We invite you to join us for our 2018 Spring Sesshin!

Dates: 29 September – 6 October 2018
Location: Cloud Mountain, Berry (MAP)
Teacher: Roshi Susan Murphy
Closing date for registrations: 21 September 2016
Cost: Various (see below) + Dana*
Register Early – Spaces are limited 

The moon of mind, the flower of eyes,

opening since time before kalpas,

are bright and beautiful.

Who will play with them?

– Zen Master Keizan, 13^th century Japan

…

Zen Open Circle invites you to join us for our upcoming seven-day Spring Sesshin with Roshi Susan Murphy.

Spring at Cloud Mountain is the season of falling citrus blossoms, morning mists, a thousand birds, occasional wombats, many frogs… and Sesshin. 
 
Sesshin is dedicated to the deep settling and clarifying of heart and mind. It offers the rare gift of the Dharma in a setting of silence, zazen and silent work practice, with afternoons that may include open sitting, gardening/landcare, or calligraphy brushwork. 
 
A local bushwalk to the stunning nearby Drawing Room Rocks lookout is possible one morning, and this sesshin will also offer the beautiful ceremony of Jukai for people ready to take a more formal step of practice.

Spring Sesshin typically fills early. Don’t delay if it’s your intention to attend.

Costs:

Full time attendance (Saturday to Saturday): $490 + dana*
Full time concession: $400 + dana*
Part time: $80 per day + dana*
Part time concession: $65 per day + dana*

Non-Members: During your application process you will be prompted to create a ZOC Membership. This is required for insurance reasons at Cloud Mountain, and will also give you access to a range of other ZOC events. Membership fees vary depending on which category you select. You can find out more about membership here. 

What is ‘Sesshin’?

The word ‘sesshin’ refers to our formal retreats held twice a year. This retreat spreads over seven days and provides a container for deep practice. Sesshin is a retreat form passed down through generations of Zen practitioners. During sesshin we not only practice sitting and walking meditation, but we also spread our practice into every part of our day – from preparing and eating our food, to cleaning, to taking care of the land on which we practice. In this way practice becomes continuous. Throughout sesshin each student also has the opportunity to work closely with the teacher. 

What does the Sesshin fee include?

Zen Open Circle is a not-for-profit organization. Your Sesshin fee includes a contribution towards sesshin costs such as food, accommodation, consumables, insurance etc, with surplus funds from fees, if any, being put toward general ZOC revenue (from which Sesshin scholarships are drawn). 

What is ‘dana’?

Dana is the practice of generosity and is central to the life and sustainability of our community. With dana we celebrate the many ways in which we benefit from the great gift of existence and help to support each other’s work. As Roshi Susan does not receive formal payments for her teaching, it is customary that we offer dana in the form of money at the end of each retreat. This money helps to make possible the ongoing gift of Roshi’s teachings and is an acknowledgement of the special relationship between teacher and student. These offerings come from the heart and remain anonymous in nature. These offerings can be made in cash at the retreat, or via direct deposit.