Beginner’s Mind Zazenkai, March 24-26
Beginner’s Mind Zazenkai takes place Friday night, March 24 through Sunday morning, March 26. You are invited to attend in person or online. Beginner’s Mind Zazenkai are typically held in March and September. They are especially geared for those who have limited or no prior retreat experience. The schedule is lighter than a typical sesshin and instruction in the various elements of sesshin/zazenkai are given throughout the day.
The day consists of periods of zazen interspersed with ten minutes of walking meditation (kinhin), chanting services, meals, work period and rest. These are ideal for those attending their first retreat and are popular with experienced practitioners as well. There will be an informal dinner at 5:30 on Friday, March 24, followed by instruction on zendo procedures at 6 PM for those needing it. Beginner’s Mind Zazenkai tend to fill up quickly, so register soon to reserve your spot.
-
GPZC requires that anyone attending in person take a rapid antigen test (home test is fine) within 24 hours prior to arriving at this sesshin and only attend in person if the result is negative.
-
We are requiring that anyone attending in person be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and require proof of vaccination. We strongly recommend also having the latest booster shot, but do not require it.
-
Anyone with a medical contraindication for the COVID vaccine (or booster, should we require it in the future) can provide proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to attendance in lieu of the vaccine.
-
Participants will be seated in the zendo at least 6 feet apart and asked to maintain distance during kinhin, services, and lunch.
-
Masks must be worn indoors except when eating, sleeping, or if you are the only person staying in a room and have the door closed. We have very limited single rooms available. If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with others, we’ll let you know what other options are available, such as a motel room.
-
Participants must sit at designated spots for meals and eat in silence.
-
In-person participants must wear N95, KN95 or KF94 grade masks and will be provided with one if they do not bring one.
- Participants must wash their hands frequently, use hand sanitizer when handling shared equipment and wipe surfaces with disinfectant after use as appropriate.
- Please do not attend the retreat in person if you are ill and/or have any symptoms (COVID-related or not) that indicate a possible contagious illness.
Scholarships are available for any who need them. As always, we encourage those who are able to donate an additional amount for the retreat to help us keep retreats affordable for everyone. Participants will receive instructions, a detailed schedule, and Zoom access information after registering. The cost of this retreat for in person participation (full or part time) is $75 for members, $85 for others Suggested donation for online participation is $10-30 per day of attendance. To participate in this event, please register no later than Tuesday, March 21.