Sesshin (literally, "touching the heart") are intensive periods of group practice with approximately ten hours of meditation each day. It is a practice designed to challenge and deepen one's practice, and there is no better way to explore and awaken to the heart of Zen, which is the heart of everything.
Retreats - less intense than sesshins - involve approximately six hours of meditation, and typically include a full schedule of zazen, group study sessions, and work practice.
In addition to the meditation hall, communal spaces, and the outdoor garden with a walking path, NZC accommodations include several second floor sleeping rooms that serve as shared dorm space for retreat and sesshin participants. Vegetarian meals are provided. Meal preparation, eating formal and informal meals together, and kitchen clean-up are part of the daily practice.
Outside of dharma talks and dokusan (individual meetings with a teacher), sesshins and retreats take place within a container of silence. Participants are expected to begin and end the retreat/sesshin with the group, follow the schedule, and uphold the practice forms and guidelines that are intentionally designed to support group harmony.
A Note Regarding Teacher Dana:
Our teachers, Dosho and Tetsugan, do not receive payment from Nebraska Zen Center for leading sesshin and retreats but rely on "teacher dana" for compensation. $30 per day of sesshin/retreat is the suggested dana per person; if your financial circumstances allow for more or less than that amount, your gift will be received with gratitude.
~ Zazenkai: A Day of Silent Meditation - Sunday June 23, 8:25am-4:30pm (includes a simple vegetarian lunch)
These day-long meditation sessions include zazen, chanting/liturgy, and an individual meeting with a teacher. They are an important way for more experienced students to deepen their practice, and for newer students to lay the groundwork for the practice of sesshin.
Registration and payment deadline: Registration is now closed for this event
Standard rate: $45; Member rate: $25
~To register, simply submit your payment via PayPal or by check by the registration deadline, and include a note stating the payment is for the June 23 day of meditation.
~ July Sesshin - Saturday, July 20, 6:55pm - Saturday, July 27, 12:00pm (7 days)
The sesshin includes six dharma talks, daily opportunities for dokusan (face-to-face meetings with a teacher), a daily group caretaking/work period, shared lodging & 19 meals.
Note: As of June 20, the July sesshin is almost full. If you are interested in attending, request an application ASAP.
To register:
1. Send an email to nebraskazencenter@gmail.com to request an application.
2. Once you have received email confirmation that your application has been reviewed and approved, submit your payment via PayPal or check by the registration deadline to reserve your space.
Note: If you submit payment before your application has been approved, it will be returned to you, less any fees incurred by NZC.
Early registration & payment deadline - 5:00pm, Monday, June 24
Standard rate $320; Sustaining members $285; Supporting members $235
Standard registration & payment deadline - 5:00pm, Monday, July 8
Standard rate $390; Sustaining members $345; Supporting members $290
*Partial scholarships are available for those with limited finances.
Refund Policy: Your payment reserves a space for you in the sesshin/retreat. Due to this and the advanced planning and preparation required to host sesshin/retreats, registration fees are no longer refundable after the registration deadline has passed. If a registrant cancels before the registration deadline, the fee is refundable, less a $25 administrative fee and any additional fees incurred by NZC (i.e. PayPal fees). If your application is not approved for any reason, or the sesshin is canceled, the fee will be returned to you in full, less any fees incurred by NZC (i.e. PayPal fees).
~ September Sesshin - Thursday, September 26, 7:00pm - Sunday, September 29, 12:00pm (3 days)
~ Rohatsu Sesshin - Saturday, December 7, 7:00pm - Saturday, December 14, 12:00pm (7 days)
These day-long meditation sessions include zazen, chanting/liturgy, and an individual meeting with a teacher. They are an important way for more experienced students to deepen their practice, and for newer students to lay the groundwork for the practice of sesshin.
Registration and payment deadline: Registration is now closed for this event
Standard rate: $45; Member rate: $25
~To register, simply submit your payment via PayPal or by check by the registration deadline, and include a note stating the payment is for the June 23 day of meditation.
~ July Sesshin - Saturday, July 20, 6:55pm - Saturday, July 27, 12:00pm (7 days)
The sesshin includes six dharma talks, daily opportunities for dokusan (face-to-face meetings with a teacher), a daily group caretaking/work period, shared lodging & 19 meals.
Note: As of June 20, the July sesshin is almost full. If you are interested in attending, request an application ASAP.
To register:
1. Send an email to nebraskazencenter@gmail.com to request an application.
2. Once you have received email confirmation that your application has been reviewed and approved, submit your payment via PayPal or check by the registration deadline to reserve your space.
Note: If you submit payment before your application has been approved, it will be returned to you, less any fees incurred by NZC.
Early registration & payment deadline - 5:00pm, Monday, June 24
Standard rate $320; Sustaining members $285; Supporting members $235
Standard registration & payment deadline - 5:00pm, Monday, July 8
Standard rate $390; Sustaining members $345; Supporting members $290
*Partial scholarships are available for those with limited finances.
Refund Policy: Your payment reserves a space for you in the sesshin/retreat. Due to this and the advanced planning and preparation required to host sesshin/retreats, registration fees are no longer refundable after the registration deadline has passed. If a registrant cancels before the registration deadline, the fee is refundable, less a $25 administrative fee and any additional fees incurred by NZC (i.e. PayPal fees). If your application is not approved for any reason, or the sesshin is canceled, the fee will be returned to you in full, less any fees incurred by NZC (i.e. PayPal fees).
~ September Sesshin - Thursday, September 26, 7:00pm - Sunday, September 29, 12:00pm (3 days)
~ Rohatsu Sesshin - Saturday, December 7, 7:00pm - Saturday, December 14, 12:00pm (7 days)