Meditation Retreats
Each month we offer meditation retreat (sesshin) opportunities to gather our hearts and minds and deepen our capacity for compassionate awareness. See postings below and our Sangha Calendar and please join us for a half-day, daylong, 3-day or 5-day retreat.
HALF-DAY SITTING W/ DOUGLAS FLOYD
Sunday, June 19, 2022 @ 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Half day in person*** or online participation options are offered. Please specify on the registration form either In-person participation*** @ Ebenezer Zendo, located at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago 60640, or online via online Zendo via ZOOM. Please register by June 13, 2022 on the event listing.
Suggested donation is $50.00, or “sliding scale” – please contribute any amount that works for you when you register.
For more information: Contact Douglas at info@ancientdragon.org.
***For the safety of the community: Everyone is welcome to register for the online ADZG Zoom offering, and if you plan to attend in- person, please note that all Ebenezer zendo in-person participants are required to have full vaccination status for COVID-19 and agree follow the current ADZG COVID-19 mitigation policy specified on our website at https://www.ancientdragon.org/adzg-covid-policy/
Suggested donation is $50.00, or by self-determined sliding scale – please contribute any amount that works for you.
THREE-DAY CAMPING SESSHIN
Thursday, July 7, 2022 – Sunday, July 10, 2022
This three-day sesshin will combine traditional Zen forms and Dharma teachings within the natural setting provided by Illinois Beach State Park. Sesshin will take place in a sheltered, open-air environment, and opportunities will be available for tent camping for overnight participants. Daily Dharma talks, discussions, communal meals and nature walks will be offered by Eishin Nancy Easton and Gyoshin Laurel Ross, and other senior students under the guidance of Taigen Dan Leighton. This sesshin offers an opportunity to bring your practice to an encounter with the natural world, without venturing far from home.
It is possible to sign up for one, two, or all three days (participants will arrive Thursday evening, July 7 to camp overnight for Friday sesshin day; Sunday is a half-day to allow for clean-up). Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided Friday and Saturday; breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Some camping and sesshin experience are required for this event, and you must apply by June 15, 2022. Registration for camping sesshin is limited. For more information, or to request an application, please speak to Eishin or Gyoshin, or send an email to: info@ancientdragon.org.
Suggested donation is $100/day for Friday and Saturday, $50 for Sunday (or $35 for those arriving on Sunday morning). Vegetarian meals will be provided, and we will make every effort to accommodate food sensitivities. Sliding scale available upon request.
General Schedule is as follows:
Schedule for the Camping Sesshin requires you to arrive the evening before the day(s) you will be attending the sesshin in order to orient all participants. Arrival times may be flexible upon request.*
Daily Schedule (exact times may change):
6:30pm Arrival (the night before), followed by Orientation, Oryoki Instruction,
(on Thursday, we request that you arrive at 3:00pm to help with setup)
7:30pm Setup (while current participants in Evening Zazen or Meditation Walk)
8:30pm Evening Service followed by Quiet Campfire until Lights Out
5:00am Wake-Up Bell
5:30am Beach Zazen/Kinhin/Service
7:00am Breakfast, followed by Morning Zazen/Kinhin, Dharma Talk
12:00 Noon Service followed by Lunch & Work Period
1:30pm Break
2:30pm Group Nature Walk followed by Discussion Period (3:30)
4:00pm Zazen/Kinhin
5:30pm Evening Service followed by Dinner
6:30pm Break (for current participants) Orientation or Departures as needed
Sunday’s schedule will end with Cleanup at 1:00pm (after lunch).
*In addition, it is possible to arrive during Breakfast on SUNDAY ONLY for the half-day sitting, for those who do not wish to camp out the night before.