Sesshin  (Zen Meditation Retreat)

Sesshin is a period of time, usually ranging from 2 - 7 days, in which silence is maintained and the focus is on zazen. Sesshin is a cornerstone of Zen practice for which there is no substitute—it is essential for any practitioner who hopes to gain insight into their true nature.

Sesshin, while commonly understood as a Zen retreat, literally means to unite the mind. It is an opportunity to gather together one's energy and concentrate it in order to clarify the great matter that is our life. We do sesshin as a group as the support that each person gives to the others is vital for a strong sesshin.

At Yokoji we hold around nine sesshin per year. There are four 7-day sesshin held per year, four Beginner’s Mind Sesshin held per year, and often 1 New Year’s Sesshin. Sesshin is affordable (see pricing structure), but for those who would like to contribute time rather than money, check out our Volunteer program. Sesshin is pivotal for serious practitioners. It complements a daily sitting practice and allows a period of time when each person can sink into the silence and take the rare opportunity to look closely at their life. The shorter weekend-long Beginner’s Mind Sesshin are ideal for beginners. It is best to take part in at least one of the shorter sesshin before signing up for a longer one, if possible. The schedule is full and the days are long, so it works best to experience a weekend-long sesshin first. We also encourage newcomers to attend a Sunday Schedule first, during which you will be given Zen Meditation Instruction (ZMI).

You can come for just part of the time for a sesshin if you can't make the whole thing. We ask people who don't have much experience with zen or sesshin to make sure they are there for the first night of training, however.