Three Robes Sesshin
“I’ll never be able to attend a retreat again because of the pain
or the compromise to my health.” Think again.
May 10 - 16
Sesshin at Great Vow Zen Monastery Led by Dharma Rain Zen Center Abbots Gyokuko and/or Kyogen Carlson with assistance from junior teachers from Dharma Rain. Monday evening – Sunday morning A Zen Meditation Retreat about Right Effort
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Once the Buddha sat in meditation all night. Over the course of the night it got colder. He started with a single robe, then added another and another. By the end of the night he was wearing four layers – and decided that he would set the limit for all monks at three robes. He set the limit where it would challenge even him, but not be prohibitively difficult for monks who were sensitive to the cold. Buddhism is the middle way between indulgence and asceticism, but where that middle way is found differs by person, age, health and many other factors. We are working on Right Effort when we search for our own middle way – challenging ourselves while respecting ourselves. Each participant in the Three Robes Sesshin will meet with a teacher at the beginning of the retreat to establish a personal practice vow for the sesshin. The personal practice vow will specify how many hours of zazen you will do each day, and whether you need to schedule additional time to rest, exercise or deal with health issues. The vow can also reflect an intention do even more zazen than the scheduled 8 hours a day (the zendo is open all night). - An atmosphere of acceptance and support: dealing with physical challenges such as fatigue and pain will be identified as part of the practice, not an obstacle to it. Emphasis will be on doing your own practice – letting go of comparison and judgment. - Choice of meditation postures: retreatants can sit, stand, or recline as needed as long as they are able to stay awake and alert, and if included in a practice vow some meditation periods can be spent doing walking meditation outside the zendo. - Participants are encouraged to ask for accommodations in terms of schedule (additional rest or exercise) if it will enable them to maximally benefit from the sesshin - Sensitivity to physical limitations in assignment of work practice. - 1-hour exercise period (in addition to rest period) for independent body practice or participation in a gentle group class. - All the other aspects of a “normal” sesshin: silence, sanzen and private interview with teachers, Dharma Talks, chanting, formal meals. Sesshin begins Monday evening, May 10, 2010, and ends Sunday morning, May 16. Cost is $40 per night ($50 per night non-members) and includes meals, lodging and retreat activities. (Some scholarships may be available upon request.) |
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| * A baseline level of health is still necessary for a meditation retreat. Also, while the facility is wheelchair accessible, we apologize that we do not have the staff to provide personal assistance to the seriously disabled or ill. Please feel free to call with questions. | ||
Cost: Cost is $40 per night ($50 per night nonmembers) and includes meals, lodging and retreat activities. (Some scholarships may be available upon request.) |
| To Register Click Here |

