazen 2pm to 4pm: Dharma Talk and Zazen 6pm to 8:45pm: Zazen
The full, final schedule for the retreat with all the activities we will engage in at the monastery will be posted in the days before the retreat as well as mailed out in a stand alone email. This post will also include all of the essential information, Zoom Link and etc. Please email us with any questions: tahoma@tahomazenmonastery.com
As we wish to share the dharma with everyone we are not setting a fixed cost for the retreat. However there are costs to us for food, utilities and operations. So please do consider making a donation online or in person with this in mind.
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.
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
5:00am
Choka (Sutras p.3-14); Han;Kinhin
6:00am
Zazen; Zazen
7:00am
Breakfast; Cleanup
8:30am
Samu
10:00am*
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
11:00am*
Zazen; Zazen
11:55am
Lunch; Cleanup
2:00pm
Dharma Talk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4:00pm
Physical/Outside practice
5:00pm
Dinner; Cleanup
6:00pm*
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm*
Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pm*
Zazen; Zazen
8:45pm*
Han; Closing Sutra(p.17); Sampai
9:00pm
Kaichin/Yaza
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events. Events in Boldwill 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
5:00am
Choka(sutras p.3-7,10,12,13); Han;Kinhin
6:00am
Zazen
6:30am
Breakfast
8:00am
Zazenkai(sutras p.3,10,13)
9:30am
break
10:00am
Zazen; Zazen; Closing Sutra (p.6,7)
11:00am
Q&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.
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.
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
5am
Choka; Sampai; Kinhin; Zazen
6am
Zazen; Zazen
7am
Breakfast; Cleanup
8:30am-9:30am
Samu
10am
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
11am
Zazen; Zazen
11:55am
Lunch; Cleanup
2pm
DharmaTalk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
4pm
Physical/Outside practice
5pm
Dinner; Cleanup
6:00pm
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin;
7:00pm–8:45pm
Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8am
Zazen; Zazen
8:45pm
Kaichin
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).
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.
On Saturday December 19th, we will observe the shortest day of the year and the conclusion of the Autumn Training Period with extended practice. There will be several periods of zazen throughout the day and a dharma talk along with the regular monastery schedule.
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: [event has passed]
Event Schedule
Saturday, December 19th
5am-7am
Choka; Sampai; Kinhin; Zazen
10am-Noon
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
2pm-4pm
DharmaTalk; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
6:30pm–8:30pm
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin; Zazen; Zazen
All times Pacific Time. Please tune in five minutes before scheduled events. All Events will be streamed. Blocks in Bold can be attended in-person (masks required).
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.
“People vow to experience this very same experience of the Buddha as they approach the Rohatsu OSesshin. In every single Zen dojo people put their lives on the line to be able to experience the exact same state of mind, on the eighth of December, as that of the Buddha. This is the firm vow with which they come to Rohatsu OSesshin.”
Please note that this is a winter sesshin and storms and power outages are possible. If there is no connection at a scheduled time, please sit on your own until the host is able to join. Check here on the website where we will post updates as we can.
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.
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
5:00am
Choka (abbreviated sutras); sampai
5:40am
Zazen (short period); Kinhin
6:00am
Zazen; Zazen
6:50am
Break
7:00am
Bodhi Day Ceremony
7:30am
Closing 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.
Schedule Notes Monday November 30th: No evening zazen Sunday December 6th: No Zazenkai Wednesday December 9th: No scheduled events
In Person Attendance The following blocks are open for in-person attendance (masks required): 9:30am-Noon 6:00pm to Close
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.
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).
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
5:00am
Choka (morning sutras); sampai
5:40am
Zazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00am
Zazen; Zazen
7:00am
Breakfast / samu / cleanup
9:30am
UninterruptedZazen; Kinhin
10:30am
Zazen;Zazen; Kinhin
11:30am
Zazen
12:00pm
Lunch / break
2:00pm
Dharma Talk; Kinhin
3:00pm
Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
4:00pm
Banka (afternoon sutras); sampai
4:30pm
Outside/Physical Practice
5:00pm
Dinner / Break
6:00pm
Uninterrupted Zazen; Kinhin
7:00pm
Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pm
Zazen; Zazen;
8:45pm
Kaichin / 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
5:00am
Choka (abbreviated sutras); sampai
5:40am
Zazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00am
Zazen; Zazen
6:50am
break
7:00am
Bodhi Day Ceremony
7:30am
Closing 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.
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.
We’ve put together a new sutra book that is optimally laid out for virtual use. This is a PDF where all of the chants are full page at a readable size. This is designed for either reading on screen or for printing out. It also contains all the sutras that we will do during Choka on a virtual sesshin as well as additional sutras that may be used in other events. I encourage everyone who will attend any of upcoming virtual sesshins or practices days to download a copy of this sutra book.
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
5:30pm
UninterruptedZazen; Kinhin
6:30pm
Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
7:30pm
Zazen; Zazen;
8:20pm
Kaichin / 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
5:00am
Choka (Sutras); sampai ; Han
5:40am
Zazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:05am
Zazen;Zazen
7:00am
Breakfast / samu / break
11:00am
UninterruptedOutside Zazen
12:00pm
Lunch / break
2:00pm
Dharma Talk; Zazen; Kinhin
3:00pm
Zazen; Zazen
4:00pm
Outside Practice / Dinner / Break
6:00pm
UninterruptedZazen; Kinhin
7:00pm
Zazen; Zazen; Kinhin
8:00pm
Zazen; Zazen;
8:50pm
Kaichin / 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
5:00am
Choka (Sutras); sampai ; Han
5:40am
Zazen [short period]; Kinhin
6:00am
Zazen;
6:30am
Breakfast / break
8:00am
Zazenkai
9:15am
Informal 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
