The Coming of Coming and Going

Tomorrow night our annual Coming and Going Sesshin begins at the Temple with an opening ceremony at 7:30 pm.  Here is a link for more information, and to register for overnight stays:  coming and going sesshin information

This intensive meditation retreat is unique -- it's an opportunity to dip into practice at Boundless Way Temple in any way that suits your needs.  Practice begins every morning at 6 am, and ends every evening at 9 pm.  You're welcome to attend at any time, before or after work, or during a moment of freedom from childcare or any kind of daily tasks.   The best part is that you can discover Zen retreat practice even if you are relatively new to it, or completely immerse yourself in many days of silence and stillness.  The first few years we held this unusual sesshin, I was working full time, and attended practice in the mornings and evenings.  When I retired, I was lucky enough to stay all day whenever I could manage it. 

When you arrive, enter the Temple in silence, and join in whatever we're doing:  sitting, walking, listening to a talk, participating in group dialogue, coming to meet with a teacher, having a meal or resting during informal periods.  And you can also register to stay overnight, for anywhere from 1 to 20 nights.  People are heading to Worcester from all over the country and the world to join us.  I never know how the three weeks will unfold, but I'm looking forward to it with wonder and curiosity.  As Hakuin Zenji says, "Coming and going, we are never astray."  May it be so.

The full schedule is here: 

6:00 am            Early morning practice period -- includes dokusan (individual meetings                                                  with a teacher or senior students)

8:00 am            Breakfast followed by samu (caretaking practice)

10:00 am          Sutra service and late morning practice period -- includes teisho (dharma 
                           talk by a teacher or senior student) and dharma dialogue (group 
                           discussion)

12:30 pm          Lunch followed by afternoon rest period

2:30 pm            Afternoon practice period -- includes dokusan

5:30 pm            Dinner followed by evening rest period

7:00 - 9 pm       Evening practice period -- includes teisho and dokusan