Earth and Sky Sesshin: A Six Day Meditation Retreat Online and Outdoors
August 17 - 23, 2020
Monday 5pm to Sunday 1pm
Earth body, sky heart. Rooted and flowing. Luminous and open. We are made of earth and sky, of wind breath and rain song, our lives woven from the teachings of the natural world.
This retreat is an opportunity to re-connect and relax into the wild, ancient, wisdom of the Grasses, Trees and Great Earth. We will spend time learning from each of the five elements, as they manifest in our experience. Deeply exploring and releasing into our interconnection with the living, breathing body of the Earth, waters, energizing air, bright fiery sun, and vast spacious sky.
It is our intention to offer the supportive structure to allow you to do a week long meditation retreat at home. You can participate to whatever degree your life allows. Consider the possibility to design your own retreat. Do a work/family sesshin. Take one day this week and make it a retreat day!
This retreat will take place through the zoom app. You will receive a link to the retreat once you register. We will have a meeting with all those registered at 7PM Monday August 17 to check in about the logistics, details and answer any practical questions about the retreat format.
Doing a retreat at home can be empowering, take up the practice in your own home and know the peace and clarity of mind in your own dwelling place! To support doing home retreat we recommend doing the following:
1. Reflect on your intention
2. Create a sacred space with a simple altar and meditation supports in a clean room that allows for calm/peace of mind
3. Commit to a schedule, we have a schedule posted below. We ask that you commit to at least 4 hours of meditation a day. Part-time attendance is welcome. Join for a day, the weekend or the whole week. Please let us know the dates you plan to attend.
4. Give up or reduce media, phone and extra computer use for the duration of the retreat
5. Keep the practice going during the “breaks” by engaging with Mindful Eating during meals and choosing simple work (gardening, cleaning, etc.), body practice/exercise (walking, yoga, qi gong) or creative projects that support your meditation practice/intention.
6. Consider being in silence for the whole retreat or practicing silence for specific periods during the day.
7. If you live with others, communicate with them what your intention is for this week of practice and ask them to support you
Approximate Schedule
Monday Night
7:00 Orientation
8:00 Zazen/Opening Talk
Tuesday – Saturday
5:30 Zazen
7:00 Chanting Service
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Work Practice
11:30 Zazen
12:50 Chanting Service
1:00 Lunch
3:30 Movement
4:00 Teisho (Dharma Talk)
5:00 Zazen
5:50 Chanting Service
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Zazen/Group Sanzen
9:20 Formal Tea/Zazen
Sunday Morning
6:00 Zazen/Closing Remarks
7:00 Closing Circle
10:00 Sunday Program
11:00 Shinei’s Full Priest Ceremony/Dharma Talk by Shinei and Soten
![]() | Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi |
![]() | Danney Soten Lynch |
![]() | Sara Shinei Monial |