- Friday Dec. 3, 2021 (6pm-9pm) – Friday Dec. 10, 2021 (6am-9pm daily)
The retreat is in-person only, but daily Dharma Talks (10-11am) will also be offered via Zoom. Please register to receive the zoom link.
Rohatsu Sesshin is a 7-day retreat in commemoration of the Buddha’s Enlightenment. It is an opportunity to come together to support each other in deepening our practice, to diligently care for and collect body and mind, and to discover anew, clarify, and actualize our ultimate concern.
This is the longest retreat of the year at AZC, this year led by Kokyo Henkel to conclude the fall Practice Period. In this sesshin we will explore buddha-nature teachings as presented in Zen koans offered by our medieval Japanese Soto Zen co-founder Keizan Zenji in his “Record of Transmitting the Light.” The sesshin will end with a “shosan” question-and-answer ceremony with Kokyo and Buddha’s Enlightenment ceremony which will be open to the public. Currently we plan to be in-person only, and masked except while sitting as long as Travis County is in Stage 3 or lower.
Our time together will include components of traditional Zen training:
- Zazen (seated meditation)
- Kinhin (walking meditation)
- Bowing and chanting practice
- Oryoki training, with breakfast, lunch and supper served in the zendo
- Dharma talks about our practice
- A period of mindful work practice
- Opportunities to meet one-on-one with our teachers to discuss your practice.
Participants are encouraged to attend the full retreat schedule, but single days are possible. Please be clear about what your intention and commitment is.
The Friday evening oryoki review, orientation, and evening zazen is mandatory but requires no payment. Buddha’s Enlightenment Ceremony (open to the public) will be on Saturday.
Please complete your retreat APPLICATION & REGISTER no later than Tuesday, November 30th.
If you are unable to sit sesshin, but wish to support those who are, please consider offering to cook or bring in food for the retreatants. We would happily receive up to 7 soups, salads, and/or cookies! Please contact our Administrator, Maida Barbour admin@austinzencenter.org if you would like to support the Rohatsu Sesshin in this way.
PLEASE NOTE: We are committed to maintaining a safe environment in which we can come together for practice, while acknowledging the risks involved in doing so. As such, we are only able to accept retreat registrations from those who have registered their vaccination proof with us, and we ask that everyone coming to AZC in-person: (1) has registered their proof of vaccination via the above link; (2) has received a confirmation email granting access to the temple; (3) has no COVID symptoms; (4) has not had contact with anyone who has tested positive within the last two weeks. Proof of Covid vaccination is required, and Covid test will be given to all on the first evening. Thank you for your assistance in making it possible to come together responsibly!
Program Fees
- Full retreat: $425 for members/$650 for non-members (partial attendance may be possible, see below), which includes oryoki meals (breakfast lunch and supper) in the zendo
- Partial attendance (by day): $75/$100 (members/non-members)
- Oryoki bowl rentals are $10 ($45 for purchase)
- If you are in need of lodging for the retreat please contact Maida Barbour (admin@austinzencenter.org)
As always, AZC is committed to making the teachings available to everyone. To request financial assistance from our Scholarship Fund, or if you would like to donate to the Fund for others to be able to participate, please call Maida Barbour at 512-452-5777.
Tentative Rohatsu Sesshin Schedule
Friday Dec 3 (eve):
6:00pm Oryoki/Server Instruction (TBD, depending on Covid restrictions)
7:30 Orientation
8:00 Zazen
8:35 Refuges
Saturday Dec 4 – Thursday Dec 9 (daily schedule):
6:00 am Zazen
6:35 Kinhin
6:45 Zazen
7:20 Morning Service
7:50 Breakfast
8:40 Rest
9:20 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Dharma Talk
10:50 Kinhin (outside)
11:10 Zazen
11:45 Kinhin
11:55 Zazen
12:30 Midday Service
12:40 Lunch
1:30 Rest
2:10 Work Meeting (foyer)
2:50 Qigong
3:10 Break
3:20 Zazen
3:55 Kinhin
4:05 Zazen
4:40 Tea
4:55 Kinhin
5:05 Zazen
5:40 Kinhin
5:50 Zazen
6:25 Service
8:50 Three Refuges, end of day
Friday Dec 10 (last day schedule):
6:00 am Zazen
6:35 Kinhin
6:45 Zazen
7:20 Morning Service
7:50 Breakfast
8:40 Rest
9:15 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Dharma Talk
10:50 Kinhin (outside)
11:10 Zazen
11:45 Kinhin
11:55 Zazen
12:30 Midday Service
12:40 Lunch
1:30 Rest
2:10 Work Meeting (foyer)
2:50 End Work, Tea
3:20 Zazen
3:55 Kinhin
4:05 Zazen
4:40 Kinhin