Sesshin
Silent Zen Meditation Retreat
January 17-23, 2021
A residential retreat at Staveley, Canterbury, NZ.
January 17-23, 2021
A residential retreat at Staveley, Canterbury, NZ.
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, 2021, 5pm - Saturday, January 23, 2pm
You can join sesshin up until Thursday evening. We warmly 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 to 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 teachers, and senior Zen practitioners. Sesshin is an opportunity to receive personal guidance in private interviews (dokusan/daisan) with the teachers. 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 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 at Saturday 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 Staveley Camp 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, 17 January. We encourage you to arrive from 3pm to help set up the retreat. There will be a light dinner served at 6pm.
Online sitting
For those who are unable to join the retreat at Staveley, we will be livestreaming morning and evening 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 secretary@zen.org.nz
For those arriving for the start of sesshin, registration will be at 5pm, Sunday, 17 January. We encourage you to arrive from 3pm to help set up the retreat. There will be a light dinner served at 6pm.
Online sitting
For those who are unable to join the retreat at Staveley, we will be livestreaming morning and evening 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 secretary@zen.org.nz
Teachers for this retreat
Due to international travel restrictions, the teachers for this retreat will be presenting their live talks and offering "face-to-face" interview via Zoom. In-person talks and guidance will also be offered by our NZ-based senior student, Kaido Nash, and by New Zealand Zen elders.
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Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi is the Head of the Mountains and Rivers Order, abbot and resident teacher of Zen Mountain Monastery, and abbot of the Zen Center of New York City. He is the guiding teacher of the NZ MRO sangha. Since 1988 he has visited New Zealand regularly to support retreats and offer teachings.
Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei is the Training Director for the Mountains and Rivers Order and co-Director of the Zen Center of NYC. Hojin Sensei often teaches Zen through the creative process. She has been in full-time residential training at the Zen Mountain Monastery since 1990.
Hogen Sensei is the co-Director of the Zen Center of New York City. He has been engaged in formal Zen practice since 1978, and was in residential training at Zen Mountain Monastery for twelve years before returning to lay life. He lives in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and family.
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Location and Transport
Staveley Camp, 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 17th January), and on Tuesday and Thursday during sesshin. For those wishing to join sesshin on Monday and 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.
Cost
Sesshin start day:
Sun $435 at early-bird rate or $465 after January 1
Mon $385 at early-bird rate or $415 after January 1
Tues $310 at early-bird rate or $340 after January 1
Wed $240 at early-bird rate or $270 after January 1
Thurs $170 at early-bird rate or $200 after January 1
Refunds in the event of a Covid lockdown
The organisers will offer full refunds for any retreat registrations cancelled because of an up-shift in the level of the Covid-19 lockdown. 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 $435 at early-bird rate or $465 after January 1
Mon $385 at early-bird rate or $415 after January 1
Tues $310 at early-bird rate or $340 after January 1
Wed $240 at early-bird rate or $270 after January 1
Thurs $170 at early-bird rate or $200 after January 1
Refunds in the event of a Covid lockdown
The organisers will offer full refunds for any retreat registrations cancelled because of an up-shift in the level of the Covid-19 lockdown. 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)
• 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 Staveley Camp is in a sub-alpine region and can get very cold (especially overnight) and very warm. Bring extra layers to ensure you are dressed suitably for indoor and outdoor work. |
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