- Saturday, December 5th - Friday December 11th, 6am - 9pm (Orientation Friday December 4th, 7pm - 9pm)
Our ancestor, Dogen Zenji, said, “To study the Buddha Way is to study the self, to study the self is to forget the self, and to forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things.” Thus we sit, walk, eat, work, and hear the dharma to realize our fundamental nature.
Once a year we have the opportunity to join together in early December for a week of intensive practice in sesshin. Rohatsu reflects and enacts the resolve and trust of Shakyamuni Buddha in his capacity to wake up fully to reality.
This retreat ends our fall practice intensive and culminates in our celebration of Buddha’s Enlightenment on Saturday December 12th.
Join us for all or part of this retreat (two day minimum participation). We strongly recommend that you have experience with one day sittings or sesshin at AZC or elsewhere before signing up for this retreat. In order to support everyone’s practice and effort, please make a firm commitment to whatever you sign up for. If you have any questions about whether the retreat is right for you, the schedule, and other practice matters please contact the Guiding Teacher (choro@austinzencenter.org)
*Limited accommodation at the temple is available for an additional fee*
*AZC is committed to making practice and the teachings available to all with full or partial scholarship*
Email admin@austinzencenter.org to inquire about lodging and/or scholarship.
2026 ROHATSU DAILY SCHEDULE
[5:50am Han]
6:00am Zazen
6:35 Kinhin
6:45 Zazen
7:20 Morning Service
7:50 Breakfast
8:35 Break
[9:05 Han]
9:15 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Setup for talk
10:15 Dharma Talk (or other)
11.15 Kinhin (outdoors)
11:30 Zazen
11:55 Noon Service (Servers to DR)
12:05pm Oryoki Lunch
12:40 Break
1:20 Work Meeting (foyer)
2:30 End work (bow out)
2:35 Body practice
[3:10 Han]
3:20 Zazen
3:45 Tea in zendo
3:55 Kinhin
4:05 Zazen
4:50 Kinhin
5:00 Open Zazen
5:55 Evening Service
5:50 Zazen
6:05 Dinner
6:40 Break
[7:10 Han]
7:20 Zazen
7:50 Kinhin
8:00 Zazen
8:30 Kinhin
8:50 Refuges