• Sesshin

Two-Day Practice

In Zen parlance, one period of zazen is often called “a sitting.” For of course that’s what we do: sit, opening the hand of thought.

During eight months of the year, October through May, the Zen Center offers “two-day sittings” on the third weekend of each month, with nearly continuous periods of zazen, chanting of the Heart Sutra and meals with oryoki bowls. For specific dates of two-day practices see: schedule / calendar.

We use the term “two-day sitting” to describe a mini-sesshin. A sesshin is a period of intensive practice, usually lasting three, five or seven days. The Japanese word “sesshin” is sometimes translated as “collecting the heart/mind.”

These two days become an opportunity for us to sit quietly, experiencing the silence of the zendo and allowing ourselves to exist in the reality of here and now. People are welcome to attend both full days if they wish and we can accommodate overnight stays with advance notice. You are also welcome to use these days in whatever way your schedule will permit, joining us and leaving us at any point in the schedule. Two-day sittings are intended to offer both intensive practice and a wider time frame for zazen.

Please come appreciate the silence!

Two-Day Practice Schedule