Four times per year, we hold intensive periods of Zen training called sesshin (接心), which literally means “to gather the mind” in Japanese. Because of social distancing and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve taken the training online through a training format we call keishin (繋心 pronounced “kay-shin”) or “to connect the mind.”
This will be a 4-day intensive training period where students and teachers train separately at home and are tethered together through the Zoom video conferencing platform. To prepare, students should have received basic instruction on how to sit zazen and have been sitting online or on their own for at least a month. Students should be able to sit for 45 minutes at a time without moving and understand the basic principles of hara breathing.
If interested in participating, please discuss with your teacher. If you don’t have a teacher yet, please send an inquiry through the contact form at the bottom of the Virtual Dojo page. Once approved, please register here.
The schedule is posted below, and another schedule is being developed for participants from Europe. While full-time participation is encouraged, part-time is possible for those not ready or unable to participate the entire time. You can also attend Daily Zazen (7am and 7pm CDT) with us during the keishin period and after evening zazen, you are welcome to stay for the teisho (talk by a Zen master).
Events through Chosei Zen are donation-based and open to all regardless of ability to pay. All donations are very much appreciated and help keep our dojos running! You can donate online here.