Spring Sesshin

Saturday 24th September to Saturday 1st October
SZC Spring sesshin will be led by Gillian Coote, roshi and apprentice teacher Will Moon
In a profound valley beneath high cliffs,
zazen is peaceful, lonely and truly comfortable.
(from Song of Realising the Way by Yung-chia)
At sesshin we are free to be true to our hearts. We are free to transcend the background chatter of our busy minds and see into the fact of our own nature. Here, everything – the fog, the dew, the birdsong, the encircling cliffs – conspires to wake us up.
Old timers and new students are most welcome. As traditional Zen sesshin involves seven or eight hours a day of zazen – sitting meditation – it is not suitable for people without previous meditation experience.
Traditional sesshin offers countless opportunities for practice — zazen, kinhin, walking meditation in the bush, dokusan, teisho, sutras and samu (or work practice).
Kodoji, or Ancient Ground Temple, is SZC’s retreat centre in the Upper Macdonald Valley, about 2 hours north-west of Sydney, via Wisemans Ferry and St Albans. It was built over the last twenty-five years by Sydney Zen Centre students. Kodoji sits in a beautiful valley called Gorricks Run, surrounded by high sandstone cliffs and deep wilderness.
Flyer and Application form here
COVID safe:
The sesshin will be run on COVID-safe principles. There will be a limit of 15 participants (plus the two teachers) and preference will be given to full-time participants. To meet NSW Government requirements, participants will need to provide proof of their double vaccinated status and booster shot.
There is very limited indoor accommodation so students will pitch their own tents, bring their own masks and yoga mats. We will be COVID careful, with social distancing, taking great care preparing food, washing and sanitising hands, and when we sit, we’d like you to wear a face mask.
If you experience cold/flu symptoms in the days leading up to the sesshin, do not attend. Anyone who develops respiratory symptoms during sesshin will be asked to leave. If you can not attend sesshin due to illness, or if we are required to cancel sesshin because of COVID restrictions, we will fully refund application fees.
Venue – Kodoji or Ancient Ground Temple, is SZC’s retreat centre in the Upper MacDonald Valley, about 2 hours north-west of Sydney, via Wisemans Ferry and St Albans.
Contact: Stephen Crump stephencrump@pfsconsulting.com.au
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SZC will hold other sesshins during the year:
Rohatsu sesshin at Annandale, led by Maggie Gluek
Friday 2nd to Thursday December 8th
Contact: Jill Steverson jillsteverson@gmail.com