RETREATS AND SEICHU
Exploring practice beyond short stays on the Zen cushion: two retreats this Fall, and "Virtual Seichu," a ten-week commitment to "practice, study and community."
Retreats
Day-long, Sunday, October 2, 2022.
Starting at 9 am, ending at 8pm, at Brandon Doyle's Top O' The Morning Farm, Plymouth Vt, (and on Zoom). The day includes sitting, chanting and walking meditation practice, "Dharma talk," dokusan (personal teacher meeting), meals, work periods and breaks to explore on your own. Led by Gendo. Cost: donation of $50 suggested. To Register and for more details, contact us. To pay for retreat click here.
Starting at 9 am, ending at 8pm, at Brandon Doyle's Top O' The Morning Farm, Plymouth Vt, (and on Zoom). The day includes sitting, chanting and walking meditation practice, "Dharma talk," dokusan (personal teacher meeting), meals, work periods and breaks to explore on your own. Led by Gendo. Cost: donation of $50 suggested. To Register and for more details, contact us. To pay for retreat click here.
Five day Retreat, December 7 -11 2022.
Starting 9am on December 7, celebrating "Rohatsu" (Buddha's awakening), this retreat will be residential (commuter option possible -stay posted), with a daily schedule running from wake up to bed-time, all meals provided, otherwise similar to the day-long retreat (above). Led by Gendo. Cost by donation: $250 suggested. To Register and for more details, contact us. To pay for retreat click here.
Starting 9am on December 7, celebrating "Rohatsu" (Buddha's awakening), this retreat will be residential (commuter option possible -stay posted), with a daily schedule running from wake up to bed-time, all meals provided, otherwise similar to the day-long retreat (above). Led by Gendo. Cost by donation: $250 suggested. To Register and for more details, contact us. To pay for retreat click here.
Virtual Seichu
Fall, 2022
Upper Valley Zen Center (UVZC) announces its first Fall ‘Virtual Seichu,’ a commitment to contemplative practice–- September 29 to December 11. For these 10 weeks,
participants are invited to make a personal commitment: 1) to practice, 2) to study, 3) to community – to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
Commitment. This page can be copied to record your own Seichu commitment. For questions or guidance, contact Gendo here.
1) Practice. For both new and experienced practitioners, this is commitment to challenge yourself, to commit to a daily schedule of contemplation, either your own or together with others, virtual or in person. UVZC offers a schedule of introductory sessions, daily practice and retreats (above) that all are welcome to join (on Zoom and in-person). Cost: all participants in our schedule are encouraged to make a monthly commitment of support to the Zen Center. (Donate on-line here.)
Record your commitment:
2) Study. Participants are invited commit to join a weekly Study Group, Thursday nights, 7 to 8:30 pm. Sessions begin with a period of meditation, followed by study of Shinjinmei, a foundational text in Zen tradition, paired with commentary by Joshu Sasaki (see study texts.) Guest teachers will lead our study (see "Teachers" below). Cost: by donation, $15 suggested per session, $100 for all ten. ( Please contact us if you plan to attend. Donate on-line here. )
Record your commitment:
3) Community. Participants serve community by commitment to learning and leading the form that is our practice together; and/or joining group projects - Zen Center work days to be announced.
Record your commitment:
Upper Valley Zen Center (UVZC) announces its first Fall ‘Virtual Seichu,’ a commitment to contemplative practice–- September 29 to December 11. For these 10 weeks,
participants are invited to make a personal commitment: 1) to practice, 2) to study, 3) to community – to Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
Commitment. This page can be copied to record your own Seichu commitment. For questions or guidance, contact Gendo here.
1) Practice. For both new and experienced practitioners, this is commitment to challenge yourself, to commit to a daily schedule of contemplation, either your own or together with others, virtual or in person. UVZC offers a schedule of introductory sessions, daily practice and retreats (above) that all are welcome to join (on Zoom and in-person). Cost: all participants in our schedule are encouraged to make a monthly commitment of support to the Zen Center. (Donate on-line here.)
Record your commitment:
2) Study. Participants are invited commit to join a weekly Study Group, Thursday nights, 7 to 8:30 pm. Sessions begin with a period of meditation, followed by study of Shinjinmei, a foundational text in Zen tradition, paired with commentary by Joshu Sasaki (see study texts.) Guest teachers will lead our study (see "Teachers" below). Cost: by donation, $15 suggested per session, $100 for all ten. ( Please contact us if you plan to attend. Donate on-line here. )
Record your commitment:
3) Community. Participants serve community by commitment to learning and leading the form that is our practice together; and/or joining group projects - Zen Center work days to be announced.
Record your commitment:
Teachers (Shinjinmei Study Thursdays, 7-8:30 pm)
For schedule of when teachers will join us, go to study texts.

Sandy Gentei Stewart
Stewart studied Zen and was ordained teacher (Osho) under Joshu Sasaki Roshi. In 1975, Stewart was appointed abbot of the Jemez Bodhi Mandala (now Bodhi Manda) in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, and he served as the abbot and teacher for the North Carolina Zen Center from 1978 to 2015
Stewart studied Zen and was ordained teacher (Osho) under Joshu Sasaki Roshi. In 1975, Stewart was appointed abbot of the Jemez Bodhi Mandala (now Bodhi Manda) in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, and he served as the abbot and teacher for the North Carolina Zen Center from 1978 to 2015

Tenku Ruff, osho
…is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest who has trained in Zen monasteries in Japan and North America. Ordained by Tessai Yamamoto Roshi in Morioka, Japan and received dharma transmission in the same lineage.

Koshin Cain, osho
In 1999 Joshu Roshi made him an Osho, or teacher. From 1999 to 2002 he served as Vice-abbot of Mt. Baldy Zen Center. In 2003 he moved to Vashon Island and became the founding teacher of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Since 2009, Koshin has also served as the formal teacher of the Rinzai Zen Center in Oslo, Norway.
In 1999 Joshu Roshi made him an Osho, or teacher. From 1999 to 2002 he served as Vice-abbot of Mt. Baldy Zen Center. In 2003 he moved to Vashon Island and became the founding teacher of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Since 2009, Koshin has also served as the formal teacher of the Rinzai Zen Center in Oslo, Norway.

Kenzan Seidenberg
…was ordained by Rev. Taihaku Priest in 2008, was shuso (head monk) in 2013 and received dharma transmission (authorization to teach in the Soto Zen lineage) in January 2016. His training included monastic practice in both the United States and Japan.
…was ordained by Rev. Taihaku Priest in 2008, was shuso (head monk) in 2013 and received dharma transmission (authorization to teach in the Soto Zen lineage) in January 2016. His training included monastic practice in both the United States and Japan.

Kyonen James Gordon
After seven years of study with Soen Nakagawa, Roshi, he began study with Kyozan Joshu Sasaki, Roshi, from 1977 until Roshi’s death in 2014. Kyonen was ordained as a monk in 2001, Retired from practiuce of psychiatry, he is the guiding teacher at Hardscrabble Zendo, Sheffield, MA.
After seven years of study with Soen Nakagawa, Roshi, he began study with Kyozan Joshu Sasaki, Roshi, from 1977 until Roshi’s death in 2014. Kyonen was ordained as a monk in 2001, Retired from practiuce of psychiatry, he is the guiding teacher at Hardscrabble Zendo, Sheffield, MA.

Gendo Allyn Field, osho
….lay monk and teacher in the Rinzai Zen tradition, he received ordination from Joshu Sasaki in 2003 and suijishiki (teacher ordination) from Sandy Gentei Stewart in 2013. He leads practice at Upper Valley Zen Center, leads student practice at Dartmouth College, is a "per diem chaplain” at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
….lay monk and teacher in the Rinzai Zen tradition, he received ordination from Joshu Sasaki in 2003 and suijishiki (teacher ordination) from Sandy Gentei Stewart in 2013. He leads practice at Upper Valley Zen Center, leads student practice at Dartmouth College, is a "per diem chaplain” at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.