Every third Saturday of the month, we hold sesshin, an overnight intensive zazen practice from Wednesday evening to Sunday noon.
The December sesshin was held from Wednesday, December 17 to Sunday, December 21. Eight participants, including some partial participants, took part in this month's sesshin.
The schedule is as follows (subject to change depending on circumstances)
Wednesday, 17th
19:45 An Unit
20:00 Rousing bell, Zazen (30, 20, 10 minutes), Kaimakura Charei (evening meal, bring your own)
21:30 Anhyana, sutra chanting, night meditation (50 min.)
23:00 Bedtime
Thursday, 18th
04:00 Kaikeishin (wake up)
04:15 Rallying Bell, Striking the Bell
05:00 Porridge sitting (bring your own)
05:30 Clean up and leave the dojo for work.
・・・
19:45 Anhui (quiet sitting)
20:00 Rousing bell, Zazen (30, 20, 10 minutes), Kaimakura Charei (evening meal, bring your own)
21:30 Anhyana, sutra chanting, night meditation (50 min.)
23:00 Bedtime
Friday, 19th
04:00 Kaikeishin (wake up)
04:15 Rallying Bell, Striking the Bell
05:00 Porridge sitting (bring your own)
05:30 Clean up and leave the dojo for work.
18:45 An Unit
19:00 Friday evening zazen meeting (30 min. x 2)
20:00 Rangaku (bell ringing), Kaimakura Charei (evening meal, bring your own food)
20:45 Anshin, carved sutra by opening pillow, night sitting (50 min.)
22:00 Prepare for the next day, go shopping, go to bed
Saturday, 20th
04:00 Kaikeishin (wake up)
04:15 Morning ritual, bell ringing, congee sitting
05:30 Dza (30 min. x 2)
06:30 Sun & Heaven Cleaning
08:00～09:30 Saturday Zazen meeting
10:00 Percussion (30 min. x 2)
11:00 Saiza (udon noodles), rest
work in a Zen temple (e.g. cleaning, working in the fields)
15:30 Yakushi (dinner)
18:00 Twilight bell sitting (60 minutes of zazen)
19:00 Opening of the board, sutra practice, and zazen (30 min.)
19:30 Rousing bell, Zazen (30 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes), Kaimakura Tea Ceremony
21:00 Kaimakura Charei (evening meal)
22:00 Opening Prayer Sutra, Night Sitting (50 min.)
23:00 Bedtime
Sunday, 21st
04:00 Wake up
04:15 Morning service, bell ringing
05:00 Porridge sitting, Uchiza (30 min. x 2)
06:30 Rallying Bell
08:00 Executive board meeting, calligraphy
12:00 Clean up, clean up, dismissal
... and upwards
