OBW Winter Retreat 2020

OBW Winter Retreat at Open Gate Zendo

This years Winter Retreat, begins at 7:30 am Saturday January 18th and runs through 4:30 pm Monday, January 20th.  The three day practice schedule will include the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Silent Peace Walk (Olympia’s Capitol Lake, Marathon Park starting at noon Sunday). 

Participants will be expected to sign up on a duty roster, both as a way of helping out and to get training in the various tasks needed to run a Zen Retreat.  The following schedule may be adjusted to accommodate training opportunities and give various participants more of an active role in the proceedings. 

Anyone wanting to arrive early is welcome to come Friday evening and spend the night in the Zendo. Attendees arriving in the morning should try to arrive by 7:00.  There will be an informal breakfast with social time Saturday morning, but otherwise we will be following our traditional silent retreat schedule and etiquette.

There is no fee for attending, but as usual, contributions for food and to help pay for supplies and heating costs would be greatly appreciated. Mattresses will be provided for those who wish to remain in residence for their duration at sesshin and showers will be made available.

    

Please e-mail; opengatezendo@msn.com with any questions and/or to confirm your plans to attend, we need an accurate head count for buying food stuffs.

2020 Winter Sesshin

Saturday Schedule

First Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell

7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Meditation (Plank drum (Han) roll)

7:30-8:00 One period of Meditation

8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony

8:05-9:00 Informal Breakfast and kitchen cleanup (in Residence)

9:00-9:15 Retreat Introduction and Instructions

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Meditation

9:30-10:45 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

9:30-10:45 One on one meeting with the teacher by rotation.

10:45-12:30 Work and/or training period

12:30- Call to Lunch (Han roll)

12:15- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for lunch- bring out trays

12:45-1:45 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)

1:45-2:10 Break and kitchen cleanup

Afternoon Session

2:00- Call to Meditation (Han roll)

2:15-3:30 Two periods of Meditation, alternated with Walking Meditation

3:30-4:30 Monk procession walk

4:30- Call to Meditation

4:45-5:15 One period Meditation

5:15- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for Dinner- bring out trays

5:30-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)

6:15-6:30 Break and kitchen cleanup

Evening Session

6:30- Call to Meditation

6:45-8:00 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

8:00-8:10- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for tea, bring out trays

8:10 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Dharma Talk/Discussion.

8:55- Closing ceremony

9:00- Daily Closing- Striking the evening bell 9 times

9:00- Prepare for bed or non-residents leave for the night.

Sunday Schedule

First Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell

7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Morning bell tolled 9 times)

7:15-Call to Meditation 

7:30-8:00 One period of Meditation

8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony

8:05- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for breakfast - bring out trays

8:15-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)

9:00-9:25 Break and kitchen cleanup

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Meditation

9:30-10:45 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

9:30-10:45 One on one meeting with the teacher, by rotation.

11:15-1:15 MLK Silent procession walk around Capitol Lake

1:15-2:30  Hosted Sangha Lunch in Olympia.

Afternoon Session

2:30- Call to Meditation (time adjusted to return time)

2:45-4:00 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

4:00- 4:30 Work and/or Training period (may be adjusted for schedule)

4:30- Call to Meditation

4:45-5:15 One period Meditation

5:15- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for Dinner- bring out trays

5:30-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)

6:15-6:40 Break and kitchen cleanup

Evening Session

6:30- Call to Meditation (Han roll)

6:45-8:00 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

8:00-8:10- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for tea, bring out trays

8:10 -8:50 Tea ceremony & Dharma Talk/Discussion.

8:55- Closing ceremony

9:00- Daily Closing- Evening bell tolled 9 times

9:00- Prepare for bed or non-residents leave for the night.

Monday Schedule

Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell

7:00 Non-residents Arrive Morning bell tolled 9 times

7:15-Call to Meditation

7:30-8:00 One period of Meditation 

8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony

8:05- Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for breakfast - bring out trays

8:15-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)

9:00-9:15 Break and kitchen cleanup

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Meditation 

9:30-10:45 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

9:30-10:45 One on one meeting with the teacher, by rotation.

10:45-11:45 Samu (work and/or exercise/rest period)

11:45 Call to Meditation

12:00-12:30 One Period Meditation

12:30- 12:40 Kitchen aids prepare Entrance Hall for lunch- bring out trays

12:40-1:30 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)

Afternoon Session

1:30-2:00 Break and kitchen cleanup

1:45- Call to Meditation

2:00-3:15 Two periods of Meditation alternated with Walking Meditation

3:15-3:30 Short Break

3:30-4:30 Tea ceremony, Group Discussion

4:30-Closing - Evening bell tolled 9 times

Happy Holidays!

Fall Retreat at Mt Adams 9/13-9/15

This year we will be having our Fall Sesshin at Mount Adams Zen Temple earlier in the season.  Many people have commented that the late October dates put us into chill of winter and make the nights and early mornings a bit challenging.  So we have are experimenting by moving our dates where we can fit into the busy Mount Adams schedule. Therefore, September 13^th-15^th, we will once again join with the Mount Adams Zen community in conducting our Fall Sesshin. The format of the retreat combines the Mount Adams Zen Temple practices with our own traditional Boundless Way style sesshin.

Many members of our extended sangha have had the opportunity to practice at Mount Adams and are aware of the subtle differences in style, while for others this will be a new experience.  Mount Adams Zen Temple is in the Vietnamese Zen tradition and carries many of the nuances of this heritage, just as our practice carries the nuances of the Japanese tradition.

Since both our communities are modern Western descendants of Zen, neither Japanese or Vietnamese, we are not bound to any specific ethnic style of practice.  The combination of old traditions holds many promises in the development of a “Contemporary  Zen” form that is not of any specific tradition, other than the tradition of Zen itself.

Due to the logistics of conducting this sesshin away from home we need to know how many people are planning to attend,  please remember to “register” by sending an e-mail to: opengatezendo@msn.com to confirm your attendance.  Even though overnight accommodations will be indoors, please prepare yourself as if you were going on a camping trip, with sleeping bags and personal items.  For the most part we will be sleeping barracks style and meals will be provided within the retreat schedule.

It is recommended that you arrive Friday night to take full advantage of the full day schedule on Saturday.

If you want to reserve and rent a room at Trout Lake Abbey call: (509) 395-2030

For more information about Mount Adams Zen Center go to:  http://www.mtadamszen.org/

Friday Evening Schedule
5:30-6:30 Gathering and Casual Dinner
6:30 -7:30 Mt Adams Evening Service


Saturday Schedule
5:45  Metta Practice
6:15 One period of seated meditation
6:45 Informal Breakfast
7:30 Clean up break period
8:00 Orientation for Retreat
9:00 Morning Service
10:00  Samu (work period)
11:45  Two periods of meditation divided by walking meditation
1:00 Lunch- Soto style Oryoki
2:00 Clean up and Break
3:45 Two periods of meditation w/walking meditation & private meeting with teacher
5:00 Half hour of walking meditation (outside)
5:30 Dinner-Soto style Oryoki
6:30 Clean up and break
7:00 Metta Practice
7:30 One period of seated meditation
8:00 Tea and Dharma talk
9:00 Time for Bed

Sunday Schedule
5:45  Metta Practice
6:15 Two periods of seated meditation divided by walking meditation
7:30 Informal Breakfast
8:30 Clean up
9:00 Morning Service
10:00 Samu (work period)
11:30 Two periods of meditation w/walking meditation  & private meeting with teacher
12:45 Informal Lunch
1:45 Clean up and Break
2:45 One period seated meditation
3:15 Tea and Group discussion
4:15 Retreat Ends

2019 Summer Sesshin & Ordination

                

The time is here for the Open Gate 2019 Summer Sesshin and Ordination Ceremony. The Sesshin will held on Saturday and Sunday August 17th &18th with the Ordination ceremony beginning Saturday at 11:00 am (followed by a pot luck lunch and social period). Attendees are welcome to come Friday evening and spend the night in the Zendo as well. 

Attendees arriving in the morning should arrive by 7:00. Below is the two day schedule. Guests coming only to the Ordination and potluck social should arrive between 10:30 and 11:00. 
 

Ordination Ceremony

This summer we will be welcoming three new members into the Order of the Boundless Way; local Open Gate Sangha members- Erich Hahn, and Cindy Baxley-Raves (both of Olympia) as well as Jasmine Martin, of University Place. All  are long time Open Gate Sangha members, who have been attending regularly for years.  

Everyone is encouraged to come for the ordination ceremony to meet our new members, even if  they are unable to attend the full Sesshin. (Small gifts and/or cards from sangha members to the new initiates are always welcome).  

Please send an e-mail opengatezendo@msn.com in order to confirm your intentions in attending. As usual we need an accurate head count for planning and buying food stuffs. If you would like more information about this sesshin or the ordination, please feel free to contact to contact Miles at- opengatezendo@msn.com

Saturday Schedule

Morning Session

6:30 Wake-up bell
7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times) 
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen 
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony (Remain standing to exit Zendo)
8:05-9:00 Casual breakfast and social time (in Hojo)
9:00-9:15 Break and kitchen cleanup

Second Morning Session

9:00- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:15-9:45 One periods of Zazen 
9:45-10:45 Samu (Arrange Zendo for Ordination Ceremony)
10:45 Han Roll (Call to Ordination ceremony)
11:00-12:00 Ordination Ceremony
12:00-1:30 Potluck Lunch and Social Time (Cards and Gifts)
1:30 Han roll (announcing end of lunch and social time)
1:30 – 2:00 Samu (Clean up and return Zendo to original configuration)

Afternoon Session

2:00- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
2:15-3:30 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
3:30-4:30 Angya practice. (Monk procession walk) 
4:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
4:45-5:15 One period Zazen
5:15- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for Dinner- bring out trays 
5:30-6:15 Dinner ceremony (Oryoki)
6:15-6:40 Break and kitchen cleanup

Evening Session

6:30- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
6:45-8:00 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
8:00-8:10- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for tea, bring out trays 
8:10-8:50 Tea ceremony& Dharma talk 
8:55- Closing ceremony
9:00- Daily Closing- Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times
9:00- Prepare for bed or non-residents leave for the night.

Sunday Schedule

Morning Session
6:30 Wake-up bell
7:00 Non-residents Arrive (Chosho -morning bell tolled 9 times) 
7:15-Call to Zazen (Plank drum (Han) roll)
7:30-8:00 One period of Zazen (Chosan- first morning meditation)
8:00-8:05 Incense Ceremony 
8:05- Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for lunch- bring out trays 
8:15-9:00 Breakfast ceremony (Oryoki)
9:00-9:15 Break and kitchen cleanup

Second Morning Session

9:15- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
9:30-10:45 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
9:30-10:45 Dokusan (one on one meeting with the teacher) by rotation.
10:45-11:45 Samu (work and/or exercise/rest period)
11:45 Han Roll
12:00-12:30 One Period Zazen
12:30- 12:40 Kitchen aids prepare Genkan for lunch- bring out trays
12:40-1:30 Lunch ceremony (Oryoki)

Afternoon Session

1:30-2:00 Break and kitchen cleanup 
1:45- Call to Zazen (Han roll)
2:00-3:15 Two periods of Zazen alternated with Kinhin
3:15-3:30 Short Break
3:30-4:30 Tea ceremony, Teisho/Group Discussion
4:30-Closing - Konsho (striking the evening bell) tolled 9 times