April Sesshin: Inquiring Awareness - A Six Day Online Meditation Retreat
With Hogen Bays, Roshi and Sara Shinei Monial
April 19 - 25, 2021
It is our intention to offer the supportive structure to allow you to do a week long meditation retreat at home. You can participate to whatever degree your life allows. Consider the possibility to design your own retreat. Do a work/family sesshin. Take one day this week and make it a retreat day!
This retreat will take place through the zoom app. You will receive a link to the retreat once you register.
Doing a retreat at home can be empowering, take up the practice in your own home and know the peace and clarity of mind in your own dwelling place! To support doing home retreat we recommend doing the following:
1. Reflect on your intention
2. Create a sacred space with a simple altar and meditation supports in a clean room that allows for calm/peace of mind
3. Commit to a schedule, we have a schedule posted below. We ask that you commit to at least 4 hours of meditation a day. Part-time attendance is welcome. Join for a day, the weekend or the whole week. Please let us know the dates you plan to attend.
4. Give up or reduce media, phone and extra computer use for the duration of the retreat
5. Keep the practice going during the “breaks” by engaging with Mindful Eating during meals and choosing simple work (gardening, cleaning, etc.), body practice/exercise (walking, yoga, qi gong) or creative projects that support your meditation practice/intention.
6. Consider being in silence for the whole retreat or practicing silence for specific periods during the day.
7. If you live with others, communicate with them what your intention is for this week of practice and ask them to support you
Approximate Schedule
Monday Night
7:30 Orientation
8:30 Zazen/Opening Talk
Tuesday – Saturday
5:00 Zazen
6:50 Chanting Service
7:30 Breakfast
8:45 Work Practice
11:00 Zazen
12:20 Chanting Service
12:30 Lunch
3:00 Movement
3:30 Teisho (Dharma Talk)
4:30 Zazen
5:20 Chanting Service
5:30 Dinner
7:00 Zazen
9:30 Formal Tea/Closing Chant/Zazen
Sunday Morning
6:00 Zazen/Closing Remarks
7:00 Closing Circle
10:00 Sunday Program Chanting Service/Zazen
11:30 Dharma Talk
About the Leaders
Hogen Bays, Roshi
Hogen Bays, Roshi began practicing in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi and was part of the residential staff at Zen Center of Rochester in Rochester, New York until 1975. He lived and trained at Zen Center of Los Angeles under the direction of Taizan Maezumi, Roshi from 1980-1984. In 1990 he took priest’s ordination […]
Learn more about Hogen Bays, Roshi
Sara Shinei Monial
Sara Shinei Monial was an ordained monastic Great Vow for over 8 years. She has been practicing meditation intensively since 2007, and has practiced closely with various teachers including Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi, Hogen Bays, Roshi, and Satya Vayu. Shinei has a BA in Education, but left the field 15 years ago to pursue full-time […]
Learn more about Sara Shinei MonialCategories : Featured Events, Sesshin