“The person in the hut lives here calmly.
Not stuck to inside, outside, or in between.”
Please scroll to the end for the Zoom link for this retreat.
This year, with regret, we have had to cancel our annual Mountains and Waters sesshin at Sea to Sky Retreat Centre due to Covid-19 restrictions. There is no way we can replicate practicing in sesshin in that beautiful setting with an online Zoom retreat. So we have decided to offer a summer retreat that is designed to strengthen and support practice, in a way that is manageable for participants in the midst of their daily lives as pandemic restrictions begin to lift, without an overload of screen-time.
Theme: The Person in the Hut As we have been “sheltering in place” during the Covid-19 pandemic we have experienced a taste of the seclusion chosen voluntarily by hermits from ancient to modern times. When we look at the lives and writings of these hermits we find that they were often more engaged with the world than we might have assumed. As Zen Master Shitou wrote in eighth century China, they were “not stuck to inside, outside, or in between.”
As we venture out in to the world of partially lifted restrictions, what might those who lived as hermits in the world have to teach us? In this retreat we will explore the teachings of hermits from Shitou in the eighth century to the Trappist monk, writer and activist, Thomas Merton in the twentieth century.
Retreat Schedule:
Mornings July 21-26 6:30-7:45 AM two zazen periods, sutra chanting service
Evenings July 21-25 7:00-9:00 PM two zazen periods, dharma talk, refuges
Sunday July 26 9:00-12:15 two zazen periods, dharma talk, chanting service, closing circle
Readings
Reading in advance is not necessary for the retreat, but texts below are available for those who wish:
Tuesday: Song of the Grass-roof Hermitage by Shitou PDF
Wednesday: Hojoki (An Account of My Hut) by Kamo no Chomei PDF
Below are resources rather than specific recommended texts. Please graze freely.
Thursday: Ryokan Zen Poems of Ryokan translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa PDF Also recommended:
Sky Above, Great wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan, translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi
Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan, translated by Burton Watson
One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan, translated by John Stevens
Friday: Henry David Thoreau The Walden Project has PDF texts of most of Thoreau’s works.
Saturday: Kodo Sawaki Roshi Selected Quotes
Sunday: Thomas Merton: The Merton Center gives information about his life and work.
Dokusan (individual practice discussion with the teacher.s) will be scheduled outside meeting time.
To sign up for dokusan with Myoshin Kate McCandless please click here.
To sign up for dokusan with Shinmon Michael Newton please click here.
If you need to arrange a time other than those shown on the sign-up system, please contact teachers@mountainrainzen.org.
Retreat costs and registration
This retreat will be offered online using Zoom, on a sliding scale basis. Although participation is flexible, it is best if you decide in advance what your time commitment will be. Pre-registration (below) is required, and the Zoom link will be sent by email just before the start date.
Dana (donations) to the teachers can be made by Paypal, e-transfer, or cheque (address will be given in your confirmation email).
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84663454149?pwd=MkVxUk52R2UxMWFhMXpEMHljcmorQT09
Meeting ID: 846 6345 4149 Passcode: 172650
One tap mobile +16473744685,,84663454149#,,,,,,0#,,172650# Canada +16475580588,,84663454149#,,,,,,0#,,172650# Canada
Dial by your location Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbxrZArBfL
