Mountains and Rivers Sesshins


Mountains and Rivers Sesshins are two or three days long and include hiking with backpacks in silence during the day, zazen under the stars in the evening and early morning, and tent camping. So far they have all taken place at Point Reyes.

Photos and Stories from previous Mountains and Rivers Sesshins

Our next Mountains and Rivers Sesshin will take place at Point Reyes Friday through Sunday, July 25-27, 2008.

Sojun Roshi will be leading it. Everyone is encouraged to do the full three days. Provision will also be made, however, for people who can take part only in the Saturday-Sunday portion, or who have some physical difficulty with backpacking.

Information and signup sheet will be posted on the zendo bulletin board. If you have any questions, please call Ken Knabb at 527-0959 or email him at knabb@bopsecrets.org.

 

Sample Schedule for a Two-Day Mountains and Rivers Sesshin

FRIDAY
6:30-7:30 pm -- Orientation meeting in BZC Community Room.

SATURDAY
6:15 -- Meet in front of BZC. Drive to Point Reyes.
8:00 -- Meet for breakfast at restaurant near Point Reyes.
9:30 -- To trailhead.
9:45 -- Hike in silence. 5-minute rest stops every 40 minutes or so.
12:00 -- Lunch.
1:00 -- Hike in silence.
2:30 -- Arrive at campsite (approx. 5.5 miles). Set up tents. Free time for resting or wandering around beach. Cooks prepare dinner.
5:00 -- Zazen at campsite zendo (sleeping bag serves as zafu, sleeping pad as zabuton).
5:20 -- Service.
5:30 -- Dinner (in silence)
6:30 -- Hot drinks and break.
7:30 -- Zazen (two 40-minute periods on the beach facing the ocean).
9:00 -- To bed.

SUNDAY
4:40 -- Wakeup.
5:00 -- Zazen (two 40-minute periods at campsite zendo). Cooks leave after first period to prepare breakfast.
6:30 -- Service.
6:40 -- Breakfast (silent)
7:30 -- Hot drinks and break. Preliminary packing.
9:00 -- Lecture (on Dogen's "Mountains and Rivers Sutra").
10:00 -- Break. Finish packing.
10:30 -- Hike in silence.
12:00 -- Lunch.
1:00 -- Hike in silence.
3:00 -- Arrive at trailhead. Closing gathering.
3:30 -- Drive to Berkeley.
5:00 -- Arrive at BZC. Sort out group gear. Go our separate ways.

Three-day sesshins have much the same schedule, but with extra free time during the middle day.

 

 

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