A week-long meditation retreat for online and residential participants
This retreat is now full, and we are no longer accepting registrations. Our next Nelson-based retreat will be at the Wangapeka Centre in November. Our next full-week sesshin will be in January near Christchurch.

Each July, the Mountains and Rivers Order in New Zealand holds a week-long intensive Zen training retreat, known as sesshin. This year, in response to the Covid-19 restrictions, we will offer a modified retreat that can be joined from your home via Zoom, in person for those living in the Nelson area, or as a resident of the Nelson Zendo. The Nelson-based options are now closed, because we have reached maximum capacity.

Through its inclusive and flexible format, this retreat encourages us to intensify our zazen practice, and to also fully embrace everyday activities of work and home life as opportunities to turn towards the Dharma.

"In practising Buddhadharma we turn inwards and find the calm and clear understanding that is within each of us. We turn outwards to offer loving-kindness, patience and compassion to every being. In times like this, many people will feel anxiety and uncertainty about the present and the future, and may express that in both inspiring and troubling ways. As practitioners, let’s use our circumstances to take refuge in the Three Treasures, drawing on our trust in the Dharma and the essential desire in each of us for happiness and well-being." (From Zen Mountain Monastery's guide to online practice)

Some may choose to engage the full schedule of zazen online, supported by the structure of the timekeeper, liturgy, oryoki meals, work practice and so on. Others will commit to morning or evening zazen, bearing in mind daily-life responsibilities. Talks from the MRO's Zen elders, our New Zealand senior student, and Shugen Roshi, will provide guidance and inspiration as we move through the week. Shugen Roshi will also be available for dokusan (face-to-face teaching) on one or more days. A body-practice time will be offered each afternoon.

Here are the three options for retreat engagement:
Option A: [now full] via Zoom. Participants decide how much of the schedule to engage with, and attendance is by donation.
Option B: [now full] for those living in the Nelson area. Participation is flexible, and by donation.
Option C: [now full] as a six-day residential sesshin at the Nelson Zendo. Those wishing to join the residential sesshin will need to sign on for the whole week. The Nelson Zendo can accommodate a limited number of guests, and others may be billetted with sangha members elsewhere. The cost of option C is $350, including vegetarian meals and accommodation.
 
Teacher support
Shugen Roshi, the head of the Mountains and Rivers Order, will support the sesshin through online teachings:
• Opening remarks on the Sunday evening
• Two dharma discourses during the week (beginning 11.15am, dates TBC)
• One-to-one interview (dokusan) via Zoom for participants
• A mondo (discussion) to conclude the retreat.

If you would like to take part, check out the sesshin's schedule, then fill in the registration form to let us know your level of engagement. If you have questions, contact the organisers at: nelson@zen.org.nz or phone Kaido on 021-121-8133.

The residential option (now full)
Those who come into residence at the Nelson Zendo commit to attend the full week of sesshin, providing a solid core of practice amid the comings and goings of online participation. There are limited spaces in this retreat for resident practitioners.

Because the week-long sesshin is a very intensive retreat, those wishing to attend as residents should have prior experience with a training retreat. ​If you are a first-time sesshin retreatant planning to participate in the whole retreat, the organisers request a phone interview to discuss the spirit and practice of sesshin. This is to help ensure that sesshin is a good fit for your level of experience.

The teacher
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. Shugen has been in full-time residential zen training since 1986; he received dharma transmission from Daido Roshi in 1997. He has visited New Zealand to lead Zen Buddhist retreats and workshops for many years, and will offer dokusan and talks for the Open Sky sesshin.
Venue: The Southern Sky Zendo, 180 Kawai Street, Nelson.

Cost

Participation in the online and non-residential options of this sesshin is by donation.
The cost for attending the residential retreat in Nelson is $350.
A subsidy is available for those who would otherwise be constrained by financial issues.

What residents should bring
• warm sleeping bag and pillow (earplugs optional)
• towel
• toiletries
• torch
• raincoat
• woollen hat and gloves
• outdoor clothing and footwear for outside work practice
• loose-fitting clothing for meditation, dark or muted in colour, enough for a week. Shirts should cover the shoulders (e.g. T-shirt and shirts). Please wear long trousers rather than shorts.
​
Please note that Nelson does get cold in winter. Bring extra layers to ensure you are warm enough for indoor and outdoor work.
If you have questions about this retreat,  please contact the Nelson MRO Zen group
Gwitha Kaido Nash - 021 121 8133
nelson@zen.org.nz