retreats

JOIN US. Four times a year, Hokoji hosts a multi-day Zen retreat with a consistent schedule that creates a deep, quiet container for zazen (sitting meditation) practice. Practitioners are invited to allow the mind to rest in its natural state and enter a shared silence that opens the heart and allows for a higher awareness to arise and grow. The Japanese word for retreat is Sesshin which means to collect the heart/mind. During these retreats we devote every aspect of the day to the realization of the Buddha Way. 

Our March 2025 retreat has been postponed. Stay tuned for an announcement on new dates soon. The expected donation to attend retreat is $65/day per person, which covers expenses including electricity, heat, food, and lodging. Registration for retreat is required - registration page will be posted when the next retreat dates are announced. Please contact us to discuss a sliding scale if you are in need.

Practitioner arrival is in the afternoon for a casual potluck dinner, orientation, and evening meditation. Each day consists of sitting (zazen) and walking (kinhin) meditation, service and chanting, personal interviews with the teacher, work practice (samu), and informal afternoon tea. Throughout the retreat we support each other in quiet, whole-hearted practice. Meals are taken through the practice of Oryoki --a mindful way of eating that provides an opportunity to deepen our practice. The retreat ends with an informal lunch on Sunday.

An example retreat schedule can be viewed here.