Wednesday, May 5, 3 pm—Sunday, May 11, 1 pm
This Introductory Four-Day Sesshin at Green Gulch Farm will focus on the basics of formal Zen practice, providing extended instruction in zazen, walking meditation, bowing, and chanting. It offers an introduction to intensive sesshin retreat practice for those newer to the Zen forms, and a chance for more experienced sitters to renew the fundamentals of formal practice.
Please review the example sesshin schedule. The sesshin will consist of sitting and walking meditation, Dharma Talks, and ceremonies, with light instruction as needed throughout. Meals will be eaten silently (we may or may not practice oryoki this sesshin).
There will be an orientation on Wednesday, May 7 at 3:00 pm. The sesshin will begin on Wednesday after dinner and conclude with lunch on Sunday.
This sesshin is open to anyone who has participated in an Introductory Half-Day Sitting at Green Gulch (or has comparable formal Zen experience). Previous participation in a One-Day Sitting at Green Gulch Farm is strongly recommended. If you have questions about your participation in this sitting, please contact the Ino (Head of the Meditation Hall) at ggfino@sfzc.org.
To register for this sesshin, begin by completing this form.
Once you have been approved for the sesshin, you will be sent an email that will include a link through which you can process your payment and complete your registration.
Before registering, please review the Health and Safety Requirements.
Guest House, Single Room - $660
Guest House, Shared Room - $520 per person
Single student housing (as available) - $560
Shared student housing (as available) - $420
NOTE: The Shared Room option only applies to partners or friends who register together for the sesshin with the intention of sharing a room with each other. Green Gulch Farm will not be assigning people to room together at this time.
San Francisco Zen Center Members receive a 10% discount.
San Francisco Zen Center is committed to making Zen practice and the Dharma accessible to all who seek it by offering both a General support fund and a dedicated BIPOC support fund. After your application has been accepted, please email supportfunds@sfzc.org to request financial support.
Meals are included in the cost of sesshin. Some meals might be eaten formally in the zendo meditation hall. Please bring your oryoki set. If you do not have a set, you can purchase one on arrival for an additional $55.
Please register by April 29.
- Please fill out a sesshin registration form.
- After reviewing the registration form and determining the number of spaces available in the sesshin, the Ino will confirm by sending a letter of acceptance by email.
- The final steps to complete the registration and payment via the SFZC website will be provided in the acceptance email sent by the Ino.