Sesshin is a week-long meditation intensive that is unique to the Zen tradition.
In sesshin we can experience the deep stillness that lies within each one of us.
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Sunday, January 17, 2027, 5pm - Saturday, January 23, 2pm
Sesshin can be joined up until Thursday evening. We invite you to participate in this full-immersion, residential meditation retreat. Characterised by silence and deep introspection, sesshin is recommended to anyone who is sincerely interested in experiencing intensive Zen training and deepening their meditation practice. Sesshin is an unbroken stream of aware spiritual practice. We wake up each day before dawn to begin a schedule that includes 7-10 hours of zazen, chanting services, formal silent meals (oryoki) in the meditation hall, silent caretaking (e.g. preparing meals or cleaning), and talks by the teacher and senior Zen practitioners. Sesshin is an opportunity to receive personal guidance in private interviews (daisan) with the teacher. During sesshin we draw from the tremendous strength and encouragement of practising together as a group. Because the week-long sesshin is a very intensive retreat, those wishing to attend the full week should have prior experience in meditation. Those who have never participated in a sesshin or who are newer to Zen practice/meditation are encouraged to join in, however we recommend beginning on Wednesday or Thursday for the last portion of the retreat. This is a great way to get a taste of sesshin and to develop your meditation practice. For all participants, sesshin may be joined at any stage during the week, as late as Thursday evening. To preserve the harmony of the retreat, participants are asked to stay until the conclusion of sesshin on Saturday at 2pm. If you are a first-time sesshin participant, you will be interviewed by phone before confirming your participation in the retreat. This is to help ensure that sesshin is a good fit for your personal circumstances. Once you join sesshin, you are asked to stay until the conclusion of the retreat. The venue for this sesshin is Mt Hutt Retreat in Canterbury, a 90-minute drive from Christchurch. Transport assistance to and from the retreat is available; sign up via the registration form. The retreat cost includes accommodation and meals. Accommodation is in shared, single-sex dorm rooms. All meals are vegetarian and vegan, with special diets (i.e. gluten free) available. Please let us know your requirements on the registration form. For those arriving for the start of sesshin, registration will be at 5pm, Sunday, 14 January. We encourage you to arrive from 3pm to help set up the retreat. There will be a light dinner served at 6pm. Jody Hojin Kimmel Sensei will also be offering workshop in Christchurch before the sesshin. Date and time to be confirmed. Sesshin venue Mt Hutt Retreat is our venue for January sesshin. Please have a look at the Mt Hutt Retreat website to get a sense of the space. Cold and flu precautions We ask that anyone who registers for the retreat (and other events) who has cold or flu symptoms on the day of the retreat should not attend. A full refund of the retreat/workshop cost will be offered in this circumstance (but not extending to any travel costs). Online sitting For those who are unable to join the retreat at Mt Hutt, we will be livestreaming zazen via Zoom. The daily talks and closing discussion (mondo) will also be livestreamed via Zoom during the mid- to late morning of the week of the retreat. Participation via Zoom is by donation. To register for this, contact [email protected] |
Teacher for this retreat
Hojin Sensei will be presenting live talks and offering "face-to-face" interview with participants.
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Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei received priestly transmission from Daido Roshi, who began the process in 2009, and from Shugen Roshi, who completed the transmission in 2012. In 2017, she received full dharma transmission from Shugen Roshi. She serves as the Training Director for the Mountains and Rivers Order and Abbot of the Zen Center of NYC-Fire Lotus Temple . Hojin Sensei began her artistic career early and has taught drawing, ceramics, and painting, opening people up to the wonders and mysteries of the creative process. She continues to offer Art Practices as part of her teaching. She has been in full-time residential training at the Monastery since 1990 and now shares her time at the Brooklyn temple.
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Location and Transport
Mt Hutt Retreat, 437 Hart Rd, Canterbury, New Zealand.
90 mins drive from Christchurch – ride sharing available.
90 mins drive from Christchurch – ride sharing available.
For those needing transport to the retreat venue, we will do our best to provide this on the first day (Sunday 14th January), and on Tuesday and Thursday during sesshin. For those wishing to join sesshin on Monday or Wednesday, we cannot guarantee transport assistance. Assistance back to Christchurch, Christchurch Airport (and probably Nelson) is available at the end of the retreat after 3pm Saturday.
Sesshin Fees for 2027
In order to support the organising of the retreat, we encourage early registrations through a discount. The following costs show early-bird and standard rates. There is also a $50 discount for participants in the Saturday art programme who go on to attend sesshin:
Sun Early-bird = $600 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $630 after Jan 1
Mon Early-bird = $530 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $560 after Jan 1
Tue Early-bird = $450 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $480 after Jan 1
Wed Early-bird = $370 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $400 after Jan 1
Thu Early-bird = $290 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $320 after Jan 1
Refunds in the event of a Covid outbreak
The organisers will offer full refunds for any retreat registrations cancelled because of Covid-19. The organisers will not offer reimbursements for any travel expenses.
Subsidies
Whatever your level of experience with Zen practice, we wish to make these retreats accessible. We understand that those who travel from afar face expenses in addition to the costs of the retreats, and understand that people who want to participate may also face other financial constraints. If you are unable to meet the listed retreat costs, please indicate this in the registration form.
Sun Early-bird = $600 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $630 after Jan 1
Mon Early-bird = $530 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $560 after Jan 1
Tue Early-bird = $450 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $480 after Jan 1
Wed Early-bird = $370 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $400 after Jan 1
Thu Early-bird = $290 up to Jan 1; Standard rate = $320 after Jan 1
Refunds in the event of a Covid outbreak
The organisers will offer full refunds for any retreat registrations cancelled because of Covid-19. The organisers will not offer reimbursements for any travel expenses.
Subsidies
Whatever your level of experience with Zen practice, we wish to make these retreats accessible. We understand that those who travel from afar face expenses in addition to the costs of the retreats, and understand that people who want to participate may also face other financial constraints. If you are unable to meet the listed retreat costs, please indicate this in the registration form.
What to bring to sesshin
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• warm sleeping bag
• pillow • earplugs (optional) • face mask • towel • toiletries • torch • raincoat • woollen hat and gloves • outdoor clothing and footwear for work practice • loose-fitting clothing for meditation, dark or muted in colour. Shirts should cover the shoulders (e.g. T-shirt and shirts). Please wear long trousers rather than shorts. Please note that Mt Hutt Retreat is at the base of a mountain and can get very cold (especially overnight) and very warm during the afternoon. Bring extra layers to ensure you are dressed suitably for indoor and outdoor work. |
