Our facilities remain closed to the public indefinitely.   All practice is being carried out virtually.  No one is working in the office; administration is being carried out remotely.  No visitor accommodations are available.
Street Address
Sanshin Zen Community
1726 S. Olive St.
Bloomington, IN 47401
​Mailing Address
Sanshin Zen Community
Box 1577
Bloomington, IN
USA 47402​
Please note that only the postal service will deliver items to our PO box.  If you're sending items by delivery services such as UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc. please ship them to our street address.
Phone:  812-339-2635
Please be aware that our phone will always go to voicemail.  No one is working in the office and there will be significant delay in returning your call.  ​An e-mail is likely to get a more timely response. 

Ask a question or request access to our virtual practice.
GETTING HERE
​By car from Indianapolis
From Indianapolis, take INDIANA 37 South for about 40 miles. Take the first Bloomington exit, College Ave. Travel several miles (College Ave. will become Walnut St.) into and through town until you get to Miller Drive where you will go left. About a mile down the road is Olive Street .Turn left and travel about 1 block. Sanshin will be on your left.

By train
Amtrak operates rail service to Indianapolis; by the shortest route the train station is 52 miles from Sanshin.  From the station one can take a bus to the Bloomington Transit Center and a taxi, Lyft or Uber to Sanshin.

By air 
Indianapolis International Airport is the closest airport to Sanshin; by the shortest route it's 49 miles away.  Rental cars are available at the airport and it may also be possible to get a bus from the airport to the Bloomington Transit Center and a taxi, Lyft or Uber to Sanshin.  

Airport shuttle service
There are also several shuttle services available between the airport and Bloomington.  GoExpressTravel operates a shuttle service between the airport and Bloomington; it stops at Hyatt Place, about 2.2 miles from Sanshin.  From there one can take a taxi, Lyft or Uber.
STAYING HERE
Please note that dormitory facilities in the building next door to Sanshin are no longer available.

Limited zendo floor and camping accommodations are available for those wishing to stay and practice at Sanshin.  You must make your reservation no later than three days before you plan to arrive -- no later than a week if you're coming for longer-term practice.  This allows us to be sure we can accommodate you and prepare for your arrival.  Sanshin has limited human resources and requests for accommodations made on short notice are likely to be declined.  Please do your part by planning ahead.  

You may bring your own bedding and supplies and sleep in the zendo itself or camp on Sanshin's grounds.  You will have the use of a small adjacent kitchen for food storage and cooking as well as the use of shower and bathroom facilities in that building.  There is no charge during retreats for those who have registered and paid for the event; otherwise, $10 per day.  Email us to reserve if not also registering for an event.

 ​Lodging is for practitioners only and does not serve as a general hospitality venue for people visiting Bloomington.  If you are a guest during an event, you are required to be a participant of that event; if your visit is for general practice, you will be expected to attend regular daily practice as well as any practice events taking place during your stay.  You must complete registration and payment for all events before you arrive.  Please review the guidelines prior to your proposed visit to make sure you are able and willing to comply. 

Accommodations are available on a first come, first served basis.  Meals are provided to participants during practice events; meals are not provided outside of events, but guests may use the zendo kitchen facilities to store and prepare their own food.  See our FAQ for additional general information.  Please review the information about arriving at Sanshin so that you can enter appropriately.

​Other options

AirBnB's Bloomington listings

City of Bloomington's website
ARRIVING AT SANSHIN
Timing
  • Note that events such as sesshin and retreat typically begin with a 6 pm evening meal.
  • Because our practice schedule begins early in the morning, please plan flights and rides such that you arrive at Sanshin before 8 pm.  This gives you a chance to settle in and get enough sleep before morning practice and minimizes disturbance to others.
  • If you cannot arrive by 8 pm, please plan to stay somewhere in town for that night and arrive at Sanshin the next day.  Your consideration for staff, practice leaders and other participants is appreciated.

Procedure
  • A day or two before your arrival, we'll email you some important information about how to get into the main building.  Be sure to print this out, write it down, or otherwise have access to it when you arrive.
  • If you're staying in the zendo (1726 S. Olive St.), let yourself in at the door with the grey pillars and stow your bedding and belongings out of the way under the clothes rack at the bottom of the stairs.   Label any food you've brought for meals outside of your retreat/sesshin and store it in the kitchen next to the zendo.
  • If you're camping, you can choose a spot on Sanshin grounds and set up your tent and gear.  Be aware that there is a large streetlamp in the middle of the front yard that comes on sporadically and situate yourself so that you are not disturbed by the light.  Please do not camp in the moss garden.
  • Okumura Roshi's residence is NOT your first stop for help in managing your arrival.  Check to see whether there is someone in the office or common room in the main building.  If all else fails, try the kitchen in the building next door (1708).  You may also bring up accommodations questions during the orientation just before your event begins.
  • If you wish, you may make your way to the zendo anytime to choose a seat.  Seats directly next to the altar on the same wall or that have bells, robes or belongings on them are spoken for, and you may wish to leave something of yours to claim your seat as well.  Please sit in the main part of the zendo and leave the alcove seats open for those who are dropping in for parts of the event.  Extra cushions, benches and pads are available for your use.    
  • Check the event schedule posted in the entryway, your room or outside the zendo to determine when you need to be in the zendo or meals area.  Typically, there is a forms review in the zendo at 5 pm for whose who wish and an informal dinner in the meals area of the building next door (1708) or outside at the picnic tables at 6 pm.  If you are not eating dinner, your first call time will be 7:30 in the zendo for orientation.

More to know
  • You may wish to have a flashlight handy if you're arriving after sunset.  It can be very dark on the Sanshin grounds and if you're the first to arrive the porch lights may not be on.
  • Those camping or sleeping on the zendo floor have the use of the bathrooms and shower down the hall from the zendo.  There are small baskets above the toilet where you can keep small articles.
  • Those sleeping in the zendo need to be up, have their belongings stashed and the zendo in working order by the time the jikido arrives to prepare the altar in the morning, usually at least 15 minutes before the doshi arrives.
  • When sleeping in the zendo, out of respect for the Buddha please point your head toward him rather than your feet.
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