Practicing the Way Retreat
2026-06-17 15:00 - 2026-06-21 16:00 (America/Chicago)
All Beings are Manifesting Buddha Activity

Co-lead by Associate Teacher, Rev. Onryu Kennedy and Rev. Musho Darin Podulke-Smith

Buddha activity is embodied liberation, awakening to the living dignity and infinite potential in all beings. We will explore how Buddhist practices are interpenetrating and manifesting in each moment. There will be opportunities in this retreat for zazen, discussion, dharma talks, buffet style meals and co-creating communal space.

This retreat will be hybrid. The schedule is here:

Suggested reading in preparation for this retreat:

Eihei Dogen, “The Dignified Presence of Acting Buddhas”: http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachings/Dogen_Teachings/Shobogenzo/022gyobutsu.pdf

Eihei Dogen, “The Bodhisattva’s Four Embracing Actions” https://hokyoji.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TheBodhisattvasEmbrace.pdf

Vaclav Havel, “The Power of the Powerless”: https://mrdivis.yolasite.com/resources/Vaclav%20Havel’s%20Power%20of%20the%20Powerless.pdf

Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” https://hokyoji.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1963_mlk_letter.pdf

Registration fees only cover our basic costs. 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.

Clouds in Water Retreat
2026-07-25 15:00 - 2026-08-01 16:00
For information and registration, please visit Clouds’ website or the retreat registration page.

Jewel Mirror Sesshin
2026-08-08 15:00 - 2026-08-15 10:00
According to tradition, when Dogen Zenji returned from China, he wrote the Fukanzazengi, “Universal Recommendations for Zazen”. A few years thereafter he composed his first work in Japanese, Bendōwa, “Discourse on the Practice of the Way”. Framed as a series of 19 questions and answers, Bendōwa lays bare the themes he would spend a lifetime exploring in his magnum opus, Shobogenzo.

Come explore Dogen Zenji’s Bendōwa this Summer with three inspiring teachers of the Soto lineage: Rev. Dokai Georgesen (Hokyoji), Rev. Daigaku Rummé (Confluence ZC, St. Louis), and Rev. Reirin Gumbel (Milwaukee ZC)

About sesshin…

Hokyoji supports a variety of retreats, each with its own distinctive practice vision, perspective, and teaching style, formal and informal. Jewel Mirror Sesshin is on the more formal side. Zazen is practiced throughout the day, interspersed with services, oryoki-style meals, and a work practice each afternoon.

This is a cherished opportunity to cultivate an atmosphere of deep silence and introspection. We look forward to practicing with you.

About the teachers…

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 started practicing Zen with Dainin Katagiri Roshi in 1974 and was ordained in 1984. He received transmission from Katagiri Roshi in 1989. He is the Guiding Teacher at Hokyoji and has resided there since 2003. He is a past President of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA).

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.

We are committed to the access to our retreats regardless of economic circumstances. If you need a scholarship to attend, please contact us. If you would like to make the retreat accessible to others, please consider a donation at checkout with the comment “Scholarship”.

At Hokyoji we compensate our teachers and retreat leaders through the dana system. “Dana” is Sanskrit for “pass the hat” (more precisely, generosity). If you would like to donate online, you can do so here before, during, or after the retreat. You can also donate at the retreat via cash, check, or Paypal.

Compassionate Ocean Sesshin
2026-08-31 15:00 - 2026-09-06 11:00
For more information, see https://www.oceanzen.org/hokyoji

MZMC Retreat
2026-09-15 15:00 - 2026-09-20 10:00
For more information, visit https://www.mnzencenter.org/

Private Taichi/Yoga Retreat
2026-09-24 15:00 - 2026-09-27 10:00
Reserved for a private retreat.

Zen & the Arts Retreat: Ikebana
2026-10-01 15:00 - 2026-10-04 10:00
TBD

Private Zen/Mindfulness Retreat
2026-10-07 15:00 - 2026-10-11 11:00

Caring for the Land - Fall
2026-10-16 12:00 - 2026-10-18 10:00

Just Sitting Retreat - Fall
2026-10-20 15:00 - 2026-10-25 10:00

Practicing the Ways Retreat
2026-11-12 15:00 - 2026-11-15 10:00

Rohatsu Sesshin 2026
2026-11-30 15:00 - 2026-12-06 10:00
