Sesshin (literally, "touching the heart") are highly structured, intensive periods of silent 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.
Note: Previous Zen meditation experience and an established meditation practice are required to participate in a sesshin. If you have not been to NZC before, plan to attend a Sunday Open Zen session or an Intro to Zen workshop before requesting a sesshin application.
Retreats are less intense than sesshins, involve approximately six hours of meditation per day, and 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 (accessed via stairs) 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.
Note: Previous Zen meditation experience and an established meditation practice are required to participate in a sesshin. If you have not been to NZC before, plan to attend a Sunday Open Zen session or an Intro to Zen workshop before requesting a sesshin application.
Retreats are less intense than sesshins, involve approximately six hours of meditation per day, and 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 (accessed via stairs) 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.
Remaining Retreats and Sesshin for 2019:
~ September Sesshin: Thursday, September 26, 6:30pm - Sunday, September 29, 12:00pm
Standard Rate - $165; Sustaining Members - $150; Supporting Members - $130
Registration and payment deadline: 5:00pm, Wednesday, September 18
To register:
1. Send an email to nebraskazencenter@gmail.com to request an application.
2. Submit your completed application and wait to hear from us.
3. Once you have received email confirmation that your application has been approved, submit your payment via PayPal or check by the registration deadline to reserve a space.
Note: If you submit payment before your application has been approved, it will be returned to you, less any fees incurred by NZC.
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).
~ Rohatsu Sesshin: Sunday, December 8, 6:30pm - Saturday, December 14, 12:00pm
~ September Sesshin: Thursday, September 26, 6:30pm - Sunday, September 29, 12:00pm
Standard Rate - $165; Sustaining Members - $150; Supporting Members - $130
Registration and payment deadline: 5:00pm, Wednesday, September 18
To register:
1. Send an email to nebraskazencenter@gmail.com to request an application.
2. Submit your completed application and wait to hear from us.
3. Once you have received email confirmation that your application has been approved, submit your payment via PayPal or check by the registration deadline to reserve a space.
Note: If you submit payment before your application has been approved, it will be returned to you, less any fees incurred by NZC.
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).
~ Rohatsu Sesshin: Sunday, December 8, 6:30pm - Saturday, December 14, 12:00pm