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• 2023 Zen Precepts Studies - True Freedom Through Ethical Conduct

  • Start
    Wednesday, March 29, 2023
  •  
  • End
    Saturday, October 07, 2023
  •  
  • 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 Seiu Hannah Sullivan and Joden Bob Rose 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 Retreat on November 4th.

  (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.

  For students moving toward Jukai (receiving the precept ceremony), the ceremony will be held on Saturday November 4th as part of a weekend retreat at Samish Island Retreat Center. Details on this retreat TBA.

  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.

  3/29 - 7:00-8:30 pm About the precepts, taking refuge
  4/26 - 7:00-8:30 pm Pure precepts
  5/31 - 7:00-8:30 pm Precepts 1 & 9
  6/21 - 7:00-8:30 pm Precepts 2 & 3
  7/26 - 7:00-8:30 pm Precepts 4 & 5
  8/30 - 7:00-8:30 pm Precepts 6 & 7
  9/27 - 7:00-8:30 pm Precepts 8 & 10
  10/7   9 am - 1 pm  Half-day retreat 

  Plus note that a jukai (receiving the precept ceremony will be held on Saturday November 4th as part of a weekend retreat at Samish Island Retreat Center).

  Teachers

  Seiu Hannah Sullivan was shuso, head student, in 2022 and led our sangha in the study of the Diamond Sutra. She is current the Secretary on our Board of Directors. Hannah is a student of Sokaku Kathie Fischer.
  
  

  Joden Bob Rose was shuso, head student, in 2021 when he led the sangha in an exploration of the Song of the Grass Hut. He is currently the President of the Board of Directors and our main Tenzo (head cook) at retreats.

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• Dharma Class: The Lotus Sutra, part 1

  • Start
    Monday, April 03, 2023
  •  
  • End
    Monday, May 15, 2023
  •  
  • Schedule
    7 sessions
  • Location
    Online Zoom Zendo

  Register

  An Exploration of a Mahayana Classic

  Join us for an in-depth exploration of the first half of the esteemed Lotus Sutra. Filled with fantastic imagery and famous parables and teachings, the Lotus encourages both devotion and wisdom through it's exuberant exploration of skillful means (upaya).

  This text is probably the most popular and influencial Buddhist text in East Asia with several Buddhist schools who revere and study it as their primary teachings. The Lotus Sutra was deeply studied by Dogen and is revered in our liturgy before a meal when it is listed along with the primary Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

  Everyone is welcome and be aware that you'll benefit most from this class through active engagement: home study and practice will be invited.

  Teacher: Taught by Guiding Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett. 

  Schedule: 7 Monday evenings, 6:30pm - 8:30pm from April 3rd to May 15th.

  Location: Online in our Zoom Zendo.

  Required text:

  Gene Reeves, The Lotus Sutra

  Recommended supporting texts:

  Gene Reeves, The Stories of the Lotus Sutra

  Thich Nhat Hanh, Peaceful Action, Open Heart

  Donald Lopez, The Lotus Sutra: A Biography

  
  

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• Completion of Training Ceremony for Shuko Edie Norton

  • When
    Saturday, April 08, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Church, downstairs zendo

  Register

  Celebrate Shuko Edie's practice and service to our sangha

  

  The sangha is warmly invited to in support of a Completion of Training Ceremony (Menjuhai: "Face to Face Bow of Transmission") for Shukô Edie Norton.

  At this ceremony Shukô Edie will receive her gray rakusu and a certificate of completion of training from Guiding Teacher Nomon Tim.

  The ceremony commemorates over 50 years of Zen practice and Edie's devoted service to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

  This intimate ceremony will include a short talk by Edie and be followed by a potluck reception and tea. Please bring finger food and warm hearts. 

  
  

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• Mt. Erie Circumambulation

  • When
    Sunday, April 09, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Sugarloaf Trailhead, Mt Erie. Near Anacortes or Cedarwood Zendo
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  Our Annual Spring Circumambulation of Mt. Erie

  This celebration of the encouraging energy of springtime is close to the traditional date for the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. 

  Our route will follow a moderate trail for approximately 6 miles clockwise around this prominent small mountain situated near the shore of the Salish Sea.

  The hike begins at 10am and we will probably be done by about  3pm.

  During this mostly silent meditation hike we will stop at various points along the way for chanting rituals.  Our first stop will be at the “Poets' Tree”, a grand Douglas Fir matriarch of the local forest.  Please feel free to bring a short poem to share in celebration of the local areas' history of hermit Zen poetry as part of our ceremony at this stop.

  Timing: Meet at 10am at the Sugarloaf Trailed of the Anacortes Community Forest (directions below). Or at the Cedarwood Zendo for carpooling at 9am. Note that carpooling is an indoor "activity" - please be aware of our current Covid Policy. 

  What to Bring: Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, bring at least two liters of water, trail snacks, a lunch, and a short poem to share.

  Directions to Mt. Erie:

  • I-5 to Hwy 20

  • West on 20, over Swinomish Channel Bridge until roundabout for Whidbey Island (towards Oak Harbor).

  • TURN South on Hwy 20 towards Whidbey.

  • Road drops towards Campbell Lake (visible ahead).  Enter the roundabout and turn right on Campbell Lake Road.

  • Drive Campbell Lake Road along base of Mount Erie.

  • Road will curve right at Lake Erie Grocery and becomes Heart Lake Road.

  • Drive Heart Lake road, past two prominent old growth fir, about a mile until signs for Mount Erie.

  • Veer right into parking area for Sugarloaf trailhead.

  • That's where we will meet.  If you get to Heart  Lake, you've gone too far.

  Registration: We incur about $10 of program administration cost for each registration. In your registration process you are offered the opportunity to  donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  
  

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• One Day Sit: Beginner's Mind

  • When
    Saturday, April 29, 2023
  •  
    7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham and Online on Zoom

  Register

  
  

  One Day Sits are an opportunity for sustained quiet practice together in sangha and a great way to learn more about formal Zen practice.

  The day begins early, as is traditional in Zen training, and includes periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), the morning service ritual, a Dharma talk, opportunity for a private interview with the teacher (dokusan), and a question and answer time that’s especially helpful for newer sitters.

  Note that our One Day Sits are bit less formal and rigorous than our Zen Sesshin. One Day Sits include more instruction and the opportunity for quiet social connection during the meal breaks. 

   The day of practice is also available online via Zoom.

  Schedule: The One Day Sit schedule runs from 7:00am to 3:00pm with a vegetarian breakfast and lunch provided. The full schedule is available here.

  Registration: Registration is required. If you are attending in-person, for the safety of everyone you'll need to follow our current COVID protocols.

  Teacher Heigaku Talus Latona will offer a Dharma Talk, opportunity for private practice discussion, and a Question and Answer session about Zen practice.

  	Lay Teacher Heigaku Talus Latona

  More options for Sits, Retreats, and Sesshin
  

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• Opening to Nature Walk: Tennant Lake

  • When
    Saturday, May 06, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Tennant Lake Country Park, 5299 Nielsen Rd., Ferndale WA

  Register

  

  Join us in a mindful exploration of the wetlands of Tennant Lake County Park outside of Ferndale. 

  We’ll gather at 10 am by the Tenant Lake house (next to the parking area) to begin a slow silent walk on the boardwalk. 

  Stops for sitting meditation and a simple Wilderness Dharma ritual will be included as we take our time immersing ourselves in the rich wetlands ecosystem. This walk is accessible, flat, and about a mile in length.

  Please bring a picnic lunch for some social time after our walk.

  Led by Reizan Bob Penny and Nomon Tim Burnett, who were both formerly naturalists and educators at Tennant Lake. 

  What to Bring: Comfortable layered clothing and a sack lunch if you're staying for lunch.

  Directions: Tennant Lake County Park is adjacent to Hovander Country Park in Ferndale.

  Carpooling: Please mention in a comment on your registration if you need to  a ride and we will try to assist.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• Vasubandhu's Three Natures with visiting teacher Ben Connolly

  • When
    Thursday, May 11, 2023
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Church

  Visiting teacher Ben Connolly will be joining us again to share from his new book.

  Imagination, Interdependence, and Liberation: Practicing Yogacara Buddhism with Vasubandhu’s "Three Natures"

  Ben will be featured during our regular Thursday night service on May 11th. No special registration needed. Dana for Ben will be collected on site. 

  In his new book, Vasubandhu’s “Three Natures,” a plain-English commentary, Ben Connelly shows the power of integrating early Buddhist psychology with the Mahāyāna emphasis on collective liberation. You’ll discover how wisdom from fourth-century India can be harnessed to heal and transform systems of harm within ourselves and our communities.

  Meditations and exercises will show how mindfulness and intimacy together enrich our empathetic engagement with ourselves and the world around us.

  Registration
  No cost for Red Cedar Zen Members. The modest sliding scale cost which Is requested of non-members goes to Red Cedar Zen. An opportunity to make a teacher donation (dana) directly to Ben will be offered at the event.

  About Ben
  Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage. He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups. He works with multifaith groups focused on intersectional liberation, racial justice, and climate justice. Ben serves the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar magazines, and is author of Inside the Grass Hut, Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara, Vasubandhu's "Three Natures", and Mindfulness and Intimacy.

  Book Endorsements:
  

  "A remarkable book . . . powerful and lucid."

  -Roshi Joan Halifax, founding abbot, Upaya Zen Center

  "Inspiring…opens many doors to personal and social transformation, sorely needed."

  -Dr. Larry Ward, author of America’s Racial Karma

  “Connelly’s insightful and often moving commentary displays the profound relevance of Vasubandhu’s Yogācāra philosophy both to personal practice and to the wider social world.”

  -Jonathan Gold, Professor of Religion, Princeton University

  “...shows us how to understand and embody the mystery of Vasubandhu’s teachings without getting lost in esoterica and spiritual bypassing.”

  -Pamela Ayo Yetunde, Th.D. Co-editor, Black and Buddhist

  “Beautifully written, it fuses lucid explanations of often difficult Yogacara ideas with attention to everyday concerns in a way that can help all of us apply Buddhist wisdom to the lives we live in the twenty-first century. ”

  Roger R. Jackson, author of Mind Seeing Mind and Rebirth

  “...a rare and welcome combination of scholarship and insight born of deep study and practice. The goal of human flourishing and freedom from suffering is at the center of his exposition of every verse.”

  -Anantanand Rambachan Author of A Hindu Theology of Liberation

  
  

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• One Day Sit: No Gaining Idea

  • When
    Saturday, May 27, 2023
  •  
    7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham and Online on Zoom

  Register

  
  

  One Day Sits are an opportunity for sustained quiet practice together in sangha and a great way to learn more about formal Zen practice.

  The day begins early, as is traditional in Zen training, and includes periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), the morning service ritual, a Dharma talk, opportunity for a private interview with the teacher (dokusan), and a question and answer time that’s especially helpful for newer sitters.

  Note that our One Day Sits are bit less formal and rigorous than our Zen Sesshin. One Day Sits include more instruction and the opportunity for quiet social connection during the meal breaks. 

   The day of practice is also available online via Zoom.

  Schedule: The One Day Sit schedule runs from 7:00am to 3:00pm with a vegetarian breakfast and lunch provided. The full schedule is available here.

  Registration: Registration is required. If you are attending in-person, for the safety of everyone you'll need to follow our current COVID protocols.

  Teacher Shudo Chris Burkart will offer a Dharma Talk, opportunity for private practice discussion, and a Question and Answer session about Zen practice.

  Head of Practice Shudo Chris Burkhart

  More options for Sits, Retreats, and Sesshin

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• Opening to Nature Walk: 100 Acre Wood

  • When
    Saturday, June 03, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Fairhaven Park, 107 Chuckanut Drive, Bellingham
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  A mindful hike through Fairhaven's charming 100 Acre Wood. 

  

  This wonderful extension of Fairhaven Park, also known as the Chuckanut Community Forest, is a wetland forest  filled with Douglas firs, tall cedars and cottonwoods. Bird and plant life are rich and diverse as are the many "social trails" lovers of this area have created. Walking together we'll enjoy a wandering loop of about 2.5 miles on mostly flat terrain.

  We'll start at the upper Fairhaven Park Pavilion, then proceed up and down the trails viewing large cedars and firs and hemlocks, and even forest gnomes should they decide to show. We'll side track to Se'Si'Le (the 100 Acre Woods' "Grandmother Cedar" tree) and then back through the woods. Some may wish to walk the Fairhaven Labyrinth at the end (optional).

  The hiking is mostly flat on a well-established trail, with a few uphill/downhill portions. We anticipate it will take about two hours. Please bring water and snacks, and a hiking stick or poles if you use them.

  Timing: Meet at the Fairhaven Park parking lot off Chuckanut drive at 10am. We expect to return at noon. Bring a bag lunch and stay for an optional sangha social time after the silent walk if you choose.

  What to Bring: Bring a trail snack and water. Trails can be muddy, consider hiking boots. Bring a sack lunch if you'd like to stay and eat together after the walk.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• Samish Island Sesshin 2023

  • Start
    Friday, June 23, 2023
  •  
    4:00 PM (PDT)
  • End
    Saturday, July 01, 2023
  •  
    12:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Samish Island Campground, 11565 Scott Rd Bow WA 98232
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  Registration is now open.

  Update 3/20/23: several options are already filled. We encourage you to add your name to the waitlist for the housing option of your choice. There are always cancellations and we may be able to open a few more slots. Second half attendance is still open with both e-cabins and rustics.

  Join us for our annual 7-day (8 nights) silent Zen sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer at this beautiful church camp on the water on Samish Island in the Skagit Valley. 

  The retreat includes dharma talks by Zoketsu Norman and Nomon Tim, dokusan and practice discussion, sitting and walking meditation, and delicious vegetarian meals. Sesshin is a deep time for practice and reflection with the support of sangha and teachers.

  Our Covid Safety policy at the time of the retreat will be required. Details will be sent by email closer to the time.

  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 5pm to Saturday at noon

  First Half - Friday 5pm 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.

  Housing: Housing is provided with four options: E-Cabins, Rustic Cabins, RV Camping, and Tent Camping. 

  E-Cabins are more recently built with a full 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 single (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.

  Notes on fees:
  

  1) Dana (teacher donations) is not included in these fees. Registration fees cover retreat costs with any extra to Red Cedar Zen Community for our ongoing expenses and costs. An opportunity to make teacher donation (dana) will be available at the site and is available at any time online.

  2) Paying higher on the sliding scale enables us to offer scholarships at this retreat. In the registration process you first pick your housing and stay length which adds the base fee. Then an additional sliding scale funds contribution may be added on the next screen.

  Dates and Cancellation

  • May 15 - Last day to cancel with full refund. Full payment due.
  • June 1 - Registration Closes. Last day to cancel with partial refund. Incomplete (unpaid) registrations will be cancelled at this time to make room for people on the waitlist.

  See also the Red Cedar Cancellation Policy

  Scholarships

  Scholarships are available in the Rustic Cabins. They cover one quarter or one half of retreat costs, on a first-come first-served basis. To apply, select registration type option (o) or (p).

  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

  Getting to Samish

  There is no public transportation to Samish Island. We are not providing an airport shuttle this year. If you need a ride please contact the registrar at registrar@redcedarzen.org and we will do our best to help. We currently have at least one offer from a sangha member to pick people up at SeaTac.
  
  You can get yourself to Samish from SeaTac airport in this way: (1) take the BelAire Airporter Shuttle to Burlington, (2) take Uber or Lyft to Samish.

  REGISTER

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• Opening to Nature Walk: Stimpson Family Nature Reserve

  • When
    Sunday, July 02, 2023
  •  
    7:00 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    Stimpson Family Nature Preserve, Bellingham

  Register

  A mindful early morning silent hike through old-growth forest and thriving wetland ecosystem at Stimpson Family Nature Reserve. 

  Two large trees, a Red Cedar and Douglas Fir, are wrapped in an embrace
  

  We'll walk slowly and silently as we circumambulate the 350 acre reserve, with a short detour around Geneva Pond. Total distance is 4.9 miles, and with our slow pace and occasional pauses is expected to take about 3 hours.

  The hiking is mostly flat on a well-established trail, with a few uphill portions (300 feet of total elevation gain). 

  The hike will be led by Terrill Thompson who lives nearby

  Directions: From Bellingham, take Lakeway Drive toward Lake Whatcom,  but turn right onto Lake Louise Road before you get to the lake. In about 2 miles, the well-signed trailhead parking lot is on your left.

  Timing: Meet at Stimpson Reserve Parking lot on Lake Louise Road at 9:30am. Expected return time from the hike is approximately 12:30pm. 

  What to Bring: Bring trail snacks, water, and walking shoes.

  Carpooling: Please mention in a comment on your registration if you need to  a ride and we will try to assist.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  
  

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• Opening the Mountains Hike

  • When
    Saturday, July 15, 2023
  •  
    8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Carpool from Cedarwood or Nugent's Corner

  Register

  Our full day mountain hike to open the mountains to practice.

  Join us for a meditation hike above the treeline by Mount Baker - our first mindful foray into the deep mountains to open the season.

  This popular local destination, a beautiful subalpine ridge partially covered in early season snowfields and avalanche lilies, will be our place of Opening the Mountains for the beginning of our ritual hiking season.   

  This hike, inspired by traditions on Tibetan sacred mountains where the first ritual circuit of the season was performed by priests waking up the mountain deities, will be a 6 mile round trip with about a 1500’ elevation gain.

  The trail can be muddy at this time of the year so, depending on the advance of the season, you may want to bring gaiters for snow in the forested upper portions.  But although there could be some hard snow it will also be mostly clear on the open ridge.

  What to Bring: Bring lunch, rain gear, good walking shoes or boots, and at least two liters of water.

  Directions: Meet at 2509 Cedarwood in Bellingham or the Nugent's Corner Market in Deming. You will specify your transportation plan during registration.

  Timing: Be ready to leave Cedarwood at 8:30am or to be met by the group at 9:30am at Nugent's Corner. We hope to be back to Cedarwood at about 5:30pm but hiking times vary.

  Carpooling: Please mention in a comment on your registration if you need to  a ride and we will try to assist. Carpooling is an indoor "event" please consult our current Covid Policy.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• Sangha Picnic & Wedding Reception

  • When
    Saturday, July 29, 2023
  •  
    3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Lake Padden Picnic Area, East Entrance Playground (Lakeshore Dr.)

  Register

  A Sangha Picnic Gathering to Celebrate Tim & Raizelah's WeddingTim and Raizelah will have been married the week before. Come celebrate their commitment and enjoy sangha social time by the lake on a summer's day.

  Please bring a potluck dinner/snack/dessert item of your choice. Outdoor games welcome too.

  Lake Padden East Entrance (Lakeshore Drive) picnic area by the playground.

  Drop in: 3pm to 7pm.

  Let's celebrate!!

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• Opening To Nature Walk: Old Growth Ceremony

  • When
    Saturday, August 05, 2023
  •  
    9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Carpool from the Cedarwood Zendo or Nugent's Corner

  Register

  Sitting with the Old Ones

  

  Join the sangha for a Zen experience in the Old Growth forest remnant off of Mount Baker Highway. This spot is the home to the oldest living beings of our local area.  We make this visit annually to connect with the wisdom and peace of the grove.

  After our easy walk, meditation and ritual in the Old Growth grove, we'll stop at Nooksack Falls with a sack lunch at the largest waterfall in our watershed. We'll return to Bellingham by about 3:30pm. 

  What to Bring: Bring lunch, rain gear, good walking shoes or boots, and at least two liters of water.

  Directions: Meet at 2509 Cedarwood in Bellingham or the Nugent's Corner Market in Deming. Carpooling is required, there is no extra parking at the trailhead.You will specify your transportation plan during registration. Carpooling is an indoor "event" please consult our current Covid Policy.

  Timing: Be ready to leave Cedarwood at 9:30am or to be met by the group at 10:30am at Nugent's Corner. We hope to be back to Cedarwood at about 3:30pm but hiking times vary. 

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• One Day Sit: Grounding in Practice

  • When
    Saturday, August 12, 2023
  •  
    7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham and Online on Zoom

  Register

  
  

  One Day Sits are an opportunity for sustained quiet practice together in sangha and a great way to learn more about formal Zen practice.

  The day begins early, as is traditional in Zen training, and includes periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), the morning service ritual, a Dharma talk, opportunity for a private interview with the teacher (dokusan), and a question and answer time that’s especially helpful for newer sitters.

  Note that our One Day Sits are bit less formal and rigorous than our Zen Sesshin. One Day Sits include more instruction and the opportunity for quiet social connection during the meal breaks. 

   The day of practice is also available online via Zoom.

  Schedule: The One Day Sit schedule runs from 7:00am to 3:00pm with a vegetarian breakfast and lunch provided. The full schedule is available here.

  Registration: Registration is required. If you are attending in-person, for the safety of everyone you'll need to follow our current COVID protocols.

  Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett will offer a Dharma Talk, opportunity for private practice discussion, and a Question and Answer session about Zen practice.

  Guiding Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett

  More options for Sits, Retreats, and Sesshin

  Show details
• Opening to Nature Walk: Cedarwood Pilgrimage

  • When
    Thursday, August 17, 2023
  •  
    4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

  Register

  A mindful afternoon walk up along Squalicum Creek to our new home on Cedarwood and over to our temporary home at Bellingham Unitarian.

  

  Join us for a local pilgrimage on urban nature trails that ties together our building on Cedarwood Avenue with the salt water, the stream course headed into the interior, the upland forests, and the beginning point of the original Nooksack trail to the river and Mt. Baker.

  Our walk ends at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (in future years it will end at our building on Cedarwood), in time to join in our regular Thursday evening practice.

  The pilgrimage also serves to give opportunity for the community to ritually send off our team of pilgrims to the high country for our Mountains and Rivers Backpack, beginning the following day.

  The hike is about 4 miles long, with only a very small amount of elevation rise. We will meet at BUF to get into a reduced number of cars. We will then drive to the trailhead at Little Squalicum Park, walk to the beach, and then back up onto the creek canyon rim and then upstream to our Cedarwood building on city park trails, for a brief offering at the altar.

  Then we will proceed walking to Cornwall Park, following the undeveloped railroad easement and crossing the inflow of Baker Creek. At Cornwall we will perform a ceremony at the bedrock crossing of Squalicum Creek, which marks the beginning of the old Nooksack Trail. From there we will saunter through the deep forests of Cornwall Park (Beliingham's first city park), and proceed through the Lettered Streets neighborhood to BUF, arriving about 6:30pm, with some time before evening practice begins at 7pm.

  Dress for the weather and bring a little water. Rides will be arranged to bring carpool drivers back to their cars left at the trailhead at the end of the evening at BUF.

  Program begins at BUF at 4pm.

  What to Bring: Water and a light trail snack; and perhaps snack dinner if staying for the evening zazen program at BUF.

  Timing: We'll begin our walk at 4:00pm and expect to be back to the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship by 6:30pm with time before our 7pm zazen.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• Mountains and Rivers Hiking Retreat

  • Start
    Friday, August 18, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM (PDT)
  • End
    Wednesday, August 23, 2023
  •  
    7:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Hawk Meadow Farm 1102 E. Kelly Rd, Bellingham and Mount Baker Wilderness
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  Nature Awareness, Backcountry Zen practice, and Exchanging Water 

  

  Inspired by Eihei Dogen's 1240AD text the Mountains and Rivers Sutra (Sansuikyo), this retreat includes a day of guided nature awareness and meditation in the frontcountry followed by four days and three nights of silent backpacking through a beautiful old growth hemlock forest to a seldom-visited base camp at Mazama Park, just south of Mount Baker at the foot of Park Butte. Our days will be interspersed with some social and free time.

  Activities include traditional Zen practice, a solo wilderness exercise, a day of Zen meditation, and opportunities for day hiking. The retreat is appropriate for new meditators and beginning backpackers.

  The retreat begins at Hawk Meadow Farm with a day of meditation, preparation, and nature awareness activities.  The ritual form of the backpack is a pilgrimage to our home mountain, "sutra mapping" the Sansuikyo on the upper watersheds of the South and Middle Forks of the Nooksack River.

  Led by Reizan Bob Penny & Nomon Tim Burnett - see our Practice Leaders page for more about them.

  Schedule:
  

  Friday: Arrive in the late afternoon for dinner, a bit of meditation, and settling in two nights of camping on the farm.

  Saturday: shift gears with nature awareness practices, packing up the group gear, and end with an evening of Zen meditation practice.

  Sunday: we’ll start early with meditation, drive to the trailhead, and hike in to our backcountry zendo at Mazama Meadows just below Mount Baker. We hike in silence with regular stops to chant the Sansuikyo.

  Monday & Tuesday: in the backcountry with a mix of formal Zen practice, day hiking, and relaxed camp life.

  Wednesday: we’ll hike back out from the backcountry returning to Hawk Meadow Farm to close the program by about 7pm.

  Hike Difficulty:
  This is a moderately challenging backpack. The hike in is 4 miles long and gains 2600 feet. The hike out (with lighter packs) is about 9 miles and mostly downhill. We'll have two in-camp days with moderate day hiking as well.

  Pre-hike interview required:  A telephone interview with Bob to assess questions around hiking gear and fitness is required before registration is completed.

  More information: Please contact Wilderness Programs Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org with questions and see our Wilderness Dharma Program webpage for an overview of this program.
  

  Timing: Meet at Hawk Meadow Farm (1102 E. Kelly Road, Bellingham) by 6pm on Friday. Plan to be back at Hawk Meadow between 6pm and 7pm on the following Wednesday.

  What to Bring: Full set of backpacking gear. All food is provided. Details will be provided.

  Donations to the Leaders: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. Unlike our "indoor" retreats dana (teacher donation) is not collected during the event, but dana given before or after the event is always welcome, and you can do so on our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program. 

  Show details
• Opening to Nature Walk: Lake Padden

  • When
    Saturday, September 02, 2023
  •  
    7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Lake Padden, Bellingham

  Register

  A mindful twilight walk at Lake Padden

  Join us for a twilight program of mindful walking through the change between day and night around the wooded shores of Lake Padden. Our Opening to Nature series explores the wide variety of connections we have with our world. Every day the drama of nightfall is recreated, and yet we rarely pause to notice the daily transition at the margins of light. In our engagement with mindfulness as a place-based dharma practice we take deeper notice of this world and it's everyday miracles. The fall of night is just one of these small celebrations that nature offers to us each day.

  This is an easy two and a half mile walk, with a slightly hilly portion, taken at a contemplative pace with several stops along the way to feel the unfolding of night, and hear the transition of diurnal sounds. We will gently invite the bell to ring once at each of our stops, to echo across the lake waters, allowing our music to blend with nature's sounds. If we are lucky we may hear the calling of owls, and call back, or hear the final stanzas of birds going to roost.

  We will meet at the main entrance parking lot to the park (towards the west end of the lake) where the bathrooms and swimming area are located, not far from the tennis courts.

  You will want to bring a headlamp in case we are faced with having lost the light completely. But we will attempt to not turn lights on, and let our eyes slowly adjust to the dark as we walk. Some water and a a little trail snack might be nice to have along as well.

  What to Bring: Water and a light trail snack; an extra layer to wear as it cools down; and a headlamp in case we need them at the end (a phone flashlight is ok).

  Directions: Take the West Entrance into Lake Padden City Park, directly off of Samish Way, to the parking area by the bathrooms just above the swimming area. (Don't take the East Entrance onto Lakeshore Drive which leads to the larger picnic area & golf course).

  Timing: We'll begin our walk at 7:30pm and expect to be back at the parking lot at 9:30pm (sunset will be at 7:50pm with full dark as we close).

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• Journey to the Source - hike to Nooksack Cirque

  • When
    Saturday, September 16, 2023
  •  
    5:00 AM - 7:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Carpool from the Cedarwood Zendo or Nugent's Corner

  Register

  An intensive long day hike to the source of the Nooksack River

  A journey to a magical place close to home. Few people venture to the very upper reaches of the North Fork of the Nooksack River: the Nooksack Cirque.

  It is a long and strenuous 12-mile hike in and out of the North Fork drainage, largely off-trail on rocky terrain, with numerous brief crossings of the reduced-flow late summer river channel. Plan on a very full day, hiking at a good pace, and wearing hiking boots with wool socks.

  At the Cirque we will perform the years final Exchanging Water ritual in the ice caves amid waterfalls, transferring water from the Salish Sea with mountain glacial water, which we annually perform at the headwaters of all three branches of the Nooksack.

  A Challenging Hike: If you are new to this hike a telephone or email exchange with program coordinator Bob Penny to determine your fitness for the journey will be required to complete your registration.

  Timing: Meet at our zendo at 2509 Cedarwood at 5am or at the Nugent's Corner Market in Deming at 6am. A very early start is essential to have sufficient daylight for this long day hike. We hope to return to Cedarwood by 7pm but return times can vary.

  What to Bring: Bring a lunch, generous snacks, at least two liters of water, and layers. Wearing hiking boots to protect your ankles with wool socks which we expect to get wet are recommended. Spare/dry clothing to change into back at the vehicles is a good option.

  Carpooling: You will indicate during registration where you're meeting the group. Note that carpooling is an indoor "activity" to please be aware of our current Covid Policies.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• One Day Sit: Perfect Just as You Are

  • When
    Saturday, September 23, 2023
  •  
    7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham and Online on Zoom

  Register

  
  

  One Day Sits are an opportunity for sustained quiet practice together in sangha and a great way to learn more about formal Zen practice.

  The day begins early, as is traditional in Zen training, and includes periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), the morning service ritual, a Dharma talk, opportunity for a private interview with the teacher (dokusan), and a question and answer time that’s especially helpful for newer sitters.

  Note that our One Day Sits are bit less formal and rigorous than our Zen Sesshin. One Day Sits include more instruction and the opportunity for quiet social connection during the meal breaks. 

   The day of practice is also available online via Zoom.

  Schedule: The One Day Sit schedule runs from 7:00am to 3:00pm with a vegetarian breakfast and lunch provided. The full schedule is available here.

  Registration: Registration is required. If you are attending in-person, for the safety of everyone you'll need to follow our current COVID protocols.

  Teacher TBA will offer a Dharma Talk, opportunity for private practice discussion, and a Question and Answer session about Zen practice.

  	Head of Pracitce Shudo Chris Burkhart
  	Lay Teacher Seishu John Wiley

  More options for Sits, Retreats, and Sesshin
  

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• Heart Lake Circumambulation/Heart Sutra

  • When
    Saturday, September 30, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Heart Lake, near Mt. Erie

  Register

  Chanting & Walking the Heart Sutra at Heart Lake

  Join Joden Bob Rose on a ritual circumambulation around Heart Lake, with ceremonies chanting the Heart Sutra: an experience of "Sutra Mapping", extending the words of a sutra across an area of landscape.
  

  Heart Lake, a State Park managed by the City of Anacortes, is both heart-shaped and the heart of the 3,000-acre Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL). The Lake is surrounded by a forest identified as the most intact Douglas-fir / cedar / hemlock ecosystem remaining in the state at sea level. Joden Bob was a key player in getting this area protected.

  We will walk in a clockwise direction, in silence, and stop at 6 points to ritually chant the Heart Sutra with mokugyo and incense, alternating between the English and Sino-Japanese versions.

  This is an easy, mostly flat walk of less than 3 miles on a well-used trial with one significant incline toward the end. There are outhouses at both the Mt. Erie parking lot and at the Heart Lake parking lot.

  Timing: Meet at the Sugarloaf Trailhead of the Anacortes Community Forest (Mt. Erie) to begin our walk at 10am. Or if carpooling from our zendo at Cedarwood, meet at 9am.

  Carpooling:  You can drive yourself to the trailhead (directions below), or you can carpool for this trip from the our 2509 Cedarwood zendo in Bellingham. You will indicate which during the registration process. Note that carpooling is an indoor "activity" - please be aware of our current Covid Policy.

  What to Bring: Bring a trail snack and water. Wear good walking shoes, appropriate clothing for the weather, and bring water and snacks.

  Lunch Option: After the hike, if participants choose, there will be an opportunity to have lunch together very nearby in Anacortes at an outdoor seating restaurant.

  Directions to Mt. Erie, from Bellingham:

  • I-5 to Hwy 20

  • West on 20, over Swinomish Channel Bridge until roundabout for Whidbey Island (towards Oak Harbor).

  • TURN South on Hwy 20 towards Whidbey.

  • Road drops towards Campbell Lake (visible ahead).  Stay in right lane and turn right on Campbell Lake Road.

  • Drive Campbell Lake Road along base of Mount Erie.

  • Road will curve right at Lake Erie Grocery and becomes Heart Lake Road.

  • Drive Heart Lake road, past two prominent old growth fir, about a mile until signs for Mount Erie.

  • Veer right into parking area for Sugarloaf trailhead.

  Registration: We incur about $10 in program administration cost for each registration. In the registration process you are offered the opportunity to donate additional funds to help Red Cedar continue to be able to offer these programs if you choose. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. Requests for lower cost registrations may be made here. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

  Show details
• Closing the Mountains/Returning Waters Ceremony

  • When
    Saturday, October 14, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Carpool from the Cedarwood Zendo or meet at trailhead

  Register

  Returning Water and Ascending to the Oyster Dome

  

   A five mile day hike to close the mountains to practice.

  Join us for one or both of two connected Wilderness Dharma events.

  The Hike: 10am - 3pm - Chuckanut Drive to the Oyster Dome
  

  Join us for a meditation hike to the gem of the Chuckanuts: Oyster Dome.This popular local destination, a prominent rocky outcrop on the southwest face of Blanchard mountain, will be our place of Closing the Mountains for the ending of our ritual hiking season.   

  This hike, inspired by traditions on Tibetan sacred mountains where the last ritual circuit of the season was performed by priests putting the mountain to rest, will be a 5 mile round trip with about a 1,000’ elevation gain. On the dome we will perform a ritual combining water from the three headwater branches of the Nooksack River. At the end of the hike we will carpool to Larabee Beach for our seasons final ritual, returning water to the Salish Sea.

  Returning Water Ceremony: Approximately 3pm, Larrabee State Park.

  A returning water ritual completes our Wilderness Dharma Program hiking season and all are encouraged to attend to offer the water we have carried through out the season back to the Salish Sea. You are welcome attend this ritual even if you did not do the hike.

  Meeting up: You can meet us for the hike at the Chuckanut Drive Oyster Dome Trailhead (just south of Oyster Creek) by 10am or opt to carpool from the our Cedarwood Zendo in Bellingham, meeting at 9:30am for the drive to the trailhead.

  If you are joining us for the ritual at the end we will arrive there at approximately 3pm at the band shell area at Larrabee State Park. Take the main entrance and head south to the band shell and beach access parking area. Take the Larrabee main entrance and head south to the band shell and beach access parking area.

  Dress appropriately for the weather, with good footwear for the trail.  Bring a sack lunch and at least two liters of water. We will eat lunch on top of the dome.

  What to Bring: Trail snacks and sack lunch, sturdy hiking shoes, hiking poles if you use them, and two liters of water. Dress in layers.

  Carpooling: Please mention in a comment on your registration if you need to  a ride and we will try to assist. Carpooling is an indoor "activity" - please be aware of our current Covid Policy. 

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. Unlike our "indoor" retreats dana (teacher donation) is not collected during the event, but dana given before or after the event is always welcome, and you can do so on our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program. 

  Show details
• Fall Sesshin at Samish

  • Start
    Thursday, November 02, 2023
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    Sunday, November 05, 2023
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Samish Island Reterat Center, Bow, WA

  Register

  Join us for a new 3-day Residential Sesshin at Samish Island

  with Sokaku Kathie Fischer & Nomon Tim Burnett

  

  This 3-day residential sesshin will include all of our meals eaten oryoki style, alternating periods of zazen (sitting) and kinhin (walking) meditation, Dharma Talks, and a special sangha celebration.

  
  

  Schedule:

  Arrive Thursday afternoon to settle in, eat your own packed in dinner, and begin silence.

  Friday and Saturday will be full sesshin days 6am to 8:30pm with alterating zazen and kinhin, meals, Dharma Talks, opportunities for dokusan with the teachers, and a work period.

  Sunday will include a Lay Entrustment Ceremony in which Sokaku Kathie confers the Dharma on Seiu Hannah Sullivan qualifying her as a Lay Teacher in our lineage at 2pm. Sangha is invited to join this ceremony even if unable to attend sesshin.

  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).

  Housing: Housing is provided with two options: E-Cabins and Rustic Cabins.

  E-Cabins are more recently built with a full 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 single (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

  Dharma Talks:

  Everyone is welcome to come join us for Dharma Talks. Be aware of our current Covid policy if you come. No registration needed.

  Friday November 3rd, 10:30am Nomon Tim Burnett
  Saturday November 4th, 10:30am Sokaku Kathie Fischer

  Lay Entrustment Ceremony for Seiu Hannah Sullivan:

  Sunday November 5th, 11am. 

  Visiting Teacher Sokaku Kathie Fischer is Hannah Sullivan's teacher.	Nomon Tim Burnett is the Guiding Teacher of Red Cedar Zen Community

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• 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 2022 retreat to give you an idea of what will happen and what's available - this page will be updated in early 2023. 

  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

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