Sesshin (接心) literally means “to touch the heart-mind.” Sesshin is an opportunity for intensive, sustained Zen practice in community, over a number of days. It is a time to devote your full attention to the rhythms of your body, feelings, and mind. Every activity on the schedule including rest practice supports training your attention and sustaining your awareness.
If you currently practice Zen Buddhism in community, you are already familiar with many aspects of the practice followed during sesshin. The difference is that practice is extended into the full day, essentially in silence, with repeated times for zazen (silent meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), dokusan (individual meetings with a teacher), teacher talks, and dharma dialogue. (Be assured that even during sesshin, the longest duration of a single sitting meditation is twenty-five minutes.) Even during meals, we are practicing attention. Whatever practice you’re doing – breath counting, silent presence, shikantaza, or koan work – practice continues throughout the day and right into sleep. Designated rest periods are not breaks from our practice but rather a restful continuation of it.
If you have regular zazen practice and can sit for twenty-five minutes without moving and want the opportunity to experience extended practice in a supportive environment with community, you might want to apply for sesshin. If you haven’t been to sesshin with us before, a teacher or sesshin officer may call you to talk about your practice and help you know whether sesshin is a good fit for you at this time. There is always an orientation session on the first evening for those attending their first sesshin with Boundless Way Zen Temple and for other attendees who would like to review sesshin forms.
The Evening Gatha of sesshin sets the tone for all Zen retreats.
Let me respectfully remind you:
Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken… awaken…
Take heed: Do not squander your life.
Sample Residential Sesshin Day
- 5:00-7:30 Practice period with tea, kentan, kinhin, zazen, dokusan
- 7:30 Breakfast, cleanup, samu
- 9:00 Rest period
- 9:30 Practice period with Sutra service, kinhin, teisho, zazen
- 12:30 Lunch, cleanup, rest period
- 2:30-5:30 Afternoon practice period with zazen, kinhin, dokusan
- 5:30 Dinner, meal cleanup, rest period
- 7:00-9:00 Practice period with zazen, evening talk, dokusan
- 10:00 Lights Out
Sample Online Sesshin Day (times in Bold are online practice periods, others are at-home offline practice periods)
- 6:00-8:30 Early morning practice with zazen, kinhin, qigong
- 8:30-10:30 Breakfast, cleanup, samu, rest/exercise
- 10:30-12:30 Late morning practice period with zazen, kinhin, sutra service, dharma talk and dharma dialogue.
- 12:30-2:30 Lunch, rest/exercise
- 2:30-4:30 Afternoon practice period with zazen, kinhin, and dokusan
- 4:30-7:00 Dinner and rest/exercise
- 7:00-8:30 Evening Practice period with, zazen, kinhin and encouragement talk
- 8:30 End of day
Dokusan = voluntary interview with teacher
Kinhin = walking meditation
Teisho = formal Dharma talk by a teacher
Zazen = sitting meditation
Kentan = Teacher’s greeting of the zendo after first sitting in a.m
Samu = group work practice
Our schedule for upcoming sesshin dates is here. Registration is open for all current year sesshin. To receive email notifications about upcoming sesshin, sign up for our Sesshin mailing list. When sesshin registration is open you can register here.
