After Rohatsu sesshin last year, one of the woman attendees sparked the idea of holding a women’s retreat. The spark lit a fire and a few women got together to start planning such a retreat. We have reached capacity, but if you were not able to attend this year and would like to see this type of event held again please let us know.

Rev. Korin, (Anita) Swann will be our teacher for the retreat. During this retreat we intend to provide training in the forms as well as provide classes on movement. Forms training would include oryoki, doanryo roles, and chanting. We intend to start the day a little later than traditional start time for a sesshin. A draft schedule is linked here.

If you are coming to the retreat and would like to participate in the planning, please feel free to join the zoom sessions. They are on the calendar above.

The purpose of this group is meditation, appropriate for those who have been sitting for years and those who have never meditated. The form is Zen, meaning that we will take off our shoes, bow, enter slow walking meditation around the room, and when the bell rings, bow to our cushions, and sit (cushion or chair). If this appeals to you, and you can take an hour in the middle of the day, this group is for you. After 10 minutes walking meditation and 30 minutes sitting, there will be 20 minutes of discussion. It’s expected this part of the hour will evolve along with the group. Whoever wants to, can join us for coffee to continue the conversation.

“The more you sense the rareness and value of your own life, the more you realize that how you use it, how you manifest it, is all your responsibility. We face such a big task, so naturally we sit down for a while. We sit to make life meaningful.”

— Kobun