One-day Retreat

 

Saturday November 21, 2026 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

$35 to $50 donation, plus dana for the practice leader.
No one is turned away for lack of funds.

Lunch is provided.

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Questions: director@olympiazencenter.org

Please register before noon on Friday, September 18.

Register Here

Our monthly retreat includes each part of traditional Sōtō Zen practice: Zazen, Kinhin (walking meditation), Ceremony, lunch in the Sōtō Zen form and work practice to care for the temple grounds.

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Dokusan (private conversation with the practice leader) will be available after lunch.

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Rohatsu Sesshin

 

7:00 pm Tuesday December 1 to mid-morning Sunday December 6
$150 for the entire sesshin, or $35 per day donation requested, plus dana for the practice leader.
Dokusan (private conversation with the practice leader) will be available.
No one is turned away for lack of funds.
In-Person and over Zoom
Questions: director@olympiazencenter.org

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Register Here

 

Rohatsu is the traditional celebration of Śhakyamuni Buddha’s Awakening, and is the deepest practice event of the year in the Zen calendar. Each year in December, Olympia Zen Center joins with Sōtō Zen temples worldwide to bring our most earnest effort forward in practice.

Participants may attend all or part of Rohatsu. The sesshin begins at 7:00 pm on December 1, with orientation, followed by zazen. All participants should attend the opening/orientation of Rohatsu on Tuesday. Each day thereafter begins with 5:30 am zazen, and practice ends at 9:00 pm. On the last day, we hold a special ceremony acknowledging Buddha’s Enlightenment. The sesshin closes after breakfast on Sunday, December 6.

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