REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS CLOSED.  TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITLIST, CONTACT ADMIN@AUSTINZENCENTER.ORG

This is a one-day retreat in which we put down our usual activity and preoccupations to settle deeply into silence and stillness together in zazen. The day includes two chanting services (morning and midday), and breakfast and lunch in the zendo, using the practice called oryoki, a formalized and mindful way of eating that has connections with the Japanese tea ceremony. There will be a dharma talk mid-morning. A silent work period follows lunch. There will be time for individual body practice and during the afternoon sitting periods, private meetings with a teacher will be available. The day will end by 5 pm.  (If you are planning on attending the protest in Austin this afternoon, you are permitted to leave the sitting early.)

This retreat is for experienced practitioners and participants should already be familiar with zazen practice and basic zendo forms. If this is your first all day sitting, you should have enough zazen experience to follow the schedule, sitting for 25-35 minutes at a time during morning and afternoon. No zazen instruction is offered at this retreat.

Instruction in the meal form of orkyoki is offered at the orientation on Friday night at 7 pm, which you should attend if you are new to this form. If unsure whether this retreat is right for you, please contact Choro (choro@austinzencenter.org). 

Limited to 25 participants.