What Happens at a Zen Retreat

[@marilynsullivan7549]

One person at the end of a retreat said , “It was the best thing I ever hated.”

[@kkangilly]

That's a perfect summary of retreat practice. 😀

[@HardcoreZen]

Good one!

[@judochemistry]

I found the way to stop intrusive thoughts from coming back was to just totally accept them, then they went away.

[@joshuazalipski2715]

Thanks for sharing! I’ve been practicing since Halloween of 2020. I had a couple of Zazenkai (half day sitting) and full day sittings (I don’t know the name) before I had my first sesshin. It was similar to your experience in many ways! I remember the last day coming to tears because I truly realized all things end. It was a beautiful understanding at the time. Thank you for your supportive insight!

[@John-uw7wd]

You can break the precept against anger on the cushion

[@HardcoreZen]

The precept, as I learned it, is "Do not give way to anger." It doesn't say "never get angry." While doing zazen you can be angry, but you can't "give way" to it in the sense that you can't act upon your angry impulses.

[@CaptMang]

we need an interstellar overdrive cover plz.

[@JordanREALLYreally]

Doing a one day off one day on retreat for Feb... I decided to learn Oceanman on the guitar during an off day. So now it's Oceanman... about 12 hours out of my 16 hour waking day in my 'effing head :) . Before Oceanman it was "Love is Alright Tonight" by Srpingfield. Maybe I don't suggest a one day on one day off retreat. Maybe? IDK yet, almost done.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

your legs fall asleep and get pins and needles.......only kidding

[@johngrunhard9939]

The Brady bunch story was really funny

[@tomseja1678]

Hey buddy, I thought, maybe you could do a video about food & beverages being allowed for Zen Buddhists and being sort of taboo. I already know, Dogen wasnt cool with eating meat but what about industrial processed food or sugary beverages? Im just curious bc I study the topic

[@marilynsullivan7549]

Wild in the Streets

[@TYPHON2713]

I sent you a rather long email. I really hope you have the time to read and reply. Thank you😊

[@jonwesick2844]

Why do they always make the guy with the flu the cook at Zen retreats?

[@MrDogonjon]

because that will make you fast faster..

[@jethrobradley7850]

I apologise if you did mention this and I missed it but was the retreat silent? Or silent for certain hours of the day?

[@benhorner8430]

Norm!

[@mattrkelly]

at sesshin everyone can share the same dreams 😅

[@williambigger1545]

wow

[@LightyMiner]

I really need some help with this. I have been meditating maybe for 8 years now. The longest session was abou 1 hour long. I don't undetstand how can you meditate for hours on end. I did body scanning, vipassana, metta, breath counting, boundless awareness and propalby any other form. But it doesnt get any easier. I can usually be relaxed at the 20 min point but anything after 30 mins becomes unbearable. How do I progress and meditate for multiole hours? Also what has helped me recently was meditating laying down, its more pleasant this wat. And I also started doing "do nothing" meditation. Just sitting/laying there without a goal, that also helped.

[@ErikDornes]

One "trick" I like to use is to make my boredom, anxiety, or pain as the object of meditation for a while, and try to realize the flow of impermance in it. Another "trick" is to "relax into" the experience, meaning taking a "mental step back" and observe whatever you are feeling (for me it's usually that feeling of "hey this timer should be ringing anytime by now...!"). Brad once read a text from the 4th patriarch I think where he recommended doing walking meditation (kinhin) for a bit if you get too sleepy or anxious, then get back to sitting, that helps a lot to "reset" those feelings. Sometimes I also like to think for a couple of moments about Boddhidharma sitting for 9 years and that helps me get a little bit of motivation for that last stretch lol... But honestly Master Dogen was really on point, because the ultimate "trick" is to simply focus back on JUST sitting and letting go of any attachments of not feeling whatever you are feeling at the moment, and letting the Dharma (or Universe or One whatever you wanna call it) flow through you. Those feelings of unbearableness are also the Dharma, and once I let that sink in again, it gets a bit easier.

[@davetheboat]

I find it easier to meditate for longer when I'm in a group than when I do it on my own. Most retreats I've been on have 30 mins maybe 40 mins sitting then walking for 10 mins to break things up.

[@LightyMiner]

@@ErikDornes yes, just relaxing into the experience has helped me a bit

[@LightyMiner]

@@davetheboat i was thinking about livestreaming my sessions on IG so i would have more accountability

[@ytonaona]

I don't know if you're referring to Brad's video, but he didn't say they were sitting for hours straight. No, on a classical zen retreat you sit for 30 or 40 minutes max. Then you do walking meditation, then another 30-40 mins and so on until the break/breakfast/lunch/chanting/ whatever.

[@Mr.Zen_73]

just a lot of sitting around doing nothing and drinking tea

[@HardcoreZen]

Pretty much.

[@brlinds92]

Interesting video. If you ever have the time (and the inclination) maybe you could talk about how to handle pain during Sesshin. My back and/or legs start killing me after a couple days and posture changes don’t help much. I’ve been told to breathe into the pain but that hasn’t been super effective if the pain gets intense. Does the pain eventually go away after years of Zazen or am I screwed?

[@Mr.Zen_73]

that's why i do yoga postures in addition to zazen. can sit for hours pain-free now but early sesshins almost killed me!@@brlinds92

[@Al-Zahid]

​@@brlinds92 Only YOU can know... Beware, if you handle too much pain that can be problematic or dangerous. I have spinal disc herniation and when I know it will be difficult for me, I stay in the Gaetan and sometimes just laying on the back on Zafutons. In my point of view, the important thing is going to the dojo and dealing with the body's limitations. I try to don't stay at home and don't say "Ho ! I will go to the Dojo when I will feel better !" Gaetan isn't a punishment... it’s a space of freedom ! Maybe a good Yoga (Taï Chi, Qi Gong, etc...) teacher can help you to release some tensions. I wish you sweet practice 😊

[@mekubalim1-v6s]

Zazen it's wasted time We have a zen teacher in Israel he was nishijima student Nobody sitting on his retreat Instead , you repeated on this mantra Life is beautiful you aloud to enjoy Everything is OK Oh yeah it coast 500$ for 2 days Is it zen?

[@Al-Zahid]

Maybe you could turn the question this way: "Is not doing Zazen is Zen ?" But i guess you know the answer 😉

[@k7casca982]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH68fZiHjNxljbc

[@thoughtfog]

First