Hokyoji

Hokyoji's True Heart Women's Retreat
2023-06-01 16:00 - 2023-06-04 14:00 (America/Chicago)
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

Clouds in Water Zen Center Sesshin
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/

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.

Minnesota Zen Meditation Center Retreat
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
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.

Annual Meeting
2022-06-25 13:00 - 15:00
