5-day Zen sesshin retreat led by Daizan Skinner Roshi.

“We have to make an intense commitment to compassion, to be willing to be one with others. Unless we can do this, we stay at the top of the mountain and are never entirely free.” Zen Master Hakuin

In a time when so many people suffer with a sense of disconnection and loneliness, a profound alienation can arise. The prime remedy for these states of suffering is the development of compassion. The quality of compassion embraces both one’s own suffering and that of others. Zen practice is often considered to prioritize the development of wisdom. But the Buddha taught us that true awakening requires a practitioner to develop both wisdom and compassion. In this retreat we will be exploring Zen approaches to the practice, application and imagery of compassion. Encompassing much more than the development of warm feelings, compassion is here approached as a grounded, practical and deeply transformative process relevant to stressful life in the twenty-first century.

Because of the powerful methods explored in this sesshin, it is not suitable for complete beginners to Zen practice. If you have completed at least one Breakthrough to Zen retreat.

To find out more about our Sesshins, click here.

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.