Retreats

Mountain Rain Zen Community offers opportunities for more intensive practice and study. Both residential and non-residential retreats are offered throughout the year.

Sunday Half-Day Retreats

About eight times a year we have Sunday half-day retreats, 9:00-1:30. These retreats are a good way to get a taste of a Zen retreat experience. They include zazen, kinhin, dharma talk, service, and work period. A simple vegetarian lunch is served. By donation. No registration required.

It is fine to attend as much of the retreat as you are able to.

Non-Residential Retreats

Mountain Rain holds several daylong and weekend retreats through the year led by our Guiding Teachers, and one weekend retreat led by our Founding Teacher. 

Residential Retreats

In 2024 Mountain Rain is offering two 7-day residential sesshin (intensive retreat) at Brew Creek Centre between Squamish and Whistler. One in July and the second in December.

Sesshin is an important way to deepen your practice, taking up the ancient monastic forms that guide us through the cycle of each day. We all participate not only in meditation practice, but in cooking, cleaning, and eating with traditional Zen oryoki (three bowls).