Our Inmost Request with Karen DeCotis

Retreat Description

Zen Master Suzuki Roshi encourages us to be fully who we are, not to try to figure out who we are or have an idea of how to be.

To be fully who we are, we look to realize our inmost nature, our inmost request of ourselves. As we identify this, we must find how to maintain this, to have a continuous practice and have this deep request inform our effort in all of our arenas of practice - meditation, relationships, parenting, activism, art, service.

This weekend we will explore the quest of our inmost aspiration and how it relates to being upright in a wonderful and troubled world. It will include meditation, instruction, Dharma talks, writing and reflection and group conversation.

This retreat will be offered online and in person. The intention is to record it and send a link to the recording to registered participants. 

About the Teacher

Karen DeCotis is the Abiding Teacher of San Antonio Zen Center. Karen received priest ordination in the Soto Lineage in 2016 from Sojun Mel Weitsman; transmission in 2019. She practiced at the Berkeley Zen Center and San Francisco Zen Center beginning in 1986. She practiced with and taught the Bozeman Zen Group for 20 years and was the first Executive Director of the Bozeman Dharma Center. Devoted to service and engaged learning, Karen brings knowledge of and experience with the Buddhist traditions along with a clear-eyed view of human life, suffering and transformation. She is known for her humor and warmth, bringing her intelligence, wit and humility to every teaching opportunity