Upcoming Events
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Sunday Schedule
Every Sunday (please email us to confirm during holidays and bad weather)
Join us for our Sunday morning program. Registration is required. Please aim to arrive at 9:00 AM. Service or Zen Meditation Instruction will begin at 9:30 AM, followed by two periods of Zazen, a dharma talk, and lunch. A $25 donation is suggested for those attending the Zen Meditation Instruction Class. Dharma talks are given by Tenshin Roshi from his home on the property. Dokusan with Tenshin Roshi is available to Yokoji members by request. If you would like dokusan, please email a request at least one day ahead of time to zmc@zmc.org. Please find out more about our membership program if you are not yet a member.
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Fall Training Period
Sunday September 7th - Sunday November 23rd
The Fall Training Period at Yokoji is a time of intensified practice for the whole community—where we have the wonderful opportunity to recommit ourselves to practice, embodying and strengthening the qualities that we most appreciate and value. It is a perfect time to spend a few days, weeks or months in residence at the Center to deepen your appreciation of life through zazen, service and communal living. Non-residents can participate both at home and at the Center. For those practicing at Yokoji, the schedule is more demanding, with an abundance of zazen and a greater number of sesshins. Whether you are spending the whole period at Yokoji, just one or two weekends, or are committing to a stronger home practice, we invite you to participate with us in any way that you can during this Training Period.
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November
Halloween (Obon) Día de los Muertos
Sunday November 2nd, 9:30am - 10:00am
Led by Rev. Tenshin Fletcher, Roshi
The annual Buddhist festival where we honor our ancestral dead and give offerings. The festival is aligned with Halloween and Día de Muertos to bring Buddhism to our own western traditions. Open for all. Please bring small food offerings for your ancestors to place on the altar. Please register by email.
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Day of Reflection
Friday November 7th, 5:30am - 9:00pm
Take this opportunity to examine your life through the lens of the precepts. During dawn zazen, the precepts are recited in a short service and each of us chooses a precept to work with during the day. The day then follows the regular schedule, of either interim or training period, depending on the time of year. Work, meals, zazen and other activities provide the ground on which to experiment with, and reflect upon, the chosen precept. We finish the day with Fusatsu, or renewal of vows, an ancient ceremony of atonement and renewal followed by a council where each participant has the chance to share their experience.
If you can’t make it for dawn zazen, you can come for work practice at 9am in the office and join the day then. The 10 grave precepts are listed as part of the 16 Bodhisattva precepts, which you will need to look at if you are not present for dawn zazen.
There is no cost for the Day of Reflection, but if you would like to join us for any meals, we ask for a donation of approximately $10.00 per meal. Registration is not required if you do not plan on staying overnight, but please inform the office if you plan on attending.
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Yokoji Sangha Work Weekend
Saturday November 15th, 9:00am - 5:00pm
In response to many Sangha members expressing the wish to support and take care of the work to maintain Yokoji, we have scheduled weekend work for November 15th - November 16th. Work practice will begin at 9:00am on Saturday morning, November 15th and continue until 5:00pm, stopping for lunch at 12:30pm. We will then enjoy a meal together in the evening. Please RSVP with the office if you can attend. Overnight accommodation is available on Friday, November 14th and/or Saturday, November 15th. Attendees are welcome to stay for the Sunday Program and Dharma Talk.
Join us for a full day of care taking. This day brings the community together to take care of the Center. There will be work for all abilities, concentrating on the buildings and grounds. Please RSVP with the office.
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Sesshin (Rohatsu)
Sunday November 16th, 3:30pm - Sunday November 23rd, 12:30pm
The final sesshin of the Fall Training Period. Rohatsu means ‘December 8th’ in Japanese, the date of Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment, but we bring the sesshin forward to tie it in to the end of training period. If Shakyamuni did it, you can too.
Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice—a chance to give full attention to one’s life without distraction. Participants live at the Center for the duration, following a simple yet challenging schedule of zazen, chanting services, formal meals, work practice and rest periods. Dharma talks are given daily and Tenshin Roshi, if present, offers face-to face interview (dokusan) to all students. There are sometimes visiting teachers who will also give dharma talks and interviews. Please visit the sesshin page for more information about sesshin.
If you would like to participate in a 7-day sesshin for the first time, we recommend that you attend a Day of Zen Practice class or a weekend sesshin first. If you cannot attend either of these first, you must at least be present for the first evening of sesshin to receive instruction.
For those with prior sesshin experience, part-time participation is acceptable if you cannot make the whole event.
Members: $400.00
Non-members: $550.00Registration required. Part-time rates are listed on the sesshin page. Please look over the schedule for sesshin before signing up.
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December
Closed over the Christmas Holiday
Monday December 22nd - Saturday January 3rd
Yokoji will be closed to the public over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
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New Year's Sesshin
Monday December 29th, 3:30pm - Thursday January 1st, 10:00am
Tentative Event, subject to sufficient support from senior students
The end-of-year sesshin. A regular sesshin schedule builds up to new year’s eve, when we join together for different ceremonies and periods of zazen up until midnight. Partial attendance is not accepted for this sesshin. The ceremonies include a fire ceremony, where we gather around a small fire and burn slips of paper with our hindrances from the past year written on them. In the morning on January 1st, we gather again around the fire and burn papers with our resolutions for the new year, acknowledging the transition between the old and new year by letting go of the past and embracing the future.
Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice—a chance to give full attention to one’s life without distraction. Participants live at the Center for the duration, following a simple yet challenging schedule of zazen, chanting services, formal meals, work practice and rest periods. Dharma talks are given daily and Tenshin Roshi, if present, offers face-to face interview (dokusan) to all students. There are sometimes visiting teachers who will also give dharma talks and interviews. Please visit the sesshin page for more information about sesshin.
Members: $200.00
Non-members: $300.00Registration required. Part-time rates are listed on the sesshin page. Please look over the schedule for sesshin before signing up.
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January
Yokoji Sangha Work Weekend
Saturday January 17th, 9:00am - 5:00pm
In response to many Sangha members expressing the wish to support and take care of the work to maintain Yokoji, we have scheduled the work practice weekends for the 3rd weekend of the month.Work practice will begin at 9:00am on Saturday morning and continue until 5:00pm, stopping for lunch at 12:30pm. We will then enjoy a meal together in the evening. Please RSVP with the office if you can attend. Overnight accommodation is available on Friday, and/or Saturday. Attendees are welcome to stay for the Sunday Program and Dharma Talk.
Join us for a full day of care taking. This day brings the community together to take care of the Center. There will be work for all abilities, concentrating on the buildings and grounds.
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Beginner's Mind Sesshin
Friday January 23rd - Sunday January 25th
Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice - a chance to give full attention to one’s life without distraction.
This sesshin is designed for those who are new to Zen practice. There will be orientation given regarding the basic formal procedures that will be used over the weekend, so no prior experience is required. The schedule will be lighter than the regular sesshin that we run at Yokoji. We all have the ‘beginner’s mind’, that which sees the world afresh in each moment. Sesshin is the perfect vehicle to realize this. This sesshin is also open to experienced practitioners. Please look over the schedule for sesshin before signing up.
Members: $150
Non-members: $250Registration required. Part-time rates are listed on the sesshin page.
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February
Yokoji Sangha Work Weekend
Saturday February 21st, 9:00am - 5:00pm
In response to many Sangha members expressing the wish to support and take care of the work to maintain Yokoji, we have scheduled the work practice weekends for the 3rd weekend of the month.Work practice will begin at 9:00am on Saturday morning and continue until 5:00pm, stopping for lunch at 12:30pm. We will then enjoy a meal together in the evening. Please RSVP with the office if you can attend. Overnight accommodation is available on Friday, and/or Saturday. Attendees are welcome to stay for the Sunday Program and Dharma Talk.
Join us for a full day of care taking. This day brings the community together to take care of the Center. There will be work for all abilities, concentrating on the buildings and grounds.
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March
Sesshin
Sunday March 1st - Sunday March 8th
Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice—a chance to give full attention to one’s life without distraction. Participants live at the Center for the duration, following a simple yet challenging schedule of zazen, chanting services, formal meals, work practice and rest periods. Dharma talks are given daily and Tenshin Roshi, if present, offers face-to face interview (dokusan) to all students. There are sometimes visiting teachers who will also give dharma talks and interviews. Please visit the sesshin page for more information about sesshin.
If you would like to participate in a 7-day sesshin for the first time, we recommend that you attend a Day of Zen Practice class or a weekend sesshin first. If you cannot attend either of these first, you must at least be present for the first evening of sesshin to receive instruction.
For those with prior sesshin experience, part-time participation is acceptable if you cannot make the whole event.
Members: $400.00
Non-members: $550.00Registration required. Part-time rates are listed on the sesshin page. Please look over the schedule for sesshin before signing up.
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Yokoji Sangha Work Weekend
Saturday March 21st, 9:00am - 5:00pm
In response to many Sangha members expressing the wish to support and take care of the work to maintain Yokoji, we have scheduled the work practice weekends for the 3rd weekend of the month.Work practice will begin at 9:00am on Saturday morning and continue until 5:00pm, stopping for lunch at 12:30pm. We will then enjoy a meal together in the evening. Please RSVP with the office if you can attend. Overnight accommodation is available on Friday, and/or Saturday. Attendees are welcome to stay for the Sunday Program and Dharma Talk.
Join us for a full day of care taking. This day brings the community together to take care of the Center. There will be work for all abilities, concentrating on the buildings and grounds.
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April
Beginner's Mind Sesshin
Friday April 3rd - Sunday April 5th
Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice - a chance to give full attention to one’s life without distraction.
This sesshin is designed for those who are new to Zen practice. There will be orientation given regarding the basic formal procedures that will be used over the weekend, so no prior experience is required. The schedule will be lighter than the regular sesshin that we run at Yokoji. We all have the ‘beginner’s mind’, that which sees the world afresh in each moment. Sesshin is the perfect vehicle to realize this. This sesshin is also open to experienced practitioners. Please look over the schedule for sesshin before signing up.
Members: $150
Non-members: $250Registration required. Part-time rates are listed on the sesshin page.
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Yokoji Sangha Work Weekend
Saturday April 18th, 9:00am - 5:00pm
In response to many Sangha members expressing the wish to support and take care of the work to maintain Yokoji, we have scheduled the work practice weekends for the 3rd weekend of the month.Work practice will begin at 9:00am on Saturday morning and continue until 5:00pm, stopping for lunch at 12:30pm. We will then enjoy a meal together in the evening. Please RSVP with the office if you can attend. Overnight accommodation is available on Friday, and/or Saturday. Attendees are welcome to stay for the Sunday Program and Dharma Talk.
Join us for a full day of care taking. This day brings the community together to take care of the Center. There will be work for all abilities, concentrating on the buildings and grounds.
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May
Sesshin
Sunday May 10th - Sunday May 17th
Sesshin can be translated as “to unify the mind.” Sesshin is at the heart of Zen Practice—a chance to give full attention to one’s life without distraction. Participants live at the Center for the duration, following a simple yet challenging schedule of zazen, chanting services, formal meals, work practice and rest periods. Dharma talks are given daily and Tenshin Roshi, if present, offers face-to face interview (dokusan) to all students. There are sometimes visiting teachers who will also give dharma talks and interviews. Please visit the sesshin page for more information about sesshin.
If you would like to participate in a 7-day sesshin for the first time, we recommend that you attend a Day of Zen Practice class or a weekend sesshin first. If you cannot attend either of these first, you must at least be present for the first evening of sesshin to receive instruction.
For those with prior sesshin experience, part-time participation is acceptable if you cannot make the whole event.
Members: $400.00
Non-members: $550.00Registration required. Part-time rates are listed on the sesshin page. Please look over the schedule for sesshin before signing up.