Grasses, Trees, and the Great Earth: An Outdoor Meditation Retreat
With Amy Kisei, Sensei and Kodo Conover
August 16 - 22, 2021
Earth body, sky heart. Rooted and flowing. Luminous and open. We are made of earth and sky, of wind breath and rain song, our lives woven from the teachings of the natural world.
This retreat is an opportunity to re-connect and relax into the wild, ancient, wisdom of the Grasses, Trees and Great Earth. We will spend time learning from each of the five elements, as they manifest in our experience. Deeply exploring and releasing into our interconnection with the living, breathing body of the Earth, waters, energizing air, bright fiery sun, and vast spacious sky.
This retreat is held at Great Vow Zen Monastery. Due to this retreat being held mostly outdoors, we are not planning a Zoom option for attending this retreat.
Lodging is dormitory style, however for this retreat we will open up a tent camping area. Please bring your own tent and sleeping bag.
In response to the sudden rise of the Delta variant we are asking that all retreat guests take a COVID test prior to coming to the monastery (in addition to being fully vaccinated). Specifically we are asking for a molecular test (NAAT, PCR, etc.), not an antigen test. The molecular tests are significantly more accurate than the antigen tests. The rapid molecular test “ID NOW” is less accurate than the lab tests, but is still acceptable. It may take a day or two to receive your results, so please do so as soon as possible. You can be tested for free at:
CVS https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing
or at
Walgreens https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-testing.jsp?ban=covidinfoLP_testinginfoLP_fy21
Other locations with various costs can be found through the Oregon Health Authority or Washington State Department of Health,
Oregon https://govstatus.egov.com/or-oha-covid-19-testingWashington https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19
For our part we have asked all residents to limit public excursions to short trips to the grocery store and to wear a mask when doing so (all residents are also fully vaccinated).
The shared dorms and general communal nature of the monastery makes it infeasible to wear masks together while on retreat. We are taking these steps not only for the benefit of the residents of the monastery but also for the health of our community(s) as a whole. Please do know that you are welcome to camp for this retreat and use the dorms as a backup sleeping area or changing area.
Please get tested 3 days before the start of the retreat and limit your potential exposure prior to the retreat, ie. wearing a mask when indoors in public spaces.
Approximate Schedule
Monday Night
7:30 Orientation
8:30 Zazen/Opening Talk
Tuesday – Saturday
5:30 Zazen
6:50 Chanting Service
7:30 Breakfast
9:00 Work Practice
11:30 Zazen
12:50 Chanting Service
1:00 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
Amy Kisei, Sensei
Amy Kisei, Sensei is an authorized Zen teacher, zen priest, spiritual counselor and mindfulness instructor. She has been practicing meditation for almost 20 years. Kisei has 12 years of monastic training and teaching experience from Great Vow Zen Monastery, and holds a BS in Earth Science and Gender Studies. She is trained in Mindful Eating […]
Learn more about Amy Kisei, SenseiKodo Conover
Nancy Kodo Conover has been practicing Zen since 2000 and received Lay Transmission from Chozen and Hogen Roshi in 2015, ordained as a temple priest in 2021 and received Dharma Transmission and Preceptor authorization in 2023. Kodo retired from a career as a vocational rehabilitation counselor to help establish Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple and […]
Learn more about Kodo ConoverCategories : Featured Events, Monastery, Sesshin