With Lee Shields and Madelon Bolling
Many of us have regimented lives, with infrequent opportunities to ask, with an open mind, how we might deepen practice. Traditionally, Zen training included disciplined training periods alternating with periods of greater free time or travel, even as the spirit and dedication of practice continued.
A personal retreat has potential for profound richness that can be taken home thereafter. And a personal retreat has its own practice challenges: how will you express your practice if you are released from aspects of form? Separate from good and bad student, beginner or seasoned, dedicated or slacker – what action reflects the hunger that inspired your interest in retreat, sitting?
Three Treasures is sponsoring a retreat intended to support your practice, and you finding your way. Meals, chanting, formal practice periods, talks, and meetings with teachers are provided. Some participation will still be asked as a minimum joint practice. Beyond that, it is up to you to try things and see for yourself what brings depth.
Dokusan and interviews: Madelon and Lee will be available during dokusan/ interviews to collaborate or guide. To maintain some connection to the group we ask that participants attend a meeting with a teacher the first day and at least once a day thereafter. The meeting can be a short check-in, or an engaged encounter.
Zazen Formal and Informal: There are some periods we will ask all to join in formal sitting (practice in the dojo with bells and leaders). At other times participants are invited to practice as moved, while careful not to disturb the practice of others. A list of examples includes formally, sitting on one’s own, walking, gardening, Yoga or Tai Chi (in library or outside), napping. If your practice at the time is writing, on paper or computer, do it.
Practice in collaboration: If your practice includes a form with others, there will be a board on which you can post an offer for participants to see if there are others for whom your form is a fit. For example, reading poetry, exploring a sutra or reading.
Guidelines for In-Person Attendance
To keep all of us in the dojo as safe as possible, we ask those having symptoms of cold, flu, or Covid to join by Zoom rather than in person. We encourage those attending in-person to be up to date on vaccines and to feel free to wear a face covering to reduce any risk of air-borne pathogen.
Cost
Suggested fee is $35 per day attended, with sliding scale available upon request. Fees for partial days can be prorated. Payment is due in full upon registration to reserve space.
Event Registration
Contact Madelon for registration – mbolling22@gmail.com, (206) 395-5226
Attendees who have not pre-registered can try and drop in the day of the Zenkai with the understanding that, if full, you may not be able to sit in the dojo.
Friday, July 7
6:30 AM Open dojo, Five Remembrances, zazen
7:30 AM Breakfast (silent, food provided), retreat introduction
7:40 AM Opening meal chant; 7:55 closing meal chant
8:15 AM Clean up
9:00 AM Dojo available for stretching, Yoga, Tai-Chi, informal sitting
9:30 AM Sutra service
10:00 AM Zazen, interviews
12:00 PM Lunch and lunch cleanup (silent, food provided)
12:10 PM Opening meal chant; 12:25 closing meal chant
1:30 PM Dojo available for stretching, Yoga, Tai-Chi, informal sitting
2:00-5:30 PM Informal practice
5:30 PM Zazen
6:00 PM Dinner (silent, food provided), cleanup
6:10 PM Opening meal chant; 6:25 closing meal chant
7:00 PM Zazen, dokusan/interviews
8:30 PM Closing
Saturday, July 8
8:15 AM Work period
9:00 AM Opening ceremony/ Sutras
9:30 AM Zazen
10:00 AM Dharma talk
11:00 AM Dokusan/interviews
12:00 PM Lunch (silent, food provided)
12:10 PM Opening meal chant; 12:25 closing meal chant
12:30 PM Work period, rest
2:00 PM Zazen, dokusan/interviews
3:00 PM Long walking meditation, informal meditation (dojo and library open for practice)
5:00 PM: Zazen
5:30 PM: Closing ceremony
Sunday, July 9
8:15 AM Work period
9:00 AM Opening ceremony/ Sutras
9:30 AM Zazen
10:00 AM Dharma talk
11:00 AM Dokusan/interviews
12:00 PM Lunch (silent, food provided)
12:10 PM Opening meal chant; 12:25 closing meal chant
12:30 PM Work period, rest
2:00 PM Zazen, dokusan/interviews
3:00 PM Informal meditation (dojo and library open for practice, walking meditation)
3:30 PM Zazen
3:50 PM Closing ceremony
4:00 PM Light cleanup