Rohatsu Sesshin 2023

The Rohatsu Sesshin is a meditation retreat the first week in December.  This is a time of concentrated practice to commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment upon seeing the morning star.  Temples around the world join in this practice.

Ringing the 7am bell

The sesshin consisted primarily of sitting and walking meditation and also included oryoki breakfasts, lunch with food offering walks, an opening ceremony (Ryakufusatsu), brief dharma talks, and a celebratory closing ceremony.  

A snowstorm with 8"+ of heavy wet snow resulted in no electric power for part of the time, adding to the depth of quiet.

Zazen during the electric outage

The theme of this year's Rohatsu Sesshin was Keizan Zenji's koan of Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment from the "Transmission of Light".

Shakyamuni Buddha saw the morning star, 

awakened to the way 

and said

 "I together with the great earth and all sentient beings simultaneously attain the way."