The Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago hosts meditation retreats
(sesshin) on a monthly basis. One-day sesshin
are usually held at the Temple in Evanston on the first
Saturday of the month and last from 12:30pm to 10:30pm,
with breaks for mindful work and a meal.
More intensive three-day
sesshin are held several times each year,
usually at a priest's or disciple's home, and last from 7:30pm
Thursday night until noon on Sunday.
The standard schedule for a one-day sesshin
is as follows:
12:30 pm - 1:10 pm -- zazen
1:10 pm - 1:20 pm -- kinhin
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm -- zazen
2:00 pm - 2:10 pm -- kinhin
2:10 pm - 2:50 pm -- zazen
2:50 pm - 3:00 pm -- chanting in Japanese (Hannya Shingyo)
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm -- samu (mindful work)
4:00 pm - 4:40 pm -- zazen
4:40 pm - 4:50 pm -- kinhin
4:50 pm - 5:30 pm -- zazen
5:30 pm - 5:40 pm -- kinhin
5:40 pm - 6:20 pm -- zazen
6:20 pm - 6:30 pm -- chanting in Japanese (Hannya Shingyo)
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm -- dinner
8:00 pm - 8:40 pm -- zazen
8:40 pm - 8:50 pm -- kinhin
8:50 pm - 9:30 pm -- zazen
9:30 pm - 9:40 pm -- kinhin
9:40 pm - 10:20 pm -- zazen
10:20 pm - 10:30 pm -- chanting in Japanese (Hannya Shingyo)
Sesshin is a vital part of a Zen Buddhist's spiritual training.
It affords the opportunity for intensive zazen, thus deepening
and strengthening one's meditation practice. Everyone is welcome
to attend and we encourage your participation regardless of
your level of experience in practicing zazen. Although we strongly
encourage everyone to attend the entire sesshin, please join
us to the fullest extent that your schedule allows.
