GMZC Sesshin Information

Great Mountain Zen Center

Sesshin Information

GMZC holds sesshin most months of the year. Week-long sesshins are in June and December, Great Heart Retreats are in March and September. All other months have a weekend sesshin or zazenkai (one-day sitting). See the Calendar for details.

Sesshin participants should bring the following:

Bedding (sleeping bag or sheets/blanket)
Toiletries and personal items.
Sitting clothes (comfortable and preferably dark colored)
Outdoor clothes, for lake walk and work practice.

You should plan to arrive at the Center between 6:00pm and 6:30pm on the first night. Sitting the first night is 7:30pm-8:50pm. Orientation is provided before, during and after sitting on the first night, as required.

A typical daily schedule is as follows (subject to change):

5:00 Wake up
5:30 Walk around the lake (or zazen).
6:00-8:00 Zazen/Dokusan
8:00 Breakfast (oryoki)
8:45-10:45 Work Practice
10:45 Service
11:10-12:30 Zazen
12:30 Lunch
3:00-5:00 Zazen (Dharma Talk)
5:00 Dinner
7:00-8:50 Zazen/Dokusan
8:50 Four Vows
9:30 Lights Out

Sesshin ends at appr. 12:30pm the last day followed by an informal lunch, usually lasting until 1:30-2:00pm.

All participants will receive instruction on proper procedures and protocols during sesshin. A review of our sesshin guidelines will help you get oriented.