Nehan-e Sesshin

to honor the Buddha’s entering parinirvana

Nehan-e Sesshin has begun, but you can still join us for our annual silent meditation retreat held in honor of the Buddha’s entering parinirvana, nirvana beyond death. This year, our week-long sesshin will be led by Carolyn Dille, a transmitted student of Jikoji's founding director Angie Boissevain, continuing our tradition of a Floating Zendo connection to Jikoji's annual Nehan-e sesshin.

Sesshin offers us the valuable opportunity to directly experience what is essential in meditation practice and in our lives. Nehan-e this year will focus on shikantaza, natural mind-body sitting, through the teachings of Bodhidharma and Dōgen.

Sesshin starts Friday, February 8 with registration & oryoki (mindful eating) instruction between 4-6pm, and ends Friday, February 15.

A full sesshin schedule may be found below. Registration is open.

Cost:  
All teachings at Jikoji are freely offered. Sesshin costs cover overnight accommodations and meals; scholarships are available, upon request, for those who need them.

Accommodation and all meal fees for the full sesshin – 8-days (Friday - Friday), 7-nights – are $420. For those staying only a portion, fees are $60/per overnight, and $25/per day for daytime visits (no overnights) and include meals.

Meals
All food is vegetarian and prepared by the head of the kitchen known as the Tenzo. Sesshin meals will be served oryoki-style in the dining hall of our Community Building. Oryoki is an integral part of the sesshin experience and an extension of our Zendo forms. If you need to learn oryoki instructions please indicate so on the registration form. You may also learn the basics by watching the video and reading instructions supplied at www.jikoji.org/oryoki. For a complete list of meal times please see the schedule. Oryoki instruction will also be offered on arrival day, an hour before the evening meal, and by arrangement with the Sesshin Ino.  

Accommodations
Jikoji offers separate female and male dormitory style beds with shared bathrooms. If you have any special needs please let us know through the registration form. Bedding and linens are provided, but you are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag/extra blankets and pillow if taking the "campsite" option.

What to bring
Comfortable loose-fitting clothes good for sitting for long hours (ideally without logos and slogans)
A warm sweater and other warm layers (mornings and evenings can be chilly)
A warm, rain resistant coat
Shoes that you can work in
Shoes/footwear that are easy to remove after walking between buildings
A change of clothes to work outside (weather permitting)
Umbrella
Flashlight
Toiletries
Towel
An open mind

ABOUT CAROLYN DILLE
Carolyn Dille has been practicing Buddhist and other meditative forms for over 30 years and teaches dharma in the Vipassana Insight and Soto Zen traditions. She holds dharma transmission from Angie Enjo Boissevain and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s CDL program. As a poet and writer she has facilitated creativity retreats. Carolyn is the founding editor of Leaping Clear, an online journal for artists who practice contemplation. www.leapingclear.org

OUR SCHEDULE
(subject to minor change)

Friday, February 8                                                                                     
4–6 pm Registration
5-6 Oryoki Instruction
6:00 Social Dinner & Clean-Up
7:15 Han
7:30 Zazen
8:10 Opening Remarks
8:30 Refuges & Bows
9:15 Lights out

 Saturday, February 9
Monday February 11
Tuesday February 12
5:30 Wake-up Bell
6:00 Zazen
6:40 Kinhin
6:50 Zazen
7:20 Service
7:35 Breakfast
8:10 Soji
8:20 Bell rings-end Soji
9:10 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Zazen
10:40 Outside Kinhin
11:10 Zazen
11:50 Kinhin
12:00 Lunch 
2:00 Work Period
3:00 Clean-Up/Tea Set-up
3:15 Tea/Talk 
4:10 Kinhin
4:20 Zazen 
4:50 Kinhin 
5:00 Zazen
5:30 Kinhin
5:40 Supper
7:10 Zazen
7:50 Kinhin
8:00 Zazen
8:30 Refuges & Bows

 Sunday, February 10
5:30 Wake-up Bell
6:00 Zazen
6:40 Kinhin
6:50 Zazen
7:20 Service
7:35 Breakfast
8:10 Soji
8:20 Bell rings-end Soji
9:10 Zazen
9:40 Kinhin
9:50 Zazen
10:20 Kinhin
10:30 Zazen
11:10 Kinhin
11:20 Dharma Talk
11:50 Service
12:00 Kinhin
12:10 Lunch
2:30 Zazen              
3:10 Kinhin/Tea Set-up
3:30 Tea
4:00 Kinhin
4:10 Zazen
4:50 Kinhin
5:00 Zazen
5:30 Kinhin
5:40 Supper
7:10 Zazen
7:50 Kinhin
8:00 Zazen
8:30 Refuges & Bows

Wednesday February 13 & Thursday, February 14
5:30 Wake-up Bell
6:00 Zazen
6:40 Kinhin
6:50 Zazen
7:20 Service
7:35 Breakfast
8:10 Soji
8:20 Bell rings-end Soji
9:10 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Zazen
10:40 Outside Kinhin
11:10 Zazen
11:50 Kinhin
12:00 Lunch 
1:45 Zazen
2:20 Kinhin
2:30 Zazen
3:00 Kinhin/Tea Set-up
3:15 Tea/Talk
4:10 Kinhin
4:20 Zazen
4:50 Kinhin
5:00 Zazen
5:30 Kinhin
5:40 Supper
7:10 Zazen
7:50 Kinhin
8:00 Zazen
8:30 Refuges & Bows

Friday February 15
5:30 Wake-up Bell
6:00 Zazen
6:40 Service
6:55 Breakfast
7:30 Soji & Pack
8:30 Zazen
9:10 Kinhin
9:20 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Zazen
10: 30 Kinhin
10:40 Closing Remarks
11:10 Temple Cleanup
12:30 Social Lunch & Kitchen / Cleanup