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• Practice Period 2024 Overview & Registration

  • Start
    Thursday, January 18, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    Saturday, March 16, 2024
  •  
    (PDT)
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham, and Online on Zoom

  Register

  WINTER 2024 Practice Period   January 18 - March 16

  Register for Practice Period 2024 

  

  2024 Practice Period Events 

  • Overall Practice Period Registration - intentions, requests, and overview. Please start here.
    
    
  • Opening Ceremony - Thursday January 18th, BUF & Online. All welcome
    
    
  • Opening Sesshin - evening of Thursday January 18th through Saturday January 20th. BUF & Online.  Separate registration required
    
    
  • Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday Morning sit online, Thursday evening sit BUF & Online, Sunday morning Zen Alive! February 4th & March 3rd. All welcome.
    
    
  • Shuso's Class on Dogen's Genjo Koan. Monday evenings 6:30pm - 8:00pm. January 22 - March 4th. BUF & Online. Separate registration required
    
    
  • Introduction to Zen Buddhism - Just getting started with Zen or new to Red Cedar? A great way to learn more. Wednesday evenings February 7 - 28
    
    
  • Practice Period Resources - A place for our Shuso to add notes and resources for Practice Period practice and study.
    
    
  • Tea with the Shuso - arranged with the shuso & benji, many time slots will be available. 
    
    
  • Closing Sesshin - evening of Thursday March 14th theirough Saturday March 16th. BUF & Online.  Separate registration required
    
    
  • Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. BUF & Online. All welcome.

  About Practice Period

  Practice Period is a time in which Zen students practice intensively together. Historically, practice period started with the rains retreats of the early Buddhist nuns and monks when they could not travel due to heavy rains. During that time they settled down for more intensive practice. 

  Although we don't live in monasteries, each winter in the spirit of those in monastic practice, we settle our busy lives in order to intensify our practice. We bring our mindfulness and Dharma practice to the foreground of our lives more than usual. Annual practice periods have been an essential part of Zen practice for a thousand years and an important part of Red Cedar Zen for over 20 years. 

  

  In the center of the mandala of Practice Period is the head student, or shuso, who serves as the center of the sangha wheel giving classes, Dharma talks, and meets in small groups with practice period students over tea.

  Shuso: This year's Shuso is Raizelah Bayen. Raizelah will be assisted by benji Ken Oates. Learn more about Raizelah at the Shuso's Class page.

  Guest Teacher: We are delighted to announce that at the opening and closing of this year’s Practice Period, Nomon Tim will be co-leading with Hoka Chris Fortin, Raizelah's teacher and a long time friend and colleague of Nomon's.

  Practice Period Theme: We will be guided this year by a study of several of the fundamental teachings of our lineage in Eihei Dogen's well known essay Genjo Koan (Actualizing the Fundamental Point).

  Location: Events may be in-person, on-line or a combination.Check individual events for details. Information for attending in-person or online can be found on the Our Zendo page of the website. When attending in person, please adhere to our Covid Safety Guidelines.

  Practice Period Registration: two steps

  Please first do an overall registration from here to state your intentions for the period, sign up for a practice partner, and let us know if you need any assistance when attending in-person. 

  Secondly, if you are attending either of the two retreats or the shuso's class, please continue on to those events for additional required registrations.

  Practice Period Schedule (Overview and intentions)
  

  • Opening Ceremony Thursday January 18th
  • Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday morning, Thursday evenings,1st Sunday mornings
  • Opening Sesshin - Thursday January 18th - Saturday January 20th. 
  • Shuso's Class Monday evenings  January 22 - March 4th. 
  • Introduction to Zen Buddhism Wednesday evenings  Feburary 7-28
  • Practice Period Resources - for our practice & the class.
    
  • Tea with the Shuso - by arrangement.
  • Closing Sesshin - Thursday March 14th - Saturday March 16th. 
  • Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• 2024 Practice Period Opening Ceremony

  • When
    Thursday, January 18, 2024
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (PST)
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham, and Online on Zoom

  

  Join us for this important sangha evening with meditation and ceremony to open our annual 8-week Winter Practice Period and consider our intentions for practice during this time. The Opening Ceremony is also the first part of the Opening Sesshin. 

  This year we will practice under the guidance of our Shuso (head student) Myoki Raizelah Bayen, assisted by Benji Junka Ken Oates.

  First, Guiding Teacher Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett, Visiting Teacher Hoka Chris Fortin, and incoming Shuso Myoki Raizelah will conduct the Shuso Entering Ceremony followed by the Practice Period Opening Ceremony in which we all state our intentions.

  Second, all practice period participants present will be invited to briefly share their intentions for this year's Practice Period.

  This ceremony takes place during our regular Thursday evening practice time - just drop in. If attending in person, please come for the entire evening.

  Also: this evening is also the first evening of the Pratice Period Opening Sesshin for which a separate registration is required.

  Registration: None needed for the opening ceremony, but have you shared your intentions and requests with the teachers at Practice Period 2024 Overview & Registration yet?

  Practice Period Schedule (Overview and intentions)
  

  • Opening Ceremony Thursday January 18th
  • Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday morning, Thursday evenings,1st Sunday mornings
  • Opening Sesshin - Thursday January 18th - Saturday January 20th. 
  • Shuso's Class Monday evenings  January 22 - March 4th. 
  • Introduction to Zen Buddhism Wednesday evenings  Feburary 7-28
  • Practice Period Resources - for our practice & the class.
    
  • Tea with the Shuso - by arrangement.
  • Closing Sesshin - Thursday March 14th - Saturday March 16th. 
  • Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. 

  
  

  Show details
• 2024 Practice Period Opening Sesshin

  • Start
    Thursday, January 18, 2024
  •  
    7:00 PM (PST)
  • End
    Saturday, January 20, 2024
  •  
    5:00 PM (PST)
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, and Online on Zoom

  Register

  

  Our 3-day sesshin with Guiding Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett, Visiting Teacher Hoka Chris Fortin and Shuso Myoki Raizelah Bayen opens the Winter Practice Period.

  All are welcome to access the deep practice of sesshin regardless of how many of the practice period events you are able to attend. Alternating sitting, walking, ceremony, formal meals with a daily Dharma Talk and opportunities to meet privately with the teachers.

  

  
  

  
  

  Schedule: Thursday 7-9pm, Friday  7am - 9pm, and Saturday  7am - 5pm. 
  

  Note that this schedule includes the Practice Period Opening Ceremony on Thursday night.

  Meals: You will need a 3-bowl Oryoki set at this retreat. Instruction on Oryoki eating will be provided, no problem if you've never eaten oryoki before. You can purchase a set from our friends at Still Sitting (please order the Navy Blue cloths). Red Cedar Zen is not able to provide loaner oryoki sets at this time.

  Attendance: If you can’t attend full time in person, you may register for half-time participation. This covers Thursday evening and either Friday or Saturday. Either way, we ask that if you come in person, you come for the full day.

  

  Dharma Talks: All Practice Period participants are warmly invited to attend the Dharma Talks even if you aren't attending the sesshin. In person - arrive 5-10 minutes early.

  Friday 10:40am: Hoka Chris Fortin 

  Saturday 10:40am: Shuso's Wayseeking Mind talk with Raizelah - a special talk on her own life and spiritual journey.

  Registration: Is required for this event. And, have you shared your Practice Period intentions and requests with the teachers at Practice Period 2024 Overview & Registration yet?

  Practice Period Schedule (Overview and intentions)
  

  • Opening Ceremony Thursday January 18th
  • Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday morning, Thursday evenings,1st Sunday mornings
  • Opening Sesshin - Thursday January 18th - Saturday January 20th. 
  • Shuso's Class Monday evenings  January 22 - March 4th. 
  • Introduction to Zen Buddhism Wednesday evenings  Feburary 7-28
  • Practice Period Resources - for our practice & the class.
    
  • Tea with the Shuso - by arrangement.
  • Closing Sesshin - Thursday March 14th - Saturday March 16th. 
  • Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. 

  Show details
• Shuso's Class: Discovering Your Genjo Koan

  • Start
    Monday, January 22, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    Monday, March 04, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • Schedule
    7 sessions
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship or Online

  Register

  2024 Practice Period Shuso's Class

  Please join Shuso Myoki Raizelah Bayen as she guides us on a study of Genjo Koan a powerful, foundational and very interesting teaching by Eihei Dogen-zenji, the Japanese founder of our school of Zen:

  It is with joy that I invite you to participate in the 2024 Practice Period class on Dogen Zenji’s text of the Genjo Koan. 

  In this class, we will drink from the well of wisdom that our ancestors have left for us in their commentaries on the Genjo Koan, and indulge in the teachings of contemporary teachers on the subject.  We will spend time studying, but more importantly, sensing or feeling into the meaning of this text within the context of our own lives and journeys. 

  This class combines traditional Zen learning of Dharma talks and study, with inquiry practices such as repeating questions, monologues, and writing exercises, as well as sensing practices to support your discovery of the Genjo Koan in your heart and in your practice. This class is an exploration of your Genjo Koan.

  - Myoki Raizelah

  Suggested Texts:

  
  Dogen’s Genjo Koan - a collection of commentaries by Bokusan Nishiari, Shunryu Suzuki and Kosho Uchiyama.

  
  

  Realizing Genjokoan by Shohaku Okamura

  
  

  ---

  Schedule: Six Monday evenings January 22nd to March 4th (skipping Feb. 12th) from 6:30-8:00pm. Plus a Saturday session: February 3rd 10am - 1pm, followed by a potluck lunch at BUF.

  Hybrid Class, in-person encouraged: This class is offered in person at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (downstairs, usual zendo location) and also online on Zoom. We'll do our best to fully include Zoom in participants and we warmly encourage local folks to come in person.

  We encourage you to make a commitment to attend all or at least most classes so we can develop community around our dharma study. 

  Resources You'll find resources related to the class online.

  Registration: Registration is required. The fees help us cover the costs of administering this class - thank you for your support.

  About Raizelah:

  My Buddhist journey began at Green Gulch Zen Farm 36 years ago, working on the farm, sitting zazen, and participating in Wendy Johnson’s garden practice period. I have often referred to the temple at Green Gulch as the cradle for my spiritual baby. It nourished my growth, but I needed something else at that time in my life. After 6 months on the farm, I took a hiatus from formal Zen practice, but maintained sitting practice.

  Read more about Raizelah...

  I spent the next fourteen years participating in a spiritual work school called “Ridhwan,” practicing the Diamond Approach to realization, which included daily sitting, inquiry practices and sensing practices. This approach wove together the psychological work sometimes done in therapy with spiritual practice.

  I returned to formal Zen practice about 18 years ago. In my attempt to find some quietude (I had a toddler and a preschooler at that time). I signed up for a 1-day sitting at Spirit Rock Buddhist Center, during which I reconnected with Norman Fischer, who had served as Director at Green Gulch during my stay there in my twenties. We instantly recognized one another. I was lit up by his teaching that day on the Koan called “The One is not Busy.”

  I picked-up his flier about Everyday Zen, signed-up for Everyday Zen’s next 1-day sitting, and knew upon my entrance to the zendo that I had “come home.” I felt an immediate sense of connection to this sangha. I participated in their monthly 1-day sittings and their annual sesshins for the next 15 years.

  It was at Green Gulch in my twenties that I met Tim. It was there that the seeds of our love were planted, and then were tended for many years by Buddha, while we explored other relationships, marriage and child-rearing, simultaneously but not together. We reconnected 3 years ago, which was the impetus for my move to Bellingham and my growing involvement with Red Cedar Zen Community.

  It is at Red Cedar that I am discovering what it is to take refuge in the sangha. I am grateful for the container this sangha provides to daily practice, exploring my humanness within the context of Dharma friendships, and to grow within the context of sangha roles, first as Ino and now as Shuso. Thank you for being here with me.

  Registration: Is required for this class. And, have you shared your Practice Period intentions and requests with the teachers at Practice Period 2024 Overview & Registration yet?
  Practice Period Schedule (Overview and intentions)
  

  Opening Ceremony Thursday January 18th
  Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday morning, Thursday evenings,1st Sunday mornings
  Opening Sesshin - Thursday January 18th - Saturday January 20th. 
  Shuso's Class Monday evenings  January 22 - March 4th. 
  Introduction to Zen Buddhism Wednesday evenings  Feburary 7-28
  Practice Period Resources - for our practice & the class.
  Tea with the Shuso - by arrangement.
  Closing Sesshin - Thursday March 14th - Saturday March 16th. 
  Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. 
  

  Show details
• Introduction to Zen Buddhism

  • Start
    Wednesday, February 07, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    Wednesday, February 28, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Our "Virtual Zendo" on Zoom

  Register

  This class is designed for those who are newer to Zen or have practiced in other sanghas and want to get a sense of how Red Cedar Zen looks at the practice.

  The class will cover instruction in sitting and walking meditation, information about Buddhism and Zen practice, and integrating meditation practice into daily life. There will be small and large group discussion and meditation and mindfulness exercises outside of class.

  The class will be taught by Teachers Heigaku Talus Latona and Kanho Chris Burkhart.

  Schedule: All four Wednesdays in February from 6:00-7:30pm. We ask participants to make a commitment to attend at least 3 of the 4 sessions.  

  Location: This class is online only. All classes will be in our Virtual Zendo. For instructions visit the Our Zendo page of the website.

  
  

  
  

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• 2024 Practice Period Closing Sesshin

  • Start
    Thursday, March 14, 2024
  •  
    7:00 PM (PDT)
  • End
    Saturday, March 16, 2024
  •  
    5:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, and Online on Zoom

  Register

  

  Our 3-day sesshin with Guiding Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett, Visiting Teacher Hoka Chris Fortin and Shuso Myoki Raizelah Bayen closes the Winter Practice Period.

  The practice of sesshin is a powerful opportunity including alternating sitting and walking meditation, a Dharma Talk, dokusan with the teachers, silent meals, breaks, and afternoon tea.

  The sesshin concludes with the Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony on Saturday at 2pm. All practice period students are warmly invited.

  

  Schedule: Thursday 7-9pm, Friday  7am - 9pm, and Saturday  7am - 5pm. 

  Attendance: If you can’t attend full time in person, you may register for half-time participation. This covers Thursday evening and either Friday or Saturday. Either way, we ask that if you come in person, you come for the full day.

  

  Meals: Vegetarian meals will be provided both Friday and Saturday. You will need a 3-bowl Oryoki set. Instruction on Oryoki eating will be provided, no problem if you've never eaten oryoki before. You can purchase a set from our friends at Still Sitting (please order the Navy Blue cloths). Red Cedar Zen is not able to provide loaner oryoki sets at this time.

  Dharma Talks: you may come to the retreat’s Dharma Talks even if you aren’t attending the retreat – if you come in person, just arrive a few minutes early and enter during the walking meditation:

  Thursday 8:10pm Nomon Tim Burnett

  Friday 10:40am Hoka Chris Fortin

  Saturday 10:40am Myoki Raizelah Bayen

  Special Ceremony: All Practice Period participants are warmly invited to attend the Shuso’s Dharma Inquiry Ceremony on Saturday at 2pm. If you are attending in person please arrive about 10 minutes and enter during kinhin (walking meditation).

  Registration: Is required for this retreat. And, have you shared your Practice Period intentions and requests with the teachers at Practice Period 2024 Overview & Registration yet?

  Practice Period Schedule
  

  • Opening Ceremony Thursday January 18th
  • Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday morning, Thursday evenings,1st Sunday mornings
  • Opening Sesshin - Thursday January 18th - Saturday January 20th. 
  • Shuso's Class Monday evenings  January 22 - March 4th. 
  • Practice Period Resources - for our practice & the class.
    
  • Tea with the Shuso - by arrangement.
  • Closing Sesshin - Thursday March 14th - Saturday March 16th. 
  • Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. 

  Show details
• Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony

  • When
    Saturday, March 16, 2024
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham, and Online on Zoom

  Register

  An important ceremony for the Shuso's training and the culmination of Practice Period.

  Join us with a question from the heart to share with Shuso Myoki Raizelah Bayen at the Hossinshiki ceremony which also concludes the Practice Period Closing Sesshin.

  Everyone who participated in the Winter Practice Period is warmly encouraged to attend whether you are signed up for the sesshin or not.

  The ceremony is a heart-to-heart encounter between each Practice Period student and the shuso. Together we bring up the Dharma in this important empowerment ritual for the shuso and the sangha.  

  You will be invited to ask the shuso a question about the Dharma. This should be a genuine question about your own practice, life, and heart. The shuso will respond from their felt experience as the practictioner in the center of our shared mandala. 

  Registration if you are not already attending the sesshin: Please register for the ceremony here and choose between the in person and online options. If you are joining us in-person, please arrive about 10 minutes early and enter during kinhin (walking meditation).

  Also, have you shared your Practice Period intentions and requests with the teachers at Practice Period 2024 Overview & Registration yet?

  Practice Period Schedule (Overview and intentions)
  

  • Opening Ceremony Thursday January 18th
  • Regular Zazen Meetings - Weekday morning, Thursday evenings,1st Sunday mornings
  • Opening Sesshin - Thursday January 18th - Saturday January 20th. 
  • Shuso's Class Monday evenings  January 22 - March 4th. 
  • Introduction to Zen Buddhism Wednesday evenings  Feburary 7-28
  • Practice Period Resources - for our practice & the class.
    
  • Tea with the Shuso - by arrangement.
  • Closing Sesshin - Thursday March 14th - Saturday March 16th. 
  • Shuso's Dharma Inquiry Ceremony - Saturday March 16th, 2pm. 

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• 2024 Zen Precepts Studies - True Freedom Through Ethical Conduct

  • Start
    Wednesday, March 27, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Saturday, October 12, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  The Red Cedar Zen Community is offering a monthly study group focused on the Zen Precepts. The group will be led by Kanho Chris Burkhart and IkuShun Desiree Webster with support from Nomon Tim Burnett.

  This class is for all Red Cedar Zen Members and non-members interested in precepts studies. Students should have the intention to attend all 7 evening meetings and the half-day retreat. Students moving towards Jukai are expected to attend all sessions plus the Jukai ceremony on November 3rd at the Fall Samish Sesshin.

  Note: If you are interested in receiving Jukai this year, please see the Going Further page on the website and speak with a teacher for information on the process.

  Note that this course is completely online via Zoom.

  Meetings

  Each group meeting will include discussion, experiential exercises, and reflection in small groups on what these precepts mean for us as human beings and students of Zen and in reflection of the teachers' comments.

  A second monthly meeting is self-organized by smaller study groups to discuss the readings and further reflect on how the precepts show up in their lives. Responses can be written, artistic, or verbal.

  The study group concludes with a half-day retreat in early October.

  Texts Used

  Being Upright by Reb Anderson, 

  Waking Up to What you Do by Diane Rizzetto
  

  Mind of Clover by Robert Aitken.

  Schedule

  Wednesday evening meetings plus a Saturday half-day retreat.

  3/27 - 6:30-8:00pm About the precepts, taking refuge
  4/24 - 6:30-8:00pm Pure precepts
  5/22 - 6:30-8:00pm Precepts 1 & 9
  6/26 -6:30-8:00pm Precepts 2 & 3
  7/24 - 6:30-8:00pm Precepts 4 & 5
  8/21 - 6:30-8:00pm Precepts 6 & 7
  9/25 - 6:30-8:00pm Precepts 8 & 10
  10/12 - 9am - 1pm  Half-day retreat

  Teachers

  Our Tanto (Practice Leader) Kanho Chris Burkhart is an ordained as a priest and was shuso, head student, in 2014 and completed her priest's training with Dharma Transmission in April 2019.
  
  

  IkuShun Desiree Webster has been a practitioner for many years and previous to her practice in the Soto Zen tradition practiced in the Plum Village tradition. She was Shuso for the winter practice period 2023, and lead the sangha on a journey through The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings, bringing with her the flavor of Thich Nhat Hanh’s understanding. Her formal teacher is Ryushin Andrea Thach from the Berkeley Zen Center.

  Show details
• Japan Trip 2024

  • Start
    Thursday, April 04, 2024
  • End
    Thursday, April 18, 2024
  • Location
    Japan!
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  The sangha trip of a lifetime: two weeks exploring sacred sites in Japan
  updated 10/22 with more details about flights
  

  

  Thanks to the tireless efforts of trip leader Kando Rei Greene, working with Nomon Tim Burnett, and in consultation with several other wonderful supporters, our Japan trip has become clear! Join with an intimate sangha group in exploring the Japanese origins of our tradition. While centered on our Sōtō Zen tradition the trip will feature multiple Japanese religious traditions and immerse us in Japanese culture for two very rich weeks of exploration and practice.

  Total Cost: $2600 / person.

  Dates: April 4 - 18, 2024
  

  This cost includes pretty much everything during our two weeks together in Japan: lodging, most meals, in-country transportation, admissions fees, and costs of special events we'll do together. 

  Note that your airfare to Japan is not included. Bus transportation from Osaka Itami airport is Included if you fly into Osaka, Itami ITM, the international airport at the start of the trip. (Not Kansai KIX, sorry for any confusion.)

  Arriving flights:
  Arrive Osaka, Itami ITM airport, in time for our 8pm bus on April 4th. Note that due to the time change flying from North America you'll be leaving in the morning of April 3rd.  

  Departing flights:
  To take advantage of provided bus transport from our final stop at Hotel Hirashima in Katsura (Google Map) back to Osaka Itami airport on Thursday April 18th, book a flight leaving in the afternoon. Bus should arrive Osaka, Itami airport, by noon. Or stay the night in Osaka and leave on Friday morning. 

  Flights from Seattle:
  We see flights on 3 airlines from Seattle that may work: All Nipon Airlines (ANA), Delta Airlines, and United Airlines. Checking in mid-October fares range from $1300 to $1800 with the cheaper flights generally taking longer, sometimes much longer - we recommend keeping an eye on total trip duration. 

  Tim and Raizelah booked the following flight on Delta. Care to join us?

  Leaving Seattle 11:15am Wednesday April 3rd on Delta flight 167

  Arriving Tokyo-Haneda airport 2pm on Thursday April 4th.

  3 hour layover in Tokyo.

  Leaving Tokyo-Haneda at 5pm for a 6:10pm arrival on Thursday April 4th at Osaka-Itami. In time for 8pm pick up by our group bus.
  
  (connecting flight is on All Nipon ANA but booked as part of the Delta Itinerary.) 

  Things to remember as you book your flight:
  

  1) Time change - due to the time change leaving on April 3rd gets you to Japan on the 4th

  2) Travel time - pay attention to total length of the itinerary - flight searchs on the aggregator sites may list some with lower fared but you'll spend a LONG time getting there.

  3) Which airport in Osaka - we're arranging group bus transport from Osaka Itami airport (ITM) but it's not difficult to get from Osaka Kansai (KIX) to Kyoto on public transit. If you see a flight that's better for you to KIX that is an option.

  4) Share your Itinerary - let us know your travel plans once you have them!

  Deposit: a $500 deposit holds your spot. This deposit is "semi-refundable": if you cancel and we are able to fill your spot we will refund your deposit. If we are unable to it cannot be refunded. 
  

  Completing your Payments:

  There are two choices for paying the remaining $2100 to cover the costs of the Japan trip.

  1) Start a 6-month payment plan (initial payment of $350 and then just under $300/month, no interest). You must start this payment plan by the end of October so that it will complete before we leave.  

  Start your Payment Plan

  2) Pay the full amount of $2100 by March 1st, 2024. You may pay by credit card (just ask us to create an invoice) or if you are able to pay by check it will save us the 3% credit card processing fee. Mail your check to 

  Red Cedar Zen Community
  P.O. Box 5193
  Bellingham, WA 98227

  Have questions? Please email the trip leaders at japantrip@redcedarzen.org and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. 

  An Active Trip This trip does include walking and we will do our best to accommodate the bodies of all who wish to attend. Our Mt. Hiei tour and Kumano Kodo hiking pilgrimages involves walks (with day packs only) of 5 to 11 miles spread out over the day at a modest pace. Using local transport to reduce mileage is available in most cases. Please reach out to the trip leaders at  japantrip@redcedarzen.org to discuss your needs.

  Itinerary (follow the links for more details!)

  0) April 3 - Fly to Japan. If meeting the group bus at Osaka Itami ITM airport flights leave Seattle or Vancouver mid-day on Wednesday April 3rd to arrive in Japan on Thursday evening (note the 12 hour time change).

  1) April 4- flights arrive at Osaka Itami ITM airport in time to meet our chartered bus at 8pm taking us directly to our first hotel in Kyoto. Or arrive in country earlier and meet the group in Kyoto.

  2) April 5 - 9 - Explore Kyoto's many temples including a visit to nearby Mount Hiei where Dogen ordained in 1215. Highlights include a day spent with Mitsunaga Endo Dai-Ajari, marathon monk of Mt. Hiei, and a day with American-born Rinzai Zen monk and translator Yuho Thomas Kirschner practicing zazen at his temple Tenryu-ji plus a visit to the Daitoku-ji subtemple that was run by Ruth Fuller Sasaki, the first Western woman ordained as a Zen monk in the 1958. We'll also experience several temples and important sites along the Philosopher's Path and visit Kennin-ji, the first Zen temple in Japan where Dogen trained before departing for China.

  3) April 9-10 - Visit Eihei-ji, Dogen's temple and one of the two headquarters temple of Soto Zen in Japan. Our overnight stay will include a tour of the temple, experiencing Eihei-ji's morning service, and the opportunity to practice zazen in their guest zendo.

  4) April 10-12 - Visit Rinso-in, Suzuki roshi's temple in Yaizu, staying and meeting with Hoitsu and Shungo Suzuki, Shunryu Suzuki's son and grandson and their families.

  5) April 12-14 - Visit Koya-san, the beautiful mountain top headquarters temple of Shingon Buddhism where our friend Taijo Tanaka sensei of Seattle Koyasan temple trained. We will be staying at Rengejo-in, Taijo-san's master's temple.

  6) April 14 - 17 - Kumano Kodo hiking pilgrimage where we'll hike most of the Nakahechi route visiting all three of the Grand Shrines. We'll spend 3 days hiking (with daypacks, overnighting at inns) on this sacred pilgrimage route with Buddhist and Shinto sacred sites. 

  7) April 18 - fly out of Osaka (or stay longer for personal touring!)

  Pre-Trip Preparation

  Reading lists will be provided and we also hope to have several pre-trip study and discussion meetings over Zoom to help us all have the most interesting and valuable trip we can. Details will follow. For now here are some initial suggestions. 

  Draft Pre-Trip Reading List Suggestions

  Japanese Culture and Traditions via fiction

  Snow Country  - Yasunari Kawabata (1930s novel)
  Double Suicide - Chika
  Spring Snow - Yukio Mishima

  Japanese Culture and History - non-fiction

  Wrapping Culture - Joy Hendry- talks about layering of privacy and intimacy in Japanese culture
  Wind in the Pine - tea ceremony as a Buddhist path, poetry, beautifully written

  Japanese Buddhist Practice

  Bow First, Ask Questions Later: Ordination, Love, and Monastic Zen in Japan - Gesshin Claire Greenwood and Brad Warner (good intro to Japanese Buddhist temple culture)
  Eat Sleep Sit My Year at Japan's most Rigorous Zen Temple - Kaoro Nonomura (does show the harsh side of Zen training)

  Japanese Religious Figures / History

  Great Fool: Zen Master Ryōkan; Poems, Letters, and Other Writings - Ryokan, Ryuichi Abe
  Essays in Idleness and Hojoki - Kenko, Chōmei

  
  

  Show details
• Samish Island Sesshin 2024 - Save the Date

  • Start
    Friday, June 14, 2024
  •  
    5:00 PM (PDT)
  • End
    Saturday, June 22, 2024
  •  
    12:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Samish Island Campground, 11565 Scott Rd Bow WA 98232
  • Spaces left

  Save the dates for the 2024 sesshin:
  June 14 - June 22, 2024

  Registration will be open early in the year.

  Our annual 7-day (8 nights) silent Zen sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer with talks and interview also available with Nomon Tim Burnett and others, includes seven days and eight nights of silent practice of sitting and walking meditation in this beautiful church camp on the water on Samish Island in the Skagit Valley. Retreat includes dharma talks by Norman and other Northwest teachers, dokusan and practice discussion, sitting and walking meditation, and delicious vegetarian meals. A deep time for practice and reflection with the support of sangha and teachers.
  

  Many photos of Samish are available on our Photos page.

  The following information is from our 2023 retreat to give you an idea of what will happen and what's available - this page will be updated in early 2024. 

  To keep current on this and all our events, please join our email list!

  Schedule:
  You may attend the entire retreat, or the first or second half. Second half attendance is only appropriate to those who have sat sesshin with us before. We are unable to offer other attendance choices. Signing up is making a commitment to be part of the retreat for the entire period you signed up for.

  

  Full Retreat - Friday 5:00pm to Saturday  at noon

  First Half - Friday  5:00pm to Tuesday at 5pm

  Second Half - Tuesday at 5pm to Saturday at noon.

  Prerequisites & Requirements
  This is a rigorous and structured experience. To benefit from being at Samish Sesshin please abide by the following requirements.

  • You should have attended at least one full day formal meditation retreat before attending this 7-day, 8-night, retreat. Please do not register if you have never sat a full day of formal meditation (in Zen or other traditions is fine).
  • If you have never attended Samish sesshin please start at the beginning by attending the full retreat or the first half, and do not attend just the second half.
    Orientation and instructions are offered at the beginning only.
  • No attendance options other than the three listed above can be accommodated. 
  • This is a silent retreat without talking, reading, writing, computer or cell phone use. Please be prepared to follow this guideline fully.
  • Following the full schedule is a core practice of Zen. Some alternate schedules can be arranged with the Ino in cases of health and other needs.
  • Plan on remaining at Samish Island camp during the entire time of your sesshin attendance, not leaving for errands or appointments, etc., and remaining at the camp through final clean up at noon on Saturday unless illness or unavoidable travel arrangements prevent this.

  Housing:
  Housing is provided with three options:

  E-Cabins are recently built multi-room cabins with a bath shared with one other room. E-Cabins are in short supply in this retreat. Please choose a rustic cabin if that is possible for you in order to leave the e-cabins for those with health challenges. Or consider sharing an e-cabin. 

  e-Cabin Exterior

  e-Cabin Interior

  Rustic Cabins - simple plywood cabins built in the 1950's. Camp style bathrooms in a separate building. Most rustic housing will be private (not shared), however if couples or friends are willing to share a cabin this can make a difference in accommodating everyone if the sesshin is full.
  

  Rustic Cabin, exterior

  Rustic cabin, interior

  RV Site with Hook-Ups - are available.

  Tent - you can bring a tent and camp on the lawn. A lower cost option.

  Samish Island Campground

  We have rented the Community of Christ's wonderful camp at the eastern end of Samish Island for over a twenty-five years for our residential retreats. A wonderful place where sea meets sky.

  11565 Scott Rd, Bow, WA 98232
  Map and Directions

  Show details
• Samish Island Sesshin 2025 - Save the Date

  • Start
    Friday, June 13, 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM (PDT)
  • End
    Saturday, June 21, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Samish Island Campground, 11565 Scott Rd Bow WA 98232
  • Spaces left

  Save the dates for the 2025 sesshin:
  June 13 - June 21, 2025

  Registration will be open in early 2025

  Our annual 7-day (8 nights) silent Zen sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer with talks and interview also available with Nomon Tim Burnett and others, includes seven days and eight nights of silent practice of sitting and walking meditation in this beautiful church camp on the water on Samish Island in the Skagit Valley. Retreat includes dharma talks by Norman and other Northwest teachers, dokusan and practice discussion, sitting and walking meditation, and delicious vegetarian meals. A deep time for practice and reflection with the support of sangha and teachers.
  

  Many photos of Samish are available on our Photos page.

  The following information is from a past Samish sesshin to give you an overview before registration opens.

  To keep current on this and all our events, please join our email list!

  Schedule:
  You may attend the entire retreat, or the first or second half. Second half attendance is only appropriate to those who have sat sesshin with us before. We are unable to offer other attendance choices. Signing up is making a commitment to be part of the retreat for the entire period you signed up for.

  

  Full Retreat - Friday 5:00pm to Saturday  at noon

  First Half - Friday  5:00pm to Tuesday at 5pm

  Second Half - Tuesday at 5pm to Saturday at noon.

  Prerequisites & Requirements
  This is a rigorous and structured experience. To benefit from being at Samish Sesshin please abide by the following requirements.

  • You should have attended at least one full day formal meditation retreat before attending this 7-day, 8-night, retreat. Please do not register if you have never sat a full day of formal meditation (in Zen or other traditions is fine).
  • If you have never attended Samish sesshin please start at the beginning by attending the full retreat or the first half, and do not attend just the second half.
    Orientation and instructions are offered at the beginning only.
  • No attendance options other than the three listed above can be accommodated. 
  • This is a silent retreat without talking, reading, writing, computer or cell phone use. Please be prepared to follow this guideline fully.
  • Following the full schedule is a core practice of Zen. Some alternate schedules can be arranged with the Ino in cases of health and other needs.
  • Plan on remaining at Samish Island camp during the entire time of your sesshin attendance, not leaving for errands or appointments, etc., and remaining at the camp through final clean up at noon on Saturday unless illness or unavoidable travel arrangements prevent this.

  Housing:
  Housing is provided with three options:

  E-Cabins are recently built multi-room cabins with a bath shared with one other room. E-Cabins are in short supply in this retreat. Please choose a rustic cabin if that is possible for you in order to leave the e-cabins for those with health challenges. Or consider sharing an e-cabin. 

  e-Cabin Exterior

  e-Cabin Interior

  Rustic Cabins - simple plywood cabins built in the 1950's. Camp style bathrooms in a separate building. Most rustic housing will be private (not shared), however if couples or friends are willing to share a cabin this can make a difference in accommodating everyone if the sesshin is full.
  

  Rustic Cabin, exterior

  Rustic cabin, interior

  RV Site with Hook-Ups - are available.

  Tent - you can bring a tent and camp on the lawn. A lower cost option.

  Samish Island Campground

  We have rented the Community of Christ's wonderful camp at the eastern end of Samish Island for over a twenty-five years for our residential retreats. A wonderful place where sea meets sky.

  11565 Scott Rd, Bow, WA 98232
  Map and Directions

  Show details