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!
