2026 Hybrid Sesshins, Half-Day Sittings & Zazenkais
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January All-day Zazenkai
Saturday, January 108:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Schedule for Zazenkais
8:00 a.m.-8:30—Verse of the kesa, tea ceremony, Torei Zenji: Bodhisattva's Vow, zazen
8:30-10:00—Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-12:30 p.m.—Lunch followed by rest period
12:30-2:00—Zazen and dokusan
2:00-3:00—Work period, rest
3:00-3:30—Zazen
3:30-4:00—Chanting service
February Half-Day Zazenkai—
Saturday, February 14
Buddha's Parinirvana Ceremony8:00 a.m. to noon
Schedule for Half-Days
8:00 a.m.-10:00—Verse of the Kesa, Torei Zenji "Bodhisattva Vow," Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-11:50 p.m.—Buddha's Parinirvana Ceremony
March 5-day Jataka Sesshin
Friday, March 13 through Wednesday, March 18At the Toronto Zen Centre
Schedule for Jataka Sesshins
Friday Night 7:00—Opening Ceremony followed by zazen 9:00—End of formal zazen: 4 Vows
Saturday & Sunday
AM 4:30—Wake-up bell
5:00—Way of the Bodhisattva, zazen and dokusan
6:30—Breakfast
7:00–9:00—Work period
9:00–10:30—Rest period/zazen
10:30—Jataka Tale talk and discussion/informal zazen
PM 12:30—Lunch then rest period
2:00—Dogen’s Way zazen/dokusan
4:00—Chanting then informal zazen
5:15—Dinner followed by rest period
7:00— Dogen’s Way zazen/dokusan
9:00—End of zazen, Four Vows
9:30—Refreshments
Monday–Thursday
AM 4:30—Wake-up bell
5:00—Way of the Bodhisattva, zazen and dokusan
6:30—Breakfast, followed by unscheduled time
PM 12:30—Informal lunch
5:15—Dinner
6:30—Chanting: Sandokai
End of chanting—Jataka Talk
End of talk—Zazen and dokusan
9:45—Refreshments
Friday Morning
AM 4:00—Wake-up bell
4:30—Zazen and dokusan
End of Dokusan—Final words, followed by Closing Ceremony
Housecleaning, Breakfast
April All-day Zazenkai
Saturday, April 48:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Schedule for Zazenkais
8:00 a.m.-8:30—Verse of the kesa, tea ceremony, Torei Zenji: Bodhisattva's Vow, zazen
8:30-10:00—Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-12:30 p.m.—Lunch followed by rest period
12:30-2:00—Zazen and dokusan
2:00-3:00—Work period, rest
3:00-3:30—Zazen
3:30-4:00—Chanting service
May Half-Day Zazenkai—
Saturday, May 2
Roshi Kapleau Memorial Ceremony8:00 a.m. to noon
Schedule for Half-Days
8:00 a.m.-10:00—Verse of the Kesa, Torei Zenji "Bodhisattva Vow," Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-11:50 p.m.—Roshi Kapleau Memorial Service
June 3-day Sesshin
Wednesday, June 25 through Sunday, June 28Endless Path Zendo
Schedule for Sesshins
Opening Night
7:00—Opening Ceremony, review of guidelines, zazen
9:00 — Great Vows for All
Daily
7 a.m. — Verse of the Kesa, Tea ceremony, Kentan, "Torei Zen ji: Bodhisattva Vow", zazen, dokusan
9:30 — Work gatha, work period
10:30 — Snack, tea, rest
11:00 — Zazen, kinhin
11:30 — Chanting service
11:50 — Zazen
12:00 — Lunch, clean up, rest
1:30 — Zazen
2:00 — Teisho
3:00 — Zazen, dokusan
5:00 — Dinner, clean up, rest
7:00 — Zazen, dokusan
9:00 — Great Vows for All, Evening Ritual
Last Day
7:00 a.m. — Verse of the Kesa, Tea ceremony, Kentan, "Torei Zen ji: Bodhisattva Vow", zazen, dokusan
9:30 — Teisho
10:30 — Zazen
11:30 — Lunch, clean up, rest
1:00 p.m. — Zazen, dokusan
3:30 — Final Chanting Ceremony
After chanting — Tea and Group sharing
July Half-Day Zazenkai
Saturday, July 188:00 a.m. to noon
Schedule for Half-Days
8:00 a.m.-10:00—Verse of the Kesa, Torei Zenji "Bodhisattva Vow," Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-11:50 p.m.—Roshi Kapleau Memorial Service
September All-day Zazenkai
Saturday, September 128:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Schedule for Zazenkais
8:00 a.m.-8:30—Verse of the kesa, tea ceremony, Torei Zenji: Bodhisattva's Vow, zazen
8:30-10:00—Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-12:30 p.m.—Lunch followed by rest period
12:30-2:00—Zazen and dokusan
2:00-3:00—Work period, rest
3:00-3:30—Zazen
3:30-4:00—Chanting service
October Half-Day Zazenkai—Bodhidharma Day
Saturday, October 38:00 a.m. to noon
Schedule for Half-Days
8:00 a.m.-10:00—Verse of the Kesa, Torei Zenji "Bodhisattva Vow," Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-11:50 p.m.—Roshi Kapleau Memorial Service
October 6-day Jataka/Working Person Sesshin
Friday, October 9 through Thursday, October 15At the Vermont Zen Center
Schedule for Jataka Sesshins
Friday Night 7:00—Opening Ceremony followed by zazen 9:00—End of formal zazen: 4 Vows
Saturday & Sunday
AM 4:30—Wake-up bell
5:00—Way of the Bodhisattva, zazen and dokusan
6:30—Breakfast
7:00–9:00—Work period
9:00–10:30—Rest period/zazen
10:30—Jataka Tale talk and discussion/informal zazen
PM 12:30—Lunch then rest period
2:00—Dogen’s Way zazen/dokusan
4:00—Chanting then informal zazen
5:15—Dinner followed by rest period
7:00— Dogen’s Way zazen/dokusan
9:00—End of zazen, Four Vows
9:30—Refreshments
Monday–Thursday
AM 4:30—Wake-up bell
5:00—Way of the Bodhisattva, zazen and dokusan
6:30—Breakfast, followed by unscheduled time
PM 12:30—Informal lunch
5:15—Dinner
6:30—Chanting: Sandokai
End of chanting—Jataka Talk
End of talk—Zazen and dokusan
9:45—Refreshments
Friday Morning
AM 4:00—Wake-up bell
4:30—Zazen and dokusan
End of Dokusan—Final words, followed by Closing Ceremony
Housecleaning, Breakfast
November Half-Day Zazenkai—
Saturday, November 21
Ceremony of Gratitude8:00 a.m. to noon
Schedule for Half-Days
8:00 a.m.-10:00—Verse of the Kesa, Torei Zenji "Bodhisattva Vow," Zazen and dokusan
10:00-11:00—Teisho
11:00-11:30—Zazen
11:30-11:50 p.m.—Ceremony of Gratitude
December 7-day Rohatsu Intensive Week: Embodying the Buddha's Enlightemnment
Monday, November 30 through Sunday, December 6Endless Path Zendo
Schedule for Rohatsu Week
November 30, Monday—7:00-8:30 pm—Opening tea ceremony; zazen
December 1, Tuesday
6:30-7:30 am—formal zazen
7:00-8:30 pm—formal zazen with dokusan
December 2, Wednesday
6:30-7:30 am—formal zazen with dokusan
7:00-8:00 pm—formal zazen with healing chanting service
December 3, Thursday
6:30-7:30 am—formal zazen
7:00-8:30 pm—formal zazen with dokusan
December 4, Friday
6:30 am-7:30 am—formal zazen
7:00 pm-8:30 pm—formal zazen with dokusan
December 5, Saturday—7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sesshin schedule (lunch and dinner served) morning tea ceremony, teisho, dokusan morning, afternoon, and evening.
Donation: $35 full day; $20 part-time or zoom
December 6, Sunday—7:00 am-4:00 pm
Sesshin schedule (lunch served) morning tea ceremony, teisho, dokusan morning and afternoon, Buddha's Enlightenment Ceremony.
Donation: $20 full day; $10 part-time or zoomNon-member Payment
CASH or CHECK
- $45
- $90
- $135
- $180
Sesshin Length
NON-RESIDENTIAL
- 1-day
- 2-day
- 3-day
- 4-day
Member Payment
CASH or CHECK
- $35
- $70
- $105
- $140