A deep immersion in the ancient way of Zen
Announcing MRZC’s first full rohatsu sesshin, led by guiding teachers Myoshin Kate McCandless and Shinmon Michael Newton.
Rohatsu is traditionally the most intensive sesshin of the year, commemorating the Buddha’s enlightenment under the bodhi tree. Sesshin means "touching the heart/mind" - since the time of the Buddha practitioners have gathered in community during the rainy season to deepen their practice and touch the true nature of Mind.
This sesshin will conclude our 8-week practice period, with a dharma inquiry ceremony with shuso (head monk) Daikan John Green and a traditional rohatsu ceremony to celebrate the Buddha’s enlightenment. Please join the Mountain Rain sangha for this seven-day residential retreat in the beautiful natural surroundings of Brew Creek Centre.
OUR in-person ZENDO IS FULL. If you missed registering, we do hope to see you another time. Perhaps this year you’ll consider joining us for a moment in the zoom-zendo! (By donation, see links below)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83496587690?pwd=VjZJTjcxOVdnUEUyUEZkaHB5QXBYdz09
Meeting ID: 834 9658 7690
Passcode: 448941
Sesshin Resources
Sesshin Schedule PDF Click here
Chant book PDF Click here
Schedule of chanting services with page numbers PDF Click here
Meal chant PDF Click here
To add names for well-being or memorial service dedication email teachers@mountainrainzen.org or fill out THIS FORM
The daily schedule
Full participation in the schedule is expected. Personal modifications to the schedule can be arranged to accommodate special needs, in dialogue with the teachers and ino (head of zendo) at the retreat. Please note special needs on your registration form, and check in with the ino at the beginning of the retreat if you have any questions or concerns about the schedule.
Zazen: sitting meditation (approximately 6 hours per day) indoor and outdoor
Kinhin: walking meditation, indoor and outdoor
Dharma talks daily by MRZC guiding teachers and the shuso
Oryoki: formal meals in the Japanese Zen tradition (orientation provided)
Formal afternoon tea service in the zendo
Dokusan: individual meetings with teachers
Samu: work practice to maintain the community
Rides/carpooling
There is no public transit to the Brew Creek Centre. Please arrange carpools on your own as much as possible. Please indicate on the registration form whether you need or can offer a ride. Our ride coordinator will match up those needing rides with those offering rides. This is more challenging for half-time participants. As we are getting more participants coming by air from a distance, and more people are living urban lives without cars, we may ask you to share costs of a rental or co-op car, or airport shuttle. We will try to let you know arrangements two weeks before the start day. We cannot guarantee rides for late registrants.
Meditation Experience
We recommend that you have some meditation experience prior to participating in this retreat. You are welcome and encouraged to join Mountain Rain Zen Community for an orientation at one of our regular Wednesday evening or Sunday morning sits. Practitioners from other traditions are warmly welcome. Please inquire if you have any questions about whether this retreat is right for you.
Meals
Three delicious vegetarian meals are provided daily, as well as coffee, tea, and snacks. We are happy to accommodate special dietary restrictions providing you advise us in advance through your registration. Thank you for your understanding.
We will use the traditional Zen monastic style of eating using oryoki bowls. Instructions will be provided. If you do not have your own oryoki set you may rent one from Mountain Rain Zen. Please be sure to pay the oryoki fee when you register to reserve your set.
Accommodation
The Brew Creek Centre offers comfortably furnished accommodations in several buildings. Single rooms have a king, queen or double bed. Most have an ensuite bathroom. Some single rooms have a shared bathroom, but are private rooms. Couples may wish to share a single room. Please indicate this on the registration form, and pay the same fee as for shared accommodation.
NOTE: You need to bring your own bedding and towels.
Shared accommodations consist of two rooms, one downstairs with a king bed, and an upstairs loft with a double bed, with a shared bathroom downstairs. You can imagine these units as being townhouse-style.
Fees
Shared : $860 CN
Single: $1020 CN
Oryoki bowls: $15 (For those who cannot bring their own oryoki set. This fee helps us maintain our supply of oryoki sets to borrow.
Part-time attendance: see below.
Reduced fees available to those on a limited income: see below.
Supporting contribution: allows us to offer reduced fees to those on limited income.
Online (Zoom) attendance: sliding scale $25-$200
Cancellation: Full refund upon cancellation can only be offered up to November 10. After that partial to no refund will depend on attendance numbers and whether your place can be filled.
Dana (Donations to the teachers)
Retreat fees cover expenses only. Dana (donations) to the teachers can be made at the retreat.
Half-Time Attendance
We will give priority to full-time participants. Part-time attendace will be offered subject to availability of rooms. If you would like to request part-time attendance please contact the registrar at registrar@mountainrainzen.org and specifiy first-half or second-half and preferred accommodation choice. We will let you know if half-time attendance becomes available.
We ask that half-time attendees arrive only at the beginning of the retreat or by noon on Tuesday, in time for lunch. Those who have never attended a Zen sesshin and can only attend half-time are asked to come for the first half of the retreat so that you can be there for the orientation and oryoki training.
Reduced Fee Requests
Reduced fees are available for those on a limited income. To request a reduced fee please fill out a Reduced Fee Request form. (Click the link to open the form.) For general reduced fee requests with no special needs, please register for shared accommodation. On receipt and approval of reduced fee request, the registrar will refund the amount that your fee will be reduced.
Note: If you're requesting a reduced fee and require a single room due to special needs, please complete the reduced fee request as above, and register for single room. Please describe the special need on the form pop up and indicate that you are also completing reduced fee request form. On receipt and approval of reduced fee request, the registrar will refund the amount that your fee will be reduced. Any questions, please contact : registrar@mountainrainzen.org.
WAITLIST IS NOW CLOSED
