Sesshin (5-day retreat) – Liberating Body and Mind

Liberating Body and Mind

This 5-day Zen sesshin retreat will be led by Daizan Skinner Roshi, and will celebrate the 800th anniversary of Japanese Zen monk Dogen’s enlightenment.

Dogen realised enlightenment while on retreat in a monastery in China. This moment marks the real beginning of the Japanese Soto tradition, the largest and most successful Buddhist school in Japan. After receiving Dharma transmission, the new Zen master, Dogen returned to Japan as he said, “empty-handed”. In writings of unique depth and beauty he toiled to introduce his students to the liberating practice and realisation of what he called “releasing body and mind”  (“Shinjin datsuraku “ 身心脱落).

On this retreat we will be exploring the teaching and methods that Dogen passed on through the lens of his 4th generation successor, Keizan, who studied intimately with five of Dogen’s personal students. In his teachings Keizan compassionately acted as a conduit, making the lofty vision of Dogen available to the many, opening wide “The Dharma gates of peace and joy”.

The retreat will include still meditation (zazen), movement and energy work, samu (working meditation), and sanzen (1-to-1s) with Daizan Roshi. This retreat is suitable for newer and more experienced students who have a willingness to face themselves on all levels.

We do not charge a fixed amount for these retreats, and instead would suggest a donation of between £350-450 (or £200-300 for Zenways members). In case of hardship in making a financial donation please contact us. No one is turned away through lack of means.

For the first time we will be offering the possibility to join the retreat remotely via Zoom. However this option is only open to those that have done an in-person sesshin before (with any Zen group) or attended an in-person BZR (with us). Please let us know if you want to join online when you book, together with a note saying which retreat(s) you have attended before (doesn’t have to be an exhaustive list).