Hokyoji

Clouds in Water Retreat with Fish Murphy
2024-07-31 16:00 - 2024-08-04 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Please contact https://www.cloudsinwater.org for more info

Hokyoji Family Weekend
2024-07-26 08:00 - 2024-07-28 17:00, 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 Retreat
2024-07-12 16:00 - 2024-07-19 13:00

Practicing the Way in this Very Moment
2024-06-19 16:00 - 2024-06-23 13:00
Dogen’s essay “Instructions for the Cook” helps us to explore the profound preciousness of our daily lives. How do we nourish ourselves and all beings in all the hubbub? How can we help others using our past conditioning and present situation?

In this retreat, we well sit zazen, engage in discussion, meet with the teacher, build community and eat together. Our practice is a time to be together. We welcome everyone into this community.

Our retreat will be led by Onryu Kennedy, and co-faciltated by Genjo Conway, Rachel Seiren Vilsack, Adam Isshin Kokotovich and Dan JunKan Mattimiro.

Questions we’ll invite each other to consider:

What is the relatability of this text to our lived experience?

How do we embody the understanding of the Tenzo Kyokun in our lived experience with family, friends, community and the world?

How can we encounter everything and everyone in our lives with joy, wisdom and compassion?

Mahakala Radio Retreat
2024-06-09 13:00 - 2024-06-16 13:00
Bodhisattvas are motivated by far-reaching prayers born of Wisdom. With no obstacles clouding their mind, they are free of fear and delusion. What can the insight and prayers of Bodhisattvas teach us? In this retreat we will practice methods that arouse the heart and dream-like ways out of the muddle. Please join us in the shelter of retreat in the refuge of Sangha united in purpose. Come put into practice the impossible prayers that Bodhisattvas know to be true.

Just Sitting Retreat
2024-05-26 16:00 - 2024-06-02 09:30
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 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. Please review the proposed schedule.

Vegetarian meals.

Accommodations are single rooms unless a double is requested.

• 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).

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

Proposed Schedule

Sunday May 266:00 – dinner7:00 – sitting7:30 – orientation8:00 – sitting8:30 – end of day

Monday thru Saturday7:00 – 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 – sitting3:15 – tea break4:00 – sitting4:30 – walking4:45 – sitting5:15 – dinner

7:00 – sitting7:30 – walking8:00 – sitting8:30 – end of day

Sunday, June 27:00 – sitting7:30 – walking7:45 – sitting8:15 – recitation8:20 – breakfast9:00 – wrap up group conversation

9:30 – clean up and depart

Hokyoji's True Heart Womens Retreat
2024-05-16 16:00 - 2024-05-19 13:00
This year’s True Heart Women’s Retreat will take place May16-19, 2024, Thursday to Sunday. Activities will include regular periods of zazen and creative activities such as writing, singing and art. We will enjoy nourishing vegetarian meals, mindful nature walks and yoga.We will have group sharing and discussion. And there will be free time in the afternoon to renew and refresh.We will explore with gentle curiosity who are the True Hearts in our lives. How do we embody our True Heart? And co-create a space to hold people and natural things that express to us individually and collectively the true hearts in our lives.We welcome everyone into this retreat. It will be led by two of Hokyoji’s Associate Teachers.

Rev. Kyoku Tracey Walen began practicing Buddhism in 1998, was ordained in 2008, and was given dharma transmission by Byakuren Judith Ragir in 2015. She trained from 2008-2010 at Great Vow Zen Monastery. She also studied Zen sewing with Tomoe Katagiri and became one of her successors. Currently she resides at and supports Hokyoji and also serves as a Zen teacher at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Rev. Onryu Kennedy has received transmission in both the Katagiri and Uchiyama Roshi lineage. 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 Sotochu.

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.

Naturally Awake Retreat
2024-05-09 16:00 - 2024-05-12 13:00
UNFORTUNATELY CANCELLED

Minnesota Contemplative Outreach
2024-05-03 16:00 - 2024-05-08 13:00
A Friday to Wednesday Centering Prayer Retreat

Healing Retreat, Tai Chi & Yoga - private
2024-04-25 12:00 - 2024-04-28 17:00

Qi Gong Retreat - private
2024-04-18 08:00 - 2024-04-21 17:00

Caring for the Land/Work Weekend - free
2024-04-11 16:00 - 2024-04-14 14:00
Each spring and fall we pay special attention to the needs of Hokyoji in preparing for the change of seasons. There is work for all levels of skill and strength, both indoors and out, as well as trail and forest work, plus Hokyoji’s highway clean-up. Please join with us for this social weekend caring for Hokyoji. There is no charge for this practice; meals and accommodations are provided. Please register.

Tenzo Kyokun Online Study Group (Dogen's Instructions for the Cook)
2024-03-05 18:30 - 2024-04-23 20:00
This weekly study group is scheduled for 8 weeks. Our suggested price is $80, but pay what you can, no one will be turned away.

Please join Hokyoji this Spring for an eight week online study of Dogen’s classic work, Tenzo Kyokun.

A short but moving text, Instructions for the Cook, as it is known in English, has long been prized as an inspirational guide for living a whole-hearted life. Over the eight weeks, we will come together to read, discuss, and reflect on how we can apply its principles to our daily lives in the 21st century. We are encouraged to journal, draw, or use other creative forms to express how Dogen’s teachings are manifesting in our lived experience.

Our translation will be the one included in the book Nothing is Hidden: Essays on the Zen Master Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook, by Shohaku Okumura, Jisho Warner, and Taigen Dan Leighton, which includes commentaries by leading Japanese Zen teachers including Hokyoji’s founder Dainin Katagiri Roshi. We encourage the use of supplementary readings (see below).

All are welcome regardless of experience with Zen practice or familiarity with Dogen.

The eight week online study group will be facilitated by Rev. Onryu “GD” Kennedy, Associate Teacher at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community. She will be co-creating this space with several other Zen Practitioners. We will meet Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm Central Time, starting March 5, 2024. For more information, contact Onryu at onryukennedy@gmail.com. The suggested donation is $80 for the entire series. Nobody will be turned away; simply donate what you can.

Supplementary texts:

Online version of Instructions for the Cook (used in Nothing is Hidden).

How to Cook Your Life, with commentary by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi.

Dogen’s Pure Standards for the Zen Community, translated by Taigen Daniel Leighton and Shohaku Okumura.

Instructions for the Cook: A Zen Master’s Lesson in Living a Life That Matters, by Bernard Glassman and Rick Fields.

This eight week study group is part of a larger planned exploration of the Tenzo Kyokun. All who participate will be encouraged to help direct the next phases.

Winter Practice Period 2024
2024-01-29 16:00 - 2024-02-18 13:00
Register at the bottom of the page

Every winter Hokyoji hosts a three-week practice period. Participants can sign up for a single week or for multiple weeks.

This year, for the first two weeks, Rev. Dokai Georgesen and Rev. Onryu Kennedy will lead us in a study of the Diamond Sutra.

During the third week, guest teacher Brad Warner will join Dokai in leading a sesshin. The topic is “The Teachings of Dainin Katagiri Roshi.”

Attendance of the full three-week period can be used toward the SZBA’s ango requirement (contact hokyoji@hokyoji.org for more information).

The Diamond Sutra

First week, January 29-February 4Second week, February 5-11

The Diamond Sutra is a Mahayana teaching and part of the Prajnaparamita sutra. This teaching is alive and relevant in real time. How is this so? We will investigate this sutra together. When the mind is groundless the world becomes boundless.

We will study the wonderful conversation between Subhuti and Buddha. When Subhuti asks the question “How does a noble son and daughter stand, walk, and control their thoughts,” he is asking this question on behalf of all. We are not separate from this past, and we witness the Buddha’s response. We aspiring bodhisattvas are curious to hear this teaching.

In addition, upon hearing this sutra, the 6th ancestor of Chan, Huineng, had a sudden insight and the way was opened to all beings, not only to the monks and nuns.

How do we apply this teaching to our arising conditions: climate change, racial justice, and the many challenging circumstances we are in at this time?

Suggested texts:

The Diamond Sutra by Red Pine

Buddhist Wisdom Books: The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra by Edward Conze

Other suggested resources:

Kikan Michael Howard’s Katagiri Roshi Transcripts. Visit the List of Talks to access recordings and transcripts of Katagiri Roshi’s talks on the Diamond Sutra and many other subjects.

The Diamond Sutra Sung in English

The Teachings of Dainin Katagiri Roshi

Sesshin, February 12-18

During this sesshin, Dharma talks will be offered by Hokyoji’s Guiding Teacher, Dokai Georgesen, who began studying with Katagiri Roshi in 1974 and received Dharma transmission from him in 1989, and Brad Warner, who says that Katagiri Roshi is one of his heroes. Brad writes:

Katagiri Roshi was one of the best of the Zen teachers who came to America in the 1960s. I never met him, but my first teacher was a student of Kobun Chino Roshi who was a friend of Katagiri Roshi. Katagiri’s book Each Moment is the Universe is the best book about Dogen’s concept of “being-time” that I’ve ever come across. His explanations of Dogen’s difficult philosophy are clear and easy to follow. It’s a lot easier than reading Dogen! I’ll do my best to talk about what I’ve learned from reading Katagiri Roshi’s books.

Practice Period Leaders

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.

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.

Brad Warner is the author of The Other Side of Nothing, Hardcore Zen, Sit Down and Shut Up, Don’t Be a Jerk, and several other books. He was ordained a Zen Buddhist monk by Gudo Nishijima Roshi. He grew up in Akron, Ohio and Nairobi, Kenya. He has practiced Zen for over 40 years. He plays bass in the hardcore punk band Zero Defex. For 11 years, he worked in Japan for the company founded by creator of Godzilla. He’s appeared in the film Zombie Bounty Hunter M.D. and there is a documentary about him titled Brad Warner’s Hardcore Zen.

Wim Hof Training Retreat
2024-01-12 08:00 - 2024-01-14 17:00
Experience the transformative power of the Wim Hof Method in a serene weekend retreat at Hokyoji Retreat Center in Southern MN. Plenty of Breathwork, Quiet, and Cold done the best way: in Nature. For the retreat, you get your own room in a cozy new dormitory, and freshly cooked vegetarian meals presented by the staff and monks. We do breathwork in the Zendo (Meditation Hall) and will explore the quiet, snow covered landscape. This is an excellent way to recharge in winter.

For more information or to register: https://foxfirebreathworks.com/ola/services/wim-hof-method-weekend-retreat

Hokyoji's Rohatsu Sesshin
2023-12-02 16:00 - 2023-12-09 14:00
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
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.

Clouds in Water Zen Center Sesshin
2023-07-17 16:00 - 2023-07-23 14:00
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
