Living is a form of not being sure.
Not knowing what next or how.
The moment you know how, you begin to die a little.
The artist never entirely knows.
We guess.
We may be wrong
But we take leap after leap in the dark.
— Agnes de Mille

It is not so much the meaning of life that we seek, as the experience of being alive. It’s the experience of being alive that bare attention can give. All that’s required is an attentive, wholehearted willingness to be with experience — and then expressing this intimacy.
To be alive and human is to not be so sure. We can never know with certainty what is next in life, or how it will unfold. This we can be sure of!  The beauty of Zen meditation (zazen) is that it allows us to touch careful attention — to settle the restlessness and fears in the body and mind and become familiar with this creative process as it changes moment to moment. We can welcome the fact of uncertainty. It is possible to directly experience a mind free of interpretation, entering the spacious and infinite creative potential we actually are.
In this retreat, led by Hojin Sensei, we'll study the practices of careful attention through Master Dōgen’s teaching Henzan, The Wholehearted Practice of the Way. This is to take up the study of one thing and to understand it deeply with our whole being. Dōgen encourages us to study each dharma exhaustively and then to study it still further.
Expression is opened in various ways through painting, drawing, words, movement, even sound. We’ll take up one object at a time with our full attention, entering the continuously changing nature of our experience—one object to be fully present with, to mirror back new areas of surprise and see how the study of just one thing has the capacity to take us in.
No art or meditation experience is necessary.  Art materials will be provided.

Arrival
The retreat opens with registration at 5pm on Friday January 18, and a shared meal at 6pm. Those new to Zen practice will be given instruction in Zen meditation (zazen). The early morning and evening times include zazen, walking meditation and Zen liturgy. All participants are asked to stay through to the conclusion of the programme at Sunday lunchtime. For those travelling from Nelson or Christchurch, assistance with transport to and from Staveley Camp is available through the registration form.

Fees

​$190 early-bird rate (last day 28 December 2018)
$210 standard rate applies after this date.
Early-bird rates apply to those who complete registration and pay in full by December 28, 2018. 
Registrations and deposits received after this date will be charged at the standard rate.
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The fee includes all meals (vegetarian), dorm accommodation (single sex) and art-making materials.

Subsidies
Please don't let financial issues prevent you from attending this retreat. There are funds available to assist those who cannot meet the full retreat cost. Please contact Geoff at secretary@zen.org.nz or phone ​021 23 846 18 by January 10.

​What should I bring?

• warm sleeping bag, pillow, (earplugs optional).
• towel
• toiletries
• torch
• raincoat
• woollen hat
​• outdoor clothing and footwear for work practice
​• loose-fitting clothing for meditation, muted in colour. 

Location

Staveley Camp, Sawmill Road, Canterbury, New Zealand
90 mins drive from Christchurch - ride sharing available.
Get directions.
If you have questions about this retreat please contact us
christchurch@zen.org.nz
​021 238 4618