06/09/2026
Now we are preparing for our June Dai-sesshin next week.
We don't often post the actual daily schedule of sesshin, since it's not important for trainees to know beforehand. In the pre-internet years, we don't recall that it was ever something we knew, or asked about, before arriving at the sesshin place!
However, these days we receive many requests for our daily sesshin schedule. Probably these come mostly from curious people, or Zen practitioners from other places, rather than students actually considering attendance with us. Or, in some cases it may be indeed be potential attendees asking, who wonder how rough it is!
So: here's what sesshin looks like with us. Not too rough, as you can see.
We begin on Sunday evenings and end on the following Saturday late afternoon or early evening (except for the Rohatsu Dai-sesshin, which pushes through past that to the following morning).
DAI-SESSHIN TYPICAL SCHEDULE
First Night: Arrive by 6:30pm. Trainees to be dressed and in the zendo by 7:15pm
• 7:30 Opening of sesshin (in zendo)
• 7:45 Sozarei (opening tea)
• 8:00 Daza (zazen)
• 9:15 Sosan (interview with the Roshi – mandatory for all present)
• 10:00 Sarei/Kaihan/Kaichin (tea/striking the han/formal lights out)
• 10:15 Group meeting in the dining hall. Optional snack available.
• 10:30 Yaza (mandatory solo zazen practice, inside or outside) until 11:45pm
• 12:00am Sleep or continue to practice.
Typical Day:
• 4:30am Kaijo (wake up)
• 4:50 Do-in Ho, Baito Sarei, Daza (exercise, tea, meditation; kaihan struck when morning light indicates).
• 6:00 Dokusan (interview with the Roshi)
• 6:30 Choka (morning chanting)
• 7:15 Shukuza (morning meal)
• 8:00 Sh*ttan or Shabutsu (art practice: mantric calligraphy or buddha drawing)
• 8:45 Samu (work practice, indoor and outdoor)
• 10:00 Daza (zazen)
• 11:00 Saiza (mid-day meal)
• 12:00pm Hojo, Budo, or Shodo Sanpai (physical practice: martial training, or walking and recitation on the
monastery grounds)
• 1:00 Sarei/Daza (tea/zazen)
• 2:30 Dokusan (interview with the Roshi)
• 3:00 Kaiyoku (wash)
• 4:15 Daza (zazen)
• 4:45 Yakuseki (evening meal)
• 6:30 Daza (zazen)
• 7:00 Kaihan/Kentan/Daza (striking the han/zendo inspection by the Roshi/zazen)
• 8:00 Dokusan (interview with the Roshi)
• 8:30 Teisho (lecture)
• 9:00 Daza (zazen)
• 10:00 Sarei/Kaihan/Kaichin (tea/striking the han/formal lights out) Afterward, optional snack available in dining
hall followed by mandatory yaza (solitary sitting practice) only, 10:30-11:45pm.
• 12:00am: Sleep or continue practice.
Final Afternoon: Regular Dai-Sesshin
• 12:00pm Daza
• 1:00 Sosan (interview with the Roshi – mandatory for all present)
• 1:30 Sozarei (closing tea ceremony)
[Cleanup, then optional snack and farewell by 4:30pm]
Final Morning: Rohatsu Dai-Sesshin
• 4:30am Kaijo (wake up)
• 4:50 Do-in Ho, Baito Sarei, Daza (exercise, tea, meditation; kaihan struck when morning light indicates).
• 6:00 Dokusan (interview with the Roshi – restricted to those with confidence: sosan is held the night before at
8pm)
• 6:30 Sozarei (closing tea ceremony)
[Cleanup, then informal breakfast and farewell by 10am]
