March Sesshin: Boundless Space a Deep Listening Retreat

Boundlessness is the nature of all things – sings Kaz Tanahashi’s translation of the Heart Sutra

Once a student inquired of their teacher. How do I practice boundlessness? The teacher replied, can you hear the sound of the stream? The student said, yes! I can hear it. Enter here, replied the teacher.

We all have the capacity to know/experience spaciousness. Deep listening opens awareness through and beyond the perceived limits of the body, it facilitates states of absorption and can be deeply pleasurable.

Meditation sessions will include periods of toning and periods of silence, utilizing the practice of deep embodied listening/toning to open the boundless space of awareness. As awareness we see into the true nature of all apparent phenomena.

Learning to listen deeply develops our capacity for connection with others, as we learn to actually hear them free from our projections, judgements and views. Listening is a practice of great compassion.

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

Friday Night

7:30 Orientation
8:30 Zazen/Opening Talk

Most other days

5:30 Zazen
7:20 Chanting Service
8:00 Breakfast

11:30 Zazen
12:50 Chanting Service
1:00 Lunch

3:30 Movement
4:00 Teisho (Dharma Talk)
5:00 Zazen/Group Sanzen
5:50 Chanting Service

6:00 Dinner

7:30 Zazen/Group Sanzen
9:20 Formal Tea/Closing Chant

9:40 – 10:30 Deep Listening Music Session in the Dark

First Sunday Morning

5:30 Zazen
7:20 Breakfast

10:00 Chanting Service/Zazen
11:30 Dharma Talk
12:30 Lunch

Concluding Sunday Morning

6:00 Zazen/Closing Remarks

7:00 Closing Circle

10:00 Sunday Program Chanting Service/Zazen

11:30 Dharma Talk