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"Discover Zen" week 25-30 March
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Our modern lives lack calm and serenity. This “Discover Zen” week offers a complete immersion in the daily life of a Buddhist monastery.
Throughout your stay, you'll be accompanied as you discover the secrets of Zen meditation, as well as meditation in action, at the heart of everyday life.
Maître Wang-Genh, the monastery's abbot, will give talks on the specifics of Zen meditation and on Zen Buddhism. It will be possible to ask him questions in individual interviews. – dokusan – or at an assembly – mondo.
Meditation sessions will be of suitable length for beginners.
Each day, you'll be offered a body practice to prepare you for zazen: stretching, fascia work, yoga asanas to help you assume the zazen posture.
For what ?
- Discover the practice and teachings of a spirituality that is two thousand years old, and particularly relevant to our times.
- To rediscover inner peace and stability.
- To get to know yourself better and anchor yourself in your body and the present moment.
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For who ?
- This program is particularly suitable for beginners and those interested in Zen meditation.
- For people wishing to experience a community life imbued with values such as benevolence, generosity and respect for life.
- Classes are bilingual, in French and German.
PROGRAMME :
The retreat will take place from Tuesday 25 to Sunday 30 March. Arrival on Monday 24 March at 5pm. Departure on Sunday 30 March after lunch and tidying up (3 p.m.).
The week is divided into two parts (see detailed programmes below)
- from Monday to Thursday, you share the daily life of the Zen temple residents. Specific teaching is provided to facilitate your retreat and help you integrate smoothly.
- Thursday evening to Sunday lunchtime: My first sesshin. This is a more intensive period where the emphasis is on practising Zen meditation and silence. There are 4 meditation sessions a day (sitting and walking meditation), of shorter duration than during an ordinary sesshin. Zazen is usually guided.
Monday to Thursday: Gyoji programme, daily life
Standard one-day programme (indicative, subject to change)
| 6:30 | Shinrei - Wake-up bell |
|---|---|
| 7:00 - 8:30 | Zazen - sitting meditation in two 25-minute periods / 10-minute kinhin + ceremony |
| 8:45 | Genmai - traditional breakfast in silence |
| 9:15 | Tea, coffee, breaks |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Samou - community activity |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Teachings |
| 12:30 - 13:00 | Meal in silence |
| 13:00 - 14:45 | Tea, coffee, breaks |
| 14:45 - 16:00 | Samou - community activity |
| 16:15 - 17:00 | Workshop |
| 17:00 - 18:00 | Body practice |
| 18:45 - 19:45 | Zazen - sitting meditation in two 25-minute periods |
| 20:00 | Evening meal |
Programme for the week
(indicative, subject to change)
Monday, evening of arrival
7pm welcome talk and workshop to discover zazen, Zen meditation
Tuesday, 1st day
Conference "Daily life in a Zen temple" 11am-12pm
How to find a good meditation posture" workshop
Mondo: questions and answers with the master
Wednesday, Day 2
Lecture "Meals and food in Zen Buddhism" 11am-12pm
Workshop "Concentration, breathing and returning to the body: how to breathe better, during zazen and in everyday life".
Thursday, 3rd day
Lecture "The great principles of Zen" 11am-12pm
Afternoon: free time
Evening 7pm: What is a sesshin? Guided meditation workshop (reminder of the points covered on Monday evening)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday = sesshin programme, Zen meditation retreat
| 6:30 | Shinrei - Wake up |
|---|---|
| 7:00 - 8:30 | Zazen in two 25-minute periods / 10-minute kinhin + ceremony |
| 8:45 | Genmai - traditional breakfast in silence |
| 9:15 | Tea, coffee, breaks |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | 25-minute Zazen followed by a teaching |
| 12:30 | Meal in silence |
| 13:00 | Coffee - Break |
| 14:45 - 17:00 | Samou - service to the community |
| 17:30 - 18:45 | Two 25-minute zazen sessions + opportunities for one-to-one discussions ( dokusan ) or question-and-answer sessions with participants ( mondo ) |
| 18:45 | Meal in silence |
| 20:30 | Zazen and evening ceremony |
| 22:15 | Bedtime |
Themes of the teachings during sesshin :
- Unity of body and mind; zazen: awakening the mind and daily actions
- How to continue practising after a Zen retreat
RATES
(Teaching, accommodation and meals included)
- Full week: 471 € / reduced price, job seeker: 308 € / under-25s rate: 189 €
- Only the First Retreat : 327 € / reduced price, job seeker: 242 € / under-25s rate: 150 €
To participate in the activities of the monastery, you must be a member of the Weiterswiller Zen Temple Association. Annual membership fee: 15 €.
INFORMATION : The Community of Communes of Hanau La Petite Pierre has introduced a tourist tax on the territory to contribute to the development of tourism activities. This tourist tax is applicable from May 1st 2022 at a rate of 80 cents per person per night (to pay in addition to the sesshin).
Or I send an email to info@meditation-zen.org
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
IMPORTANT - please take note of :
- membership conditions
- what to bring with you
- access to the temple (by train or car)
- the possibility of car pooling
By logging on to the :
SHALL WE TRAVEL TOGETHER?
As a participant, we offer you the opportunity to organise car pooling so that you can share the cost while reducing your carbon footprint. And all this while sharing a moment of conviviality with other retreatants :)
