2018 RETREATS
RETREATS 2019 Click here for pictures from the seven Day retrat (Sesshin) ,November 2017
All Zen retreats, unless noted, will be held at "Moose Mountain Retreat "in Hanover, NH, about a 30 minute drive from Lebanon, NH. Retreats involve meditation, walking and chanting practice, formal meals (silent, vegetarian), talks on a given topic or text and opportunity for 'dokusan" (personal meeting with a teacher), as well as work periods and free time to explore the secluded woodland location.. Instruction is offered as needed.
Retreats are led by Gendo Allyn Field, UVZC teacher and guest teachers as noted. Overnight accommodations are provided as needed. Costs are reduced for members* (10%) and students (20%). No one is turned away for financial reasons: Work exchange and other arrangements are possible.
*Members are pledge supporters of Upper Valley Zen Center. To become a pledge supporter, go to the donation page.
QUESTIONS AND REGISTRATION: Contact Us for questions, click here for payments.
DECEMBER, 'ROHATSU' RETREAT, Hanover, NH. This four day Zen retreat starts at 8:30 on Thursday, December 5 and ends at 4:30 pm on December 8. Cos $250 (discounts for members and students, work options available.). The focus will be the application of Zen Buddhist tradition and contemplative practices to everyday life. Schedule includes periods of sitting,walking and chanting practice, as well as talks, option for interviews (dokusan), vegetarian meals, work periods and free time, with instruction as needed. People unfamiliar with Buddhist practice are encouraged to register for an orientation Wednesday, December 4, 5 to 6 pm. For info and registration (by December 1), contact us. Join us for the traditional period of dedicated practice commemorating the Buddha's enlightenment, led by Gendo. Part attendance possible (inquire), with priority given to full time.
All Zen retreats, unless noted, will be held at "Moose Mountain Retreat "in Hanover, NH, about a 30 minute drive from Lebanon, NH. Retreats involve meditation, walking and chanting practice, formal meals (silent, vegetarian), talks on a given topic or text and opportunity for 'dokusan" (personal meeting with a teacher), as well as work periods and free time to explore the secluded woodland location.. Instruction is offered as needed.
Retreats are led by Gendo Allyn Field, UVZC teacher and guest teachers as noted. Overnight accommodations are provided as needed. Costs are reduced for members* (10%) and students (20%). No one is turned away for financial reasons: Work exchange and other arrangements are possible.
*Members are pledge supporters of Upper Valley Zen Center. To become a pledge supporter, go to the donation page.
QUESTIONS AND REGISTRATION: Contact Us for questions, click here for payments.
DECEMBER, 'ROHATSU' RETREAT, Hanover, NH. This four day Zen retreat starts at 8:30 on Thursday, December 5 and ends at 4:30 pm on December 8. Cos $250 (discounts for members and students, work options available.). The focus will be the application of Zen Buddhist tradition and contemplative practices to everyday life. Schedule includes periods of sitting,walking and chanting practice, as well as talks, option for interviews (dokusan), vegetarian meals, work periods and free time, with instruction as needed. People unfamiliar with Buddhist practice are encouraged to register for an orientation Wednesday, December 4, 5 to 6 pm. For info and registration (by December 1), contact us. Join us for the traditional period of dedicated practice commemorating the Buddha's enlightenment, led by Gendo. Part attendance possible (inquire), with priority given to full time.
Ka Rin's reflection/memoir of the November 2017 Sesshin
Again I have wandered upon a Zen meditation retreat & am bringing you various crystalline vessels & capillaries. Unto this week was spent in the quite rural forests of Hanover, NH adjacent to Moose Mountain. Originally the area was a small village called Tunis—a remaining one room school house manifested in red paint where we walked down the road to hold dharma talks—& it's said the village was called Tunis purportedly because the villagers raised Tunisian sheep.
The retreat was heart close & kidney like as Gendo and Gentei are special teachers for me in this bardo. Gentei traveling from North Carolina where I have practiced with him as well when I walked the country.
On the first night I went to dokusan or private interview with Gentei and the air was tinged with mystical qualities. Altering experience to a more profound dimension. I had been enduring a little bit of a panicked dissassociation that randomly crosses my life and mind at times. I explained this to Gentei saying that a gap or void appeared in my awareness where my imagination could push through. He responded by announcing that I was "an amazing person" & suddenly the two antlered deer figurines behind him glinted back at me shamanistically!! Afterwards as others traveled the stairs to visit Gentei there was one monk remaining who was lingering & maybe not bowing and going. Upon which the shoji monk said in his best corrections officer voice "He's expecting company" & the lingering monk promptly went ahead!! I thought unto myself, "This will be an exciting retreat!"
And even later on as the week progressed and the cold sunk in I saw a shooting star in the faintly lit sky at dusk. A first, indeed. The two most exciting surprises of the retreat were 1. walking out through the yard at night in a perfect in step row with others called kinhin and a porcupine ambled spines out in the dark around us. Secondly near the lasts nights of the retreat Gendo's robe lit aflame briefly, haha.
One night I dreamed of donning monk's robes in San Francisco and begging on the streets for change. When beside me a Tibetan monk cyclops approached to converse. What a dreaming! On the last night we were surprised with a fire outside by the pond with the sky a mosaic of starlight so brilliantly appearing. We then broke noble silence to speak of edgy jokes, share stories, and sing old songs. A very close hearted sesshin in the wildernesses of it all.
And in the between of meeting for dokusan four times daily I studied and passed 3 koans even venturing out with the ever famous "What is the sound of one hand?" fashioned originally by Hakuin in Japan.
So now you have ventured with me through time and back to the appearing of the pristine Buddha's mind that we share & are glad for. I will leave you from this recounting but before and ahead of you remains quotes assembled from the tidings of the teachers and retreat.
I wish you all well!!!
Ka Rin / Colin
Again I have wandered upon a Zen meditation retreat & am bringing you various crystalline vessels & capillaries. Unto this week was spent in the quite rural forests of Hanover, NH adjacent to Moose Mountain. Originally the area was a small village called Tunis—a remaining one room school house manifested in red paint where we walked down the road to hold dharma talks—& it's said the village was called Tunis purportedly because the villagers raised Tunisian sheep.
The retreat was heart close & kidney like as Gendo and Gentei are special teachers for me in this bardo. Gentei traveling from North Carolina where I have practiced with him as well when I walked the country.
On the first night I went to dokusan or private interview with Gentei and the air was tinged with mystical qualities. Altering experience to a more profound dimension. I had been enduring a little bit of a panicked dissassociation that randomly crosses my life and mind at times. I explained this to Gentei saying that a gap or void appeared in my awareness where my imagination could push through. He responded by announcing that I was "an amazing person" & suddenly the two antlered deer figurines behind him glinted back at me shamanistically!! Afterwards as others traveled the stairs to visit Gentei there was one monk remaining who was lingering & maybe not bowing and going. Upon which the shoji monk said in his best corrections officer voice "He's expecting company" & the lingering monk promptly went ahead!! I thought unto myself, "This will be an exciting retreat!"
And even later on as the week progressed and the cold sunk in I saw a shooting star in the faintly lit sky at dusk. A first, indeed. The two most exciting surprises of the retreat were 1. walking out through the yard at night in a perfect in step row with others called kinhin and a porcupine ambled spines out in the dark around us. Secondly near the lasts nights of the retreat Gendo's robe lit aflame briefly, haha.
One night I dreamed of donning monk's robes in San Francisco and begging on the streets for change. When beside me a Tibetan monk cyclops approached to converse. What a dreaming! On the last night we were surprised with a fire outside by the pond with the sky a mosaic of starlight so brilliantly appearing. We then broke noble silence to speak of edgy jokes, share stories, and sing old songs. A very close hearted sesshin in the wildernesses of it all.
And in the between of meeting for dokusan four times daily I studied and passed 3 koans even venturing out with the ever famous "What is the sound of one hand?" fashioned originally by Hakuin in Japan.
So now you have ventured with me through time and back to the appearing of the pristine Buddha's mind that we share & are glad for. I will leave you from this recounting but before and ahead of you remains quotes assembled from the tidings of the teachers and retreat.
I wish you all well!!!
Ka Rin / Colin