Retreats and workshops

Extended periods of meditation are the backbone of our practice. They give us the chance to quiet our minds in shared silence.

Looking for a weekly class, a study group, or a practice period? See classes.

New to this?

If you are new to retreat practice, we recommend a Beginner’s Mind Retreat or a Day of Practice.

If you are interested in traditional retreat practice, take the Zen Forms and Etiquette class, followed by a Half-Day Sesshin. This fall the class on Friday, October 9 falls the evening before the Half-Day Sesshin on October 10.

We offer contemporary retreats and traditional sesshins. Both include periods of sitting meditation followed by walking meditation, and one-to-one meetings with a teacher.

Retreat: A contemporary retreat, without the traditional elements.
Sesshin: A traditional retreat, with liturgy and formal meals.
Oryoki: The set of bowls used for formal meals during sesshin.
Kinhin: Walking meditation, between periods of sitting.

Never sat before? The drop-in Introduction to Zen Meditation is the place to start.

A row of people sitting zazen facing the walls of a wooden meditation hall, seen in silhouette against high windows and oil lamps; one person stands in the foreground at the right — Zazen, 1984. Photograph by Dick Bend.

Upcoming

Retreats are offered in person and online unless the listing says otherwise. Please register one week in advance.

If cost is a concern, scholarships are available. The scholarship rate is generally one half of the cost, and you choose it when you pay.

October 10 Half-Day Sesshin
with Ted O’Toole · in person only Sesshin
November 7 One-Day Retreat
with Ted O’Toole Retreat
November 14 Buddhist Statue Making Workshop
with Sister Pearl Pham Workshop Registration coming soon
November 21 Beginner’s Mind Retreat
with Deb Mielke · a good first retreat Retreat
Nov 29 – Dec 6 Rohatsu Sesshin
with Ben Connelly and Tim Burkett · a week of sesshin honoring the Buddha’s awakening Sesshin Registration coming soon

Earlier in 2026

January 17: Half-Day Sesshin with Jiryu Matt Cisler (in person only)
January 24: Beginner’s Mind Retreat with Wayne Moskowitz
January 30 – February 1: Weekend Sesshin with Ben Connelly
March 14: Day of Practice with Tim Burkett (in person only)
March 28: Listening to the Wisdom of the Body Workshop with Marie Michael and Ted O’Toole
April 10 – 12: Weekend Retreat with Tim Burkett
April 25: Online Half-Day Retreat with Alan Eustace (online only)
May 9: Beginner’s Mind Retreat with Keido Thotland
May 15 – 17: Weekend Sesshin with Ben Connelly and Sister Pearl Pham
June 13: Half-Day Sesshin with Keido Thotland (in person only)
June 27: Day of Practice with Ted O’Toole (in person only)
July 11: One-Day Retreat with Tim Burkett
July 25: Sitting with Sutras with Matt Streit (in person only)
August 8: Day of Practice with Ted O’Toole (in person only)
September 5: Beginner’s Mind Retreat with Doshin Mark Turbak
September 15 – 20: Hokyoji Zen Practice Community with Ben Connelly
October 3: Online Half-Day Retreat with Monica Reede (online only)

Learn the basics of Zen forms and etiquette

This class briefly covers the basics of traditional Zen forms: bows, entries and exits, walking meditation, and so on. It is for the newcomer who would like to feel more familiar and comfortable joining us for morning zazen or one of our sesshins.

It’s also a good way to stay in practice, or to brush up after some time away. The same information is covered each time.

Next dates: Friday, October 9
Sunday, November 29
Time: 5:15 – 6:30 pm
Format: In person only. Class size is limited to 12.
Cost: Suggested donation $10

Earlier 2026 dates: January 16, January 30, May 15, and June 12.

What a sesshin day is like

A full day of traditional sesshin begins with the wake-up bell at 5:15 am and closes with the end of day chant at 8:55 pm. Most of the day alternates 30 minutes of zazen (sitting meditation) with 10 minutes of kinhin. In between come three services, breakfast and lunch, a dharma talk at 9:50 am, a work period at 1:30 pm, and evening tea.

Please plan to arrive about 15 minutes before the start time to find a spot in the zendo, the meditation hall, and settle in. There is a brief orientation after the first period of zazen.

Sample sesshin schedule, and what to wear and bring

Hosting a retreat in your area

MZMC teachers are often available to offer retreats away from MZMC.

How to host a retreat

Want something weekly?

Classes, study groups, and practice periods meet once a week, online and in person.

See this year’s classes