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Sesshin - The Ancient Way

Location icon
79640 Quincy Mayger Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016, USA
Date
October 9 - 19, 2025

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

There is something very special about the magic of autumn and the kicking off of the fall ango practice period that makes this sesshin so powerful. What a great gift it is to be able to sit together in silence. This is our longest sesshin of the year. The extra days enable us drop down into the bare bones essentials of our lives. We have this rare opportunity to turn towards the practice/awakening that is our true nature, and to celebrate quietly together in the container of sesshin.

Day after day plunge into the waters of mystery and exploration. Turn off the media machine, look, and look again. We do this together. Each person an important part of the web that holds us all together.

 

Sesshin is a rigorous and, at times, challenging. This silent meditation retreat that is not recommended for beginners. In order to attend in person, we require that you attend one of our silent weekend retreats or a five-seven day silent retreat at another Zen Center before registering for our longer zen retreats. For more information about what to expect when attending a sesshin, click here.

Schedule

Please note: this is an approximation; sesshin schedules vary with leader and season.

First evening
5:00 p.m. Registration begins
6:00 p.m. Dinner (informal) and sesshin orientation
9:00 p.m. Zazen and formal opening of sesshin
10:00 p.m. Monastery doors locked

All full days
4:20 a.m. Wake up bell
5:00 a.m. Zazen
6:50 a.m. Service
7:20 a.m. Breakfast (oriyoki) in dining hall
8:30 a.m. Work period begins
9:50 a.m. Warning bell to clean up
10:00 a.m. End of work period
10:30 a.m. Zazen
12:20 p.m. Service
12:30 p.m. Lunch (oriyoki) in dining hall
3:00 p.m. Zazen
5:20 p.m. Service
5:30 p.m. Dinner (oriyoki) in dining hall
7:00 p.m. Zazen
9:20 p.m. Formal Tea/Zazen
10:00 p.m. Monastery doors locked

Last Sunday
4:50 a.m. Wake-up bell
5:30 a.m. Zazen
6:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Closing Circle
10:00 a.m. Sunday Program (service, zazen)
11:20 a.m. Dharma talk and formal end of sesshin
12:00 p.m. Lunch (informal)
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Zen Community of Oregon, 79640 Quincy Mayger Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016, USA

Accommodation

Online only (sustaining rate)
Online only (scholarship rate)
Event fee
Event fee (ZCO member rate)

Customer Reviews

4.91 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Fantastic Investigation
Was a very comprehensive yet stress-free way to explore the practice of Zen Buddhism and meditation. Will absolutely be continuing to engage with Heart of Wisdom moving forward. Highly recommend to anyone interested in dipping their toes into Zen and Meditation!

5.0
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One day intro to zen
It was a well-organized, thoughtful day. I wanted to deepen my meditation practice and appreciate this opportunity.

5.0
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One-day workshop
I attended an introductory workshop on Zen practice at ZCO on February 1. It was excellent: clear, concise, very welcoming, well-attended. The leaders were knowledgeable and dedicated. I learned exactly what I wanted to: best practices for meditation. The best parts were the actual meditation sessions, including walking, guided and sound. Thank you so much for offering this -- I traveled 5 hours round trip to attend and it was worth every bit.

5.0
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I’m grateful for Zazenkai
The Temple and the Day held me and gave me so much encouragement to expand and deepen my practice.
Jogen’s Dharma talk was especially helpful to me.

5.0
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Great Vow Work!
I really enjoyed the guidance and framing on this retreat.

I also very much enjoyed the cultural diversity and feel it really added to the richness of discussion. Very much a highlight for me.

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