Nehan-e Sesshin

to honor the Buddha’s entering parinirvana

Nehan-e sesshin is underway, but it's not too late to join us. Nehan-e is our annual silent meditation retreat held in honor of the Buddha’s entering parinirvana, nirvana beyond death. This year, our week-long sesshin will again 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 Nehan-e.

During Nehan-e each of us will have the opportunity to embody the profound practice of zazen, simply sitting—the great gift that Shakyamuni Buddha, Dōgenzenji, and other ancestors have passed on to us.

Sitting in the heart of winter, with the support of community, teachings, a full moon, and poetry, we open to trusting the mystery of our own heart, mind, and body.

Zazen, by Dogenzenji
(Calligraphy and translation
by Kazuaki Tanahashi)

The moon
abides in the midst
of serene mind;
billows break
into light.

Nehan-e Sesshin starts Friday, February 7 with registration & oryoki (temple eating) instruction between 4 and 6 pm, and ends Friday, February 14.

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.

Accommodations 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 a dedicated student of Buddhist practices for 30 years in the Soto Zen and the Early Buddhist Insight traditions. She began teaching in dharma communities in 1998 and has studied with a variety of teachers in the United States and Asia. She holds dharma transmission from Angie Enji Boissevain in the Phoenix Cloud lineage and graduated from Spirit Rock’s CDL program.

Carolyn is a poet, writer, and founding editor of Leaping Clear, www.leapingclear.org, a digital magazine of the arts featuring artists with meditative and contemplative practices. On occasion, she offers retreats and workshops that integrate meditation and artistic expression.

OUR SCHEDULE
(subject to minor change)

Friday, February 7                                                                                     
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 8
Monday February 10
Tuesday February 11
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 9
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
9:20 Zazen
9:50 Kinhin
10:00 Zazen
10:40 Kinhin
10:50 Zazen
11:20 Service
11:40 Dharma Talk
12:30 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 12 & Thursday, February 13
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 14
5:30 Wake-up Bell
6:00 Zazen
6:40 Service
6:55 Breakfast
7:30 Soji
7:40 Pack and prepare to leave
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 preparation for Jukai Ceremony
12:00 Social Lunch & Kitchen / Cleanup