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. 

Registrations are closed for this event.
Sunday, January 19, 2020, 5pm - Saturday, January 25, 2pm
You can join sesshin any time up until Thursday evening. 

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 teacher and senior student. Sesshin is an opportunity to receive personal guidance in private interviews (daisan) with the teacher, Hogen Sensei. 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 Friday for the weekend portion of the retreat. This is a great way to get a taste of sesshin and to develop your meditation practice. Sesshin may be joined at any stage during the week, as late as Friday evening.

​If you are a first-time sesshin participant, you will be interviewed by phone before confirming your particpation 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; this is included in 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, 19 January. We encourage you to arrive from 3pm to help set up the retreat. There will be a light dinner served at 6pm. For those with less available time, or less readiness to commit to a full week, you are welcome to join sesshin at any time, up until Thursday night. To preserve the harmony of the retreat, participants are asked to stay until the conclusion of sesshin at Saturday lunchtime.
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. This will be his fifth teaching visit to New Zealand.

Location and Transport

Staveley Camp, Canterbury, New Zealand.
90 mins drive from Christchurch - ride sharing available. Get directions.
For those needing transport to the retreat venue, we will do our best to provide this on the first day (Sunday 19th 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

 We offer an early-bird discount for sesshin – to be eligible for this reduced rate we need to have received your completed registration and full payment by January 1, 2020. Registrations and deposits received after this date will be charged at the standard rate.

Sesshin start day:
Sun    $435 at early-bird rate or $465 at standard rate
Mon   $385 at early-bird rate or $415 at standard rate
Tues    $310 at early-bird rate or $340 at standard rate
Wed    $240 at early-bird rate or $270 at standard rate
Thurs  $170 at early-bird rate or $200 at standard rate

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
• 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.
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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.
If you have questions about this retreat, please contact
secretary@zen.org.nz