Annette and I are planning to meet and do a sesshin ("heart gathering") retreat at Houn Ji 19 to 24th June. This will be an intensive, mostly silent retreat with much practice of both silent illumination and nembutsu. It is, in some ways, an experiment, to see how this will work in the present state of development of the building, given that we do not yet have a meditation hall or sufficient guest accommodation. It might, however, be possible for one more person to join us. If you are interested, let me know.
Likely schedule:
Thursday evening orientation.
Friday-Monday:
04.00 Rise. 04.30 Nemzen. 06.00 Drink. 06.30 Nembutsu. 07.00 Puja (Texts & lineage). 08.00 Breakfast. 10.00 Nemzen. 10.30 Dharma talk or reading or Q&A. 11.15 Nemzen 12.30 Lunch, then rest/walk. 15.30 Nemzen. 17.30 Snack. 18.15 Nemzen. Puja. 20.00 Bed
Tuesday 06.30 Nembutsu. 07.00 Puja (Texts & lineage). 08.00 Breakfast. 10.00 Nemzen. 11.00 Sharing & reflection 12.00 Lunch & end
Nemzen here indicates periods of silent illumination using nembutsu, usually in 25 minute sittings separated by short periods of movement or stretching as we do not yet have room to do kinhin.
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