Rohatsu One-day Retreat

Zen DownEast will be holding a Rohatsu Zazenkai (all-day sitting) at the Morgan Bay Zendo in Surry, ME (http://www.morganbayzendo.org/) on Sunday, December 8th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Rohatsu, conducted at Zen centers and monasteries throughout the world, commemorates the moment of the Buddha's enlightenment, which is traditionally celebrated on December 8th.

This Rohatsu Zazenkai will include zazen (meditation), liturgy, dokusan (private interview with the teacher), and teisho (dharma talk) -- with options to attend as little or as much of the day as is right for you. All are welcome regardless of your level of experience with Zen. Instruction will be provided.

The zendo at Morgan Bay is heated but the other buildings are not in December which means we cannot offer overnight accommodations.   There will be no running water but the composting toilets will be available. Those attending will bring their own food for a brown bag lunch in the zendo and their own drinks.  We will not have use of the kitchen.

In the spirit of making this Rohatsu Zazenkai accessible to all, there will be no dana for attendance.

Kindly reply to Diane Shoshin Fitzgerald, at dianeshoshin@gmail.com if you’re interested in attending. To help with your planning, the schedule for the day appears at the end of this email.

Zen DownEast

Rohatsu Zazenkai Schedule

December 8, 2024 at Morgan Bay Zendo

9:00 - 9:15 Orientation

9:15 - 9:50 Zazen followed by kinhin

9:50 - 10:25 Liturgy service followed by kinhin

10:25 - 11:25 Teisho and dharma dialogue followed by kinhin

11:25 - 12:30 Zazen, dokusan, kinhin

12:30 - 1:00 Bag lunch in the zendo

1:00 - 1:15 Clean-up and kinhin

1:15 - 3:45  Zazen, dokusan and kinhin

3:45 - 4:00 Closing ceremony