Calendar

Still Water Zen Center

Practice Schedule

NOTE:

THE RICHMOND ZENDO

Has been closed

and will re-open in a new location at some future time. Please check back for details.

Thank you.

Event Calendar 2007

No events scheduled at this time.

To help with event planning, we must have your registration and fee no less than one week in advance of the event date.

Click here for

Event Registration Form

updated December 1, 2007

RETREATS:

The purpose of retreat is to deepen our practice in an intensive, supportive environment. The main focus is the practice of sitting meditation. We maintain silence and avoid eye contact with one another except during Dharma Talks and student-teacher interviews. Meals are silent and taken together, but do not follow any particular "form" (such as oryoki). Sitting periods last from 20 to 30 minutes, during which time everyone makes a determined effort not to move or make any noise. Rounds of sitting are followed by walking meditation. Throughout the retreat there are private interviews with the Teacher and Dharma talks.

Retreats can be very challenging, both physically and mentally. Some previous experience with meditation is assumed in our retreats. If you are a newcomer to Zen practice or unfamiliar with our style, please come on a Wednesday evening and/or speak with Honji before attending a retreat. Participants are expected to attend the entire retreat unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Retreats at SWZC in Richmond are not "sleep-over" retreats. Retreat participants leave the retreat on Friday night, come back Saturday morning, leave again Saturday night, and come back Sunday morning. If you are coming from out of town and would like to arrange for sleeping accomidations, please contact Honji directly. We cannot guarantee availability of housing and it may be necessary for you to find accomidations at a local motel. Retreats at the farm are “sleep-over” – accomodations are available if you are willing to sleep on the floor.

In addition to the retreat fee, please anticipate “dana” for the teacher at the end of the retreat. It is traditional to leave a monetary teacher’s gift.   The retreat fee is kept very low so that this will be possible for you. Most teachers take time from their daily jobs to lead retreats, so this donation is important to ensure that this teaching continues to be possible.   While there is no set recommended amount, please bear in mind that for most retreats or classes you would pay anywhere from $250 to $500 dollars (or more!) for a weekend.

A typical retreat schedule is as follows:

Friday Evening

7:00 PM Sit

9:00 PM Retreat ends for the night

Saturday

6:30 AM Sit

8:00 AM Breakfast

9:30 AM Sit

12:00 PM Lunch

1:30 PM   Sit

3:15 PM   Prajna Practice (walk, yoga, bowing)

4:00 PM   Sit

4:30 PM   Break

5:00 PM   Dinner

6:30 PM   Sit

9:00 PM   Retreat ends for the night

Sunday

6:30 AM Sit

8:30 AM breakfast

9:30 AM Sit

12 Noon Retreat ends