Hokyoji

Hokyoji's Rohatsu Sesshin
2023-12-02 16:00 - 2023-12-09 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Hokyoji Rohatsu 2023 will be dedicated to the intimate and hopeful dance with the Four Noble Truths. In the beautiful deep dark of December, we will gently blow on the fires of understanding in our own hearts, and let the flames of wisdom naturally bring forth their light.

Retreat Leaders

Rev. Myo-O Habermas-Scher practiced with Katagiri Roshi from 1975 until his death in 1990; she also trained for twelve years in the Vipassana tradition. She received Dharma transmission in 2012 from Dokai at Hokyoji. Myo-O is a master movement teacher and teaches somatically based vocal training. In 2021 she retired after fourteen years as an interfaith staff chaplain at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, MHealth Fairview. She is also a mom and a grandmother to two little grandsons.

Rev. Kyoku Tracey Walen was ordained in 2008 and given Dharma transmission by Byakuren Judith Ragir in 2015. Her training included three years at Great Vow Zen Monastery and study with Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village. She lives at Hokyoji where she is a staff member and is also a teacher at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Practicing the Way in this Very Moment
2023-11-16 17:00 - 2023-11-19 11:00
Rev. Onryu Kennedy and Rev. Genjo Sam Conway will co-lead a 4-day retreat beginning November 16 at 5pm and ending on November 19 at 11am.

This retreat will include zazen, walking meditation, 2 dharma talks offered by each co-leader, and buffet style meals.

During this retreat Musho Darin Podulke-Smith will recieve priest ordination beginning at 2pm on November 18. Here is the link for the ordination; it is open for attendance by all:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89544682685?pwd=[REDACTED]

We invite all practitioners into this space of practice. Everyone is welcome.

Thursday to Sunday Retreat – $195, Hokyoji Members $156

Retreat Leaders

Rev. Onryu Kennedy received transmission from Rev. Byakuren Ragir in October 2018 in Katagiri Roshi’s lineage and from Rev. Eido Reinhart in January 2021 in Okumura Roshi’s lineage. She participated in zuise at Eiheiji on January 11, 2023 and at Sojiji on January 14, 2023.

She trained at Clouds in Water Zen Center, Hokyoji Zen Practice Community, Sanshin Zen Community, Tassajara Zen Monastery, and Toshoji International Zen Monastery.

In February 2022 she completed a year-long study of Engaged Buddhism at Upaya Zen Center. She has participated in Bearing Witness Retreats at Wounded Knee, SD and Auschwitz/Birkenau and a street retreat in San Francisco.

In 2016, she coordinated an interfaith Bearing Witness Retreat led by Indigenous Nations. In 2019, she coordinated the Winyan Awanyankapi: Protecting the Lifegivers conference. This conference was Indigenous led with white allies offering logistical support.

Kennedy has worked as a social worker for over 30 years with children and families and has an MA in counseling psychology.

She is committed to beneficial actions on behalf of all beings. This emerges from her relationship with Indigenous peoples around climate and racial justice issues. Also, she is committed to supporting the next generation of dharma practitioners and continuing to deepen our connection with our Japanese dharma relatives.

Rev. Genjo Sam Conway was ordained by his teacher Byakuren Roshi Judith Ragir in September 2016 at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, MN. He completed his shuso ceremony at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community in September 2021. Genjo has participated in and supported retreats at Clouds in Water, Hokyoji, Sanshiji, and Ryumonji. He is deeply committed to integrating traditional Soto Zen practice into contemporary American life, especially working with the karma of white convert Buddhists within white supremacy and with settler Buddhists on Indigenous land.

Genjo works as a psychotherapist, predominately with clients struggling with opioid and meth addiction alongside their emotional and psychological difficulties. He believes strongly, following Byakuren Roshi’s teaching, that American Buddhism is in deep need of integrating the psychological with the spiritual.

An avid mushroom hunter, swimmer, and cook, Genjo lives in South Minneapolis on occupied land traditional to the Dakota People with his three children, loving partner, adorable dog, and many, many plants.

Naturally Awake Retreat-a direct path to reclaiming your true nature, with guest teacher Marc Anderson
2023-11-09 16:00 - 2023-11-12 12:00
All wisdom traditions point to the same truth. Peace and cooperation are found byunderstanding the nature of reality, our naturally awake state of being. Most suffering stemsfrom a felt sense of separation. We self-identify with the content of life, our thoughts andperceptions, and ignore or remain unaware of the context of life, which is a constant flow ofeffortless awareness shared by all beings.

Whether you are an experienced meditator or an interested novice, this retreat goes beyondmindfulness to the heart of meditation, abiding peace and joy. Together we’ll explore ways toreturn to and rest in the naturally awakened state. This will include direct path teachings fromZen, Tibetan Buddhism, Vedanta, Christianity and neuroscience.

The format is simple and user-friendly. Mornings – silent and guided meditations. Afternoons –group discussion. Evenings will include sound bath and fireside star gazing meditations. Allmeals are served cafeteria style. The schedule allows for ample rest and free time.

Hokyoji Board Retreat
2023-11-03 16:00 - 2023-11-05 14:00

Memorial service for Keiyu Ken Ford
2023-10-29 09:30 - 11:00
Dear Sangha,

On Sunday, October 29th at 9:30am Hokyoji will honor the memory of long-time and dedicated practitioner Keiyu Ken Ford with a special service. The timing of this service corresponds to being about 49 days after Keiyu’s passing.

Keiyu was a very special person for Hokyoji as he was for many other Buddhist and spiritual communities.

The service will be officiated by Hokyoji’s Guiding Teacher, Dokai Georgesen. Keiyu’s wife, Barbara and daughter, Sara plan to attend and spread some of Ken’s ashes at the Katagiri stupa. Tea, treats and conversation will follow the service.

We invite all of you to attend this service. If you attend in person, kindly let us know by registering below.

The service will also be broadcast via Zoom:

ZOOM LINK

We look forward to gathering together to celebrate Keiyu’s life and practice.

Deep Gratitude,

Dokai

Just Sitting Retreat
2023-10-17 16:00 - 2023-10-22 14:00
Tuesday October 17th to Sunday October 22nd

Please join us in an evolving retreat format, an experiment in dedicated mindful meditation within an environment of deep silence. A sitting schedule and silence are the bones of the retreat. There will be no services, no chanting, no dharma talks, no interviews with a teacher, no formal meals, no work periods. Meals, silence, sitting and sleep will be the support for individual and collective mindful practice. That said, participants are free to practice as they see fit, augmenting their day with walks, naps, bird watching, botanizing, looking…meeting one’s needs mindfully as retreat activity.

All participants should have experienced multi-day mindfulness retreats or sesshins.

Please review the proposed schedule.

Meals and rooms will be provided.

Please register by Oct. 15

Hokyoji members will be able to pre-register with the 20% membership discount until October 10th, then the remaining tickets will go on sale at the non-membership rate.

To simplify room assignments, we are listing tickets for the single rooms and the double rooms, with standby tickets for those willing to share a double room and split the cost. Help with matching up potential roommates will be provided.

Costs Full retreat (6 days/5 nights) single room – $350, double room – $300. Financial considerations should not be an obstacle. If the cost seems a barrier, please contact one of us (below). If you are considering less than the full retreat, please contact one of us (below).

For further information and questions, contact Lee (leestevenlewis@gmail.com) or Bill (bftresch@hotmail.com).

Tuesday

6:00 – dinner7:00 – sitting7:30 – orientation8:00 – sitting 8:30 – end of day

Wednesday thru Saturday

7:00 – sitting7:30 – recitation7:35 – break8:00 – breakfast9:00 – sitting9:30 – walking9:45 – sitting10:15 – break10:45 – sitting11:15 – walking11:30 – sitting12:00 – lunch

2:00 – sitting2:30 – walking2:45 – sitting 3:15 – tea break 4:00 – sitting4:30 – walking4:45 – sitting5:15 – dinner

7:00 – sitting7:30 – walking8:00 – sitting 8:30 – end of day

Sunday, May 28 7:00 – sitting7:30 – walking7:45 – sitting8:15 – recitation8:20 – breakfast9:00 – wrap up group conversation 9:30 – clean up and departThis is a collective effort.

Healing Retreat- Fall
2023-09-28 12:00 - 2023-10-01 16:00
Tai Chi & Yoga

Minnesota Zen Meditation Center Retreat
2023-09-19 16:00 - 2023-09-24 14:00, 2022-09-20 08:00 - 2022-09-25 17:00
A contemporary style retreat, please contact MZMC for more information: https://www.mzmc.org/

Compassionate Ocean Zen Center Sesshin
2023-08-28 16:00 - 2023-09-04 14:00
Compassionate Ocean Sesshin, please contact Compassionate Ocean: https://www.oceanzen.org/

Hokyoji's Jewel Mirror Sesshin
2023-08-19 16:00 - 2023-08-26 13:00
Please join us August 19-26 for Hokyoji’s Jewel Mirror Sesshin.

The text we’ll be studying this year is Hōkyō Zanmai, Jewel Mirror Awareness, traditionally associated with the 9th-century Chinese founder of the Caodong School, Dongshan Liangjie (J. Tōzan Ryōkai). The term Hōkyō in Hōkyō Zanmai, 宝鏡三昧, is the same as that in Hokyoji’s name, 宝鏡寺, Jewel Mirror Temple.

Retreat Leaders

Reirin Alheidis Gumbel has been the Resident Priest at Milwaukee Zen Center since 2015. After many years of being a lay practitioner, she was trained at the San Francisco Zen Center, where she lived as a monastic for almost 12 years. She was ordained as a Soto Zen Priest by Furyu Nancy Schroeder in 2007 and received Dharma Transmission in May of 2019. Reirin attempts to be an example for her sangha by maintaining a strong sitting practice and bringing it into the world that so urgently needs the dharma.

Dokai Georgesen began his Zen study at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center with Katagiri Roshi in 1974. He went on a 2-year pilgrimage studying Buddhism in India and Japan. Upon returning, he lived at Hokyoji until his ordination in 1984. He received Dharma Transmission from Katagiri Roshi in 1989. Since then he’s traveled to Japan several times to practice with Ikko Narasaki Roshi, Tsugen Narasaki Roshi, and Maezumi Roshi. Dokai serves as board president of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. He currently divides his time between Hokyoji and an apartment in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He has been Hokyoji’s guiding teacher since 2007.

Daigaku Rummé was ordained a Soto monk by Harada Sekkei Roshi in 1978 and trained with him for over 27 years at Hosshinji Monastery in Japan. In 2003 he began working at the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center in San Francisco. He then moved to L.A. in 2010, where he was Director of the Soto Zen Buddhism North America Office and Head Priest of Zenshuji Soto Temple. In 2015, he moved to St. Louis and founded Confluence Zen Center where he is the guiding teacher.

Seated left to right: Reirin Gumbel, Dokai Georgesen, Daigaku Rummé. Photo courtesy David Brus.

Hokyoji Family Weekend
2023-08-11 08:00 - 2023-08-13 17:00
Enjoy kid-friendly activities, great food, and Hokyoji’s wide open spaces.

Here is a tentative schedule of events for the weekend:

Friday3:00pm – Arrivals & Settling In6:00pm – Dinner7:00pm – Introduction to Hokyoji & Meditation in the Zendo (15 minutes for kids, 40 minutes for adults)

Saturday7:30am – Meditation in the Zendo, Morning service8:15am – Breakfast10:00am – Mindfulness Walk or Qigong with Ann12:30pm – Lunch1:00-3:00pm – Free Time / Kiddie Pool3:00pm – Yoga in the Zendo / Kids Activity & Snacks Served at Picnic Tables5:30pm – Dinner6:30pm – Meditation in the Zendo (15 minutes for kids, 40 minutes for adults)7:30pm – Bonfire / Music / Sing-alongs / S’mores

Sunday7:30am – Meditation in the Zendo, Morning service8:30am – Breakfast10:00am – Ceremony at the Stupa12:30pm – Lunch1:00pm – Free Time / Cleaning & Packing

The recommended donation is $30.00 per day, per adult, with $60.00-$65.00 for the weekend.

Clouds in Water Zen Center Sesshin
2023-07-17 16:00 - 2023-07-23 14:00, 2023-04-27 16:00 - 2023-04-30 14:00, 2022-07-11 08:00 - 2022-07-17 17:00
Please contact CiWZC for more information: https://cloudsinwater.org/

Loring Group
2023-06-08 16:00 - 2023-06-11 14:00

Hokyoji's True Heart Women's Retreat
2023-06-01 16:00 - 2023-06-04 14:00
SOLD OUT

Meditation, Movement, Arts, & Nature

Please join us for this year’s True Heart Women’s Retreat!

This year’s Women’s Retreat will take place June 1-4, 2023. Activities will include regular periods of zazen and group arts activities such as singing, writing, and painting. We’ll enjoy delicious vegetarian meals, mindful outdoor walks, and yoga. We’ll also have group sharing and discussion.

The retreat leaders are Rev. Ekyo Susan Nelson, Rev. Kyoku Tracey Walen, and Rev. Myo On Susan Hagler.

We look forward to seeing you!

Just Sitting Retreat- May
2023-05-21 16:00 - 2023-05-28 14:00
Please join us in an evolving retreat format—an experiment in dedicated mindful meditationwithin an environment of deep silence. A sitting schedule and silence are the bones of the retreat.There are no services, dharma talks, interviews with a teacher, formal meals or work periods.Meals, silence, sitting and sleep are the support for individual and collective mindful practice.That said, participants are free to practice as they see fit, augmenting their day with walks, naps,bird watching, botanizing, looking…meeting one’s needs mindfully as retreat activity.

All participants should have experience sitting multi-day mindfulness retreats or sesshins.

Full retreat (6+ days/7nights) $590

Healing Retreat
2023-04-20 16:00 - 2023-04-23 14:00
Private Tai Chi/Yoga Retreat

Work Weekend
2023-04-14 16:00 - 2023-04-16 13:00

Hokyoji's Winter Practice Period
2023-01-30 16:00 - 2023-02-19 13:00
“Just Put It Down”

The first two weeks include study meetings (chosan). The practice theme, “Just Put It Down,” is taken from Glen Wallis’s commentary on the Bhāra Sutta. See chapter 8 of his book Basic Teachings of the Buddha.

The third week is a sesshin.

Retreat Leader

Dokai Georgesen began his Zen study at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center with Katagiri Roshi in 1974. He went on a 2-year pilgrimage studying Buddhism in India and Japan. Upon returning, he lived at Hokyoji until his ordination in 1984. He received Dharma Transmission from Katagiri Roshi in 1989. Since then he’s traveled to Japan several times to practice with Ikko Narasaki Roshi, Tsugen Narasaki Roshi, and Maezumi Roshi. Dokai serves as board president of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA). Currently, his time is divided between residing at Hokyoji and an apartment in La Crosse, WI. He has been Hokyoji’s guiding teacher since 2007.

Details

Please help us maintain a healthy practice environment by observing Hokyoji’s Covid Guidelines.

Participants may register for the first, second, or third week only, or for the entire three-week period. Ordained participants who attend the entire practice period may receive credit toward the SZBA’s ango requirement. Please contact hokyoji@hokyoji.org for more information.

Zoom participation is also available; it is based on dana or generosity.

Hokyoji's Rohatsu Sesshin
2022-12-03 16:00 - 2022-12-10 13:00
You Are the Life of Buddha

Rohatsu’s beauty lies in the quiet, cold, dark time of year in which it rests. Its focus is on Buddha’s liberation at the rising of the morning star on Dec. 8th. Together, we lean into the freedom that the Buddha realized. And how is it that we can take up this quest? Buddha’s suffering and confusion was exactly the same as ours; thus our liberation is exactly Buddha’s. Without us, no liberation. Without Buddha, no liberation.

Please join together for this silent week in which we will support each other in touching the depth of suffering and the depth of release.

Retreat Leaders

Rev. Kyoku Tracey Walen was ordained in 2008 and given Dharma transmission by Byakuren Judith Ragir in 2015. Her training included three years at Great Vow Zen Monastery and study with Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village. She lives at Hokyoji where she is a staff member and is also a teacher at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Rev. Myo-O Habermas-Scher practiced with Katagiri Roshi from 1975 until his death in 1990; she also trained for twelve years in the Vipassana tradition. She received Dharma transmission in 2012 from Dokai at Hokyoji. Myo-O is a master movement teacher and teaches somatically based vocal training. In 2021 she retired after fourteen years as an interfaith staff chaplain at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, MHealth Fairview. She is also a mom and a grandmother to two little grandsons.

Details

In-person and Zoom options are available. If you choose the Zoom option, we ask that you commit to the full sesshin schedule.

Please help us maintain a healthy practice environment by observing Hokyoji’s Covid Guidelines.

Work Weekend
2022-11-18 16:00 - 2022-11-20 13:00
When the weather begins to change, it’s time to take care of Hokyoji and prepare it for the season ahead. Fall means putting things away for a time of rest. Work days include morning and evening sitting practice, communal meals, and a variety of work projects, both indoors and out. In addition to being a terrific opportunity for mindful activity, it’s a good chance to visit Hokyoji, meet others in the community, and get to know what happens here.

Healing Retreat - November
2022-11-11 12:00 - 2022-11-13 14:00

Just Sitting Retreat - November
2022-11-01 16:00 - 2022-11-06 17:00

Caring for the Land
2022-10-21 16:00 - 2022-10-23 16:00
As part of our Land Management Plan, each fall we pay special attention to the needs of the land, clearing trails, brush, and deadfall, reducing invasive pants, or planting new growth. The work involves hand and power tools as well as our tractor. There is work for all levels of skill and strength. Please join with us in tending to Hokyoji’s beautiful natural setting and realizing our long-term vision for the land.

Compassionate Ocean Zen Center
2022-08-29 08:00 - 2022-09-05 17:00
Retreat and Weekend Sesshin, please contact Compassionate Ocean: https://www.oceanzen.org/

The Healing Retreat
2022-08-26 12:00 - 2022-08-28 14:00

Hokyoji's Jewel Mirror Sesshin-SOLD OUT Please email - hokyoji@hokyoji.org
2022-08-13 16:00 - 2022-08-20 12:00
At this year’s Jewel Mirror Sesshin Daigaku, Reirin, and Dokai will explore the question “What is Zazen?” This is an in-person only retreat, Saturday 8/13 – Saturday 8/20.

Please register at the bottom of the page.

Dokai Georgesen began his Zen study at MN Zen Meditation Center with Katagiri- Roshi in 1974. He went on a 2-year pilgrimage studying Buddhism in India and Japan. Upon returning, he lived at Hokyoji until his ordination in 1984. He received Dharma Transmission from Katagiri Roshi in 1989. Since then he’s traveled to Japan several times to practice with Ikko Narasaki Roshi, Tsugen Narasaki Roshi and Maezumi Roshi. Dokai serves on the Soto Zen Buddhist Association’s board of directors as treasurer. Currently, his time is divided between residing at Hokyoji and an apartment in La Crosse, WI. He has been Hokyoji’s guiding teacher since 2007.

Reirin Alheidis Gumbel has been the Resident Priest at Milwaukee Zen Center since 2015. After many years of being a lay practitioner, she was trained at the San Francisco Zen Center, where she lived as a monastic for almost 12 years. She was ordained as a Soto Zen Priest by Furyu Nancy Schroeder in 2007 and received Dharma Transmission in May of 2019. Reirin attempts to be an example for her sangha by maintaining a strong sitting practice and bringing it into the world that so urgently needs the dharma.

Daigaku Rummé was ordained a Soto monk by Harada Sekkei Roshi in 1978, he trained with him for over 27 years at Hosshinji Monastery in Japan. In 2003 he began working at the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center in San Francisco. He then moved to L. A. in 2010, where he was Director of the Soto Zen Buddhism N. America Office and as the Head Priest of Zenshuji Soto Temple. In 2015, he moved to St. Louis and founded Confluence Zen Center where he is the guiding teacher.

A typical schedule is as follows:

6:30 Zazen7:05 Kinhin7:20 Zazen7:55 Liturgy8:15 Breakfast/Break9:30 Zazen10:00 Kinhin10:15 Dharma Talk10:50 Break11:20 Zazen11:55 Liturgy12:15 Lunch2:30 Zazen3:05 Kinhin3:20 Zazen3:55 Break4:30 Zazen5:05 Liturgy5:20 Supper/Break6:45 Zazen7:15 Kinhin7:25 Zazen8:05 Kinhin8:20 Zazen8:45 Fukanzazengi9:00 Evening message & Bows

Hokyoji's Family and Community Weekend
2022-08-05 16:00 - 2022-08-07 12:00
This is a weekend to share Hokyoji’s beauty with friends and family — all ages are welcome. There will be many options for adults and children: nature walks, meditation, story times, yoga, a kiddie-pool, communal meals, singing, and a Saturday night cookout and campfire.
