Rohatsu Sesshin

Jumping off the 100 foot Pole

Please join us this year for Hokyoji’s Rohatsu Sesshin. Rohatsu means “eighth day of the 12th month” and commemorates the enlightenment of the Buddha. This year, the Rohatsu Sesshin will be co-led by Hokyoji’s Associate Teachers Rev. Onryu “GD” Kennedy and Rev. Keidō Jeromy Thotland. The theme this year will be Jumping off the 100 foot Pole.

We have added “long weekend” option to this year’s Rohatsu. If you can’t get away for the entire week, why not join us Thursday (evening) through Sunday? Purchase the “Long Weekend Retreat Ticket” when registering.

Rev. Onryu “GD” Kennedy has received transmission in both the Katagiri and Uchiyama Roshi lineages. In 2019 and 2020, she attended three-month practice periods at Toshoji International Zen Center (Japan) and in 2017 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (California). In the Spring 2020 practice period at Toshoji she was Shuso, head monk, for the practice period. She completed zuise in January 2023, and in February 2024 her application for Kokusaifukuyoshi was approved by the Japanese Sotoshu. Throughout her life she has valued social justice work as an expression of her vow. She is currently an Associate Teacher at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community. She experiences great joy in the opportunity to learn and teach Buddhist practices.

Rev. Keidō Jeromy Thotland is a Senior Priest and Sewing Teacher with MZMC in Minneapolis, MN and an Associate Teacher and Board member with Hokyoji near New Albin, IA. He was ordained in 2019 and given transmission in 2024 by Ted O’Toole.

​He was born and raised in Minneapolis. His life includes experiences in the US Navy, retail, labor union work, and research. He depends on these, including family and sangha life, to remind him of the many ways of being. His focus is on the intersection of the everydayness of life and the everydayness of Zen, and the wonder that each moment can bring.

Ino/Tenzo
If you have any interest in volunteering as ino or tenzo for this retreat, please indicate so in your registration comments.

New Zendo Construction
The New Zendo is now under construction. We don’t know what the noise level will be like at this time but it won’t be as quite as usual (probably more city-like). Of course, there will be no construction during the early morning and evening hours as well as weekends.

Registration fees cover lodging and food. Hokyoji compensates teachers through the dana system. If you would like to contribute, you may do so before, at, or after the retreat. If you would like to donate online, please click here.