Registration opens April 1
During this week-long (7-nights) silent retreat, led by guiding teachers Myoshin Kate McCandless and Shinmon Michael Newton, we will follow a traditional Zen sesshin (intensive retreat) schedule, incorporating periods of outdoor walking and sitting meditation in the beautiful forest setting, and emphasizing the dharma of the mountains and waters that Dogen Zenji so appreciated.
This is an opportunity to experience the daily rhythms of residential Zen practice and settle deeply into the stillness of the forest surrounding the Brew Creek Centre.
Accommodation
The Brew Creek Centre offers comfortably furnished accommodations in several buildings.
Single rooms have a king, queen or double bed. Most have an ensuite bathroom. Some single rooms have a shared bathroom, but are private rooms. Couples may wish to share a single room. Please indicate this on the registration form, and pay the same fee as for shared accommodation.
Shared accommodation: Consists of two spaces, one downstairs with a king bed, and an upstairs loft with a double bed, with a shared bathroom downstairs. You can imagine these units as being townhouse-style.
Fees
Shared : $TBD
Single: $TBD
Oryoki bowls: $15 (For those who cannot bring their own oryoki set. This fee helps us maintain our supply of oryoki sets to borrow.
Bedding: TBD
Subsidies: available to those on a limited income: see below.
Online (Zoom) attendance: sliding scale
Cancellation: One month and over before the event begins: Full refund. Less than one month before the event: 25% refund (this is to guard against Mountain Rain losing money on the off-site facility rental deposit).
Half-time attendance We will give priority to full-time participants. Part-time attendace will be offered subject to availability of rooms. If you would like to request part-time attendance please contact the registrar at registrar@mountainrainzen.org and specifiy first-half or second-half and preferred accommodation choice. We will let you know if half-time attendance becomes available.
We ask that half-time attendees arrive only at the beginning of the retreat or by noon on Tuesday, in time for lunch. Those who have never attended a Zen sesshin and can only attend half-time are asked to come for the first half of the retreat so that you can be there for the orientation and oryoki training.
Subsidies We have a small budget to support those on a limited income. More information will be posted when registration opens.
Full participation in the schedule is expected. Personal modifications to the schedule can be arranged to accommodate special needs, in dialogue with the teachers and ino (head of zendo) at the retreat. Please note special needs on your registration form, and check in with the ino at the beginning of the retreat if you have any questions or concerns about the schedule.
Zazen: sitting meditation (approximately 6 hours per day) indoor and outdoor
Kinhin: walking meditation, indoor and outdoor
Dharma talks daily by MRZC guiding teachers and the shuso
Oryoki: formal meals in the Japanese Zen tradition (orientation provided)
Formal afternoon tea service in the zendo
Dokusan: individual meetings with teachers
Samu: work practice to maintain the community
Meditation Experience
We recommend that you have some meditation experience prior to participating in this retreat. You are welcome and encouraged to join Mountain Rain Zen Community for an orientation at one of our regular Wednesday evening or Sunday morning sits. Practitioners from other traditions are warmly welcome. Please inquire if you have any questions about whether this retreat is right for you.
Rides/carpooling
There is no public transit to the Brew Creek Centre. Please arrange carpools on your own if possible. Please indicate on the registration form whether you need or can offer a ride (a gas $ contribution to driver is appreciated). Our ride coordinator will match up those needing rides with those offering rides. We will try to let you know arrangements two weeks before the start day. We cannot guarantee rides for late registrants.
Dana (Donations to the teachers)
Retreat fees cover expenses only. Dana (donations) to the teachers can be made at the retreat, or HERE
To add a name to be chanted during our well-being and memorial dedication services, please click button:
