Grasses, Trees, and the Great Earth Sesshin

Earth body, sky heart. Rooted and flowing. Luminous and open. We are formed by earth and sky, by wind breath and rain song, with our lives shaped by the wisdom of the natural world.

This retreat offers a chance to slow down, reconnect, and rest in the wild, ancient guidance of grasses, trees, and the Great Earth. Together, we will spend time learning from the five elements as they appear in our own experience, and exploring our deep interconnection with the living Earth, the waters, the energizing air, the bright fire of the sun, and the vast openness of the sky.

The retreat takes place at Great Vow Zen Monastery. Because much of the program will be held outdoors, there will not be a Zoom option for participation.

Lodging is dormitory style, and for this retreat a tent camping area will also be available. Please bring your own tent and sleeping bag if you would like to stay outside.

Sesshin is a rigorous silent meditation retreat that can be challenging and is not recommended for beginners. To attend in person, you must first participate in one of our silent weekend retreats or a five- to seven-day silent retreat at another Zen Center before registering for our longer Zen retreats.

Please plan to attend the entire sesshin.

A $50 deposit reserves your place, with the remaining balance due on arrival.