In this Lifetime, In this Body: Cultivating Embodied Wisdom and Compassion with our Women Ancestors
2025 Practice Period Key Events
Wednesday, October 1, 7:00-9:00 Practice Period Opening and Shuso Entering Ceremony Wall St. Zendo and online. Each participant will have an opportunity to share their intentions for the practice period. Everyone welcome. Information HERE
October 2-5, Four-day Sesshin, Bright Stream temple and online. For residents and those who are able to commute from home. Information HERE
October 4-5, Non-residential Retreat Wall St. zendo and online information and registration HERE
November 1, 9:00-4:00 Healing Practices for This Lifetime, This Body: a day retreat with Myoshin Kate McCandless and shuso Myosen River Shannon Wall St. Zendo Information and registration HERE
November 29 – December 6, Rohatsu Sesshin at Brew Creek Centre and online. General registration opens September 19. Information HERE
Sunday, December 7 10:00-12:15 Practice Period Closing Ceremony Wall St. zendo and Bright Stream temple. More info TBA
Additional events to be added!
Practice Period Guide (scroll to end for registration, peer-group sign-up and recommended reading list)
The tradition of the intensive practice period goes back to the time of the Buddha when, during the rainy season, the Buddha and his disciples gathered in one place to meditate and study together. As our own rainy season approaches here in the Pacific Northwest, we will hold our 20th annual Mountain Rain practice period.
In Zen monasteries intensive practice periods traditionally last for three months, but ours is shorter, designed to support participants to intensify and strengthen their practice while living in the midst of family and work responsibilities. This year's practice period will be led by Guiding Teachers Myōshin Kate McCandless. and Shinmon Michael Newton and our theme will be In this Lifetime, In this Body: Cultivating Embodied Wisdom and Compassion with our Women Ancestors (plus some ancestors-to-be).
Women in the Buddhist tradition, both lay and monastic, have been practicing and awakening for many centuries. Yet few of their teachings have been incorporated into the canons. Through the research of dedicated scholars and practitioners, wonderful stories and texts have come to light. In some traditional beliefs, and not just in Buddhism, having a woman’s body is seen as an impediment to spiritual development and awakening. From these courageous women we can learn that this precious human body is the venue for our awakening, opening us to wisdom and compassion. We will explore these enlightening stories, as well as practices that connect us to voice and breath, hands and heart. These stories and practices are for all of us, all genders!
During practice period, the shuso or "head monk" is a long-time practitioner whose role is to support the sangha by offering a dharma talks and Wednesday dharma seminars, along with the teachers, meeting for tea with participants, and cleaning washrooms, a traditional practice of humility.
This year, we are happy to welcome Myōsen River Shannon as shuso. She will be assisted by her benji (attendant), Kyōkō Angela Kayira. A sign-up form for shuso teas, usually in small groups, will be set up soon, here on the practice period page.
Myōsen River grew up in so called Calgary, on Treaty 7 territory at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers. She started her Zen practice with Calgary Soto Zen in 2014. She received jukai on March 11, 2018 with Mountain Rain, and was ordained as a Zen priest on October 15, 2023. She has practiced in residence at Beginner's Mind Temple in San Francisco and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in the Ventana Wilderness. River has spent her career working as a public interest lawyer, first with survivors of intimate partner violence, and now with queer and trans British Columbians. In her time off the cushion, she enjoys riding her bike and preparing inventive vegan meals for her partner, Jessica.
How to Participate
There are no specific requirements for participation, though we encourage you to register (see below). It helps to structure your practice period and affirm your commitment. Various possible components are listed below as suggestions. Please take into consideration your family and work commitments and decide what commitments from the list below will best nourish your practice.
Home sitting practice
Practice at the zendo and/or on Zoom
Dokusan (individual meetings) with Mountain Rain’s teachers and practice discussion with sangha leaders. (See below.)
Participation in a practice period peer group. (See below.)
Participation in practice period retreats
Participation in weekly Wednesday evening dharma seminars
"Zen Arts" practice (This can be broadly defined as any art/craft practiced with mindful awareness, a Zen sensibility.)
Family and/or work as practice
Engaged Buddhist practice (service/activism)
Commitment to simplify or restrict personal lifestyle
Specific personal mindfulness practices
Practice Period Peer Groups: We'd like to encourage local and long-distance participants to join a Practice Period Peer Group. This is a small group of two to four people who will meet, in-person, by phone or Zoom, at the beginning, mid-point and end of the practice period for discussion and support. If you would like to join a peer group please sign up on the form below. You can form a group with someone you know, or we'd be happy to match you up. Particularly if you are relatively new to practice we can match you with other new people and one of our practice leaders. Sign up for a peer group HERE
Dokusan discussion with guiding teachers Shinmon Michael and Myoshin Kate will be offered in-person at the zendo, or by phone or Zoom. If you would like to schedule a phone/Zoom dokusan please contact shinmon@mountainrainzen.org or myoshin@mountainrainzen.org and the teacher will contact you to arrange a time.
Practice Discussion: Practice discussion will be offered by phone or Zoom practice leaders TBA. You can find their contact emails HERE to schedule a time.
Dana: Dana is an ancient Pali word that means generosity. It is an important part of our practice and has many aspects, one of which is supporting teachers so that they can give their time and energy to sharing the dharma with the sangha. Dana is completely voluntary and the amount is up to your discernment, considering your circumstances. Dana to the guiding teachers may be made by e-transfer, or Paypal HERE, or cash or cheques in the dana box are either location.
Dana to practice leaders can be made by e-transfer to email addresses given HERE.
Registration
The REGISTRATION FORM will help you plan your practice period and clarify your intentions in advance. Anyone is welcome to participate in the events during practice period, but if you register as a participant, it will affirm your overall commitment.
During practice period you will receive a weekly newsletter with updates, resources and suggestions for discussion. Participants are invited to send in reflections, questions, photos, or poems to share with other participants, and we’ll post them in the newsletter. Please send contributions to admin@mountainrainzen.org.
Practice period is a wonderful way to strengthen and nourish your practice, supported by the sangha. We hope you’ll be able to participate in whatever way is best for you.
Please note: Registration for retreats and events is separate from this form, and is available on the event page for each event.
