Ten Major Themes of Dogen
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Ten Themes
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Information & considerations
the ongoing study of dogen themes at Sanshin
Sanshin has long had a reputation as a center of dharma study, particularly related to Dogen’s teachings. While other dharma centers may read and discuss a wide variety of books and materials from across time and space in the Buddhist tradition, we focus on Dogen and occasionally on historical Soto Zen texts, and sometimes include the earlier texts on which those were based.
Our founder, Okumura Roshi, is a well known translator and explainer of Dogen texts, and there are precious few such teachers in the West. Over the years, people have come to Sanshin from all over the world for genzo-e and other lecture series. Throughout Sanshin’s life, this is what we’ve particularly offered in the national conversation.
Now that Okumura Roshi has stepped back from day-to-day leadership of Sanshin, we have to consider what study means here going forward. Fortunately, Sanshin's current teachers can teach about Dogen themes even if we can’t translate the texts ourselves. Dharma study goes on, both because Okumura Roshi is still doing lecture series and still writing books and articles, and because these Dogen themes continue to be meaningful in our practice.
Learn more about our approach to dharma study.
Our founder, Okumura Roshi, is a well known translator and explainer of Dogen texts, and there are precious few such teachers in the West. Over the years, people have come to Sanshin from all over the world for genzo-e and other lecture series. Throughout Sanshin’s life, this is what we’ve particularly offered in the national conversation.
Now that Okumura Roshi has stepped back from day-to-day leadership of Sanshin, we have to consider what study means here going forward. Fortunately, Sanshin's current teachers can teach about Dogen themes even if we can’t translate the texts ourselves. Dharma study goes on, both because Okumura Roshi is still doing lecture series and still writing books and articles, and because these Dogen themes continue to be meaningful in our practice.
Learn more about our approach to dharma study.
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Virtual and/or lecture-only participation
Unlike the virtual dharma study intensives offered twice a year with Okumura Roshi these days, this retreat includes a full in-person schedule of zazen, formal meals, and basic temple care in addition to the lectures, following the schedule used for genzo-e retreats at Sanshin in the past. Full in-person participation will be capped at twelve, due to space limitations. Practitioners are also welcome to register as "lectures-only" participants (see below), whether attending virtually or in-person. All registrants will receive access to the lecture recordings for a period of 30 days after the retreat concludes, so it is also entirely possible to simply watch the recordings on your own schedule. The retreat Zoom link will remain open for the entirety of the retreat, so registrants are welcome to drop in virtually throughout. Please note that virtual participation begins with the first zazen period on the opening evening -- the opening welcome meeting listed on the schedule simply covers logistical considerations relevant to those practicing at Sanshinji in-person. info for travelers
For those traveling to Sanshin from out of town, note that Sanshin can provide neither guest rooms nor transportation to and from the temple each day. You may sleep in the zendo with your own bedding or camp in the yard with your own gear if you wish. See our zendo stay and camping guidelines here. Some may prefer to rent a nearby hotel room or other temporary housing. |
meal practice during the retreat
During sesshin and retreats at Sanshin, we carry out meals in the zendo using oryoki. We sit at low tables and follow the procedures used at Antaiji. During sesshin, we carry out these meals silently. During this retreat we will chant the formal meal verses together during breakfasts and lunches. This video shows the use and handling of the oryoki set for breakfast. There are various other oryoki-related resources available online, which you can find and study on your own.
After the welcome meeting on the opening afternoon of sesshin, we'll take some time to (re)orient ourselves to oryoki practice at Sanshin, moving through the steps of formal meals together. If you have your own oryoki set you're welcome to bring it, but we have plenty of (lay) sets for use by participants during the sesshin. Learn more about our overall approach to nyoho food practice here at Sanshin. 
how we source food for practice
Relating to the local community and environment through the basic necessity for food has been a given in sanghas across the world through most of Buddhist history. In our modern context of supermarkets, industrial-scale agriculture, and deep and widespread environmental degradation, it takes intention to participate in this long tradition -- and to do our best to avoid some of the harms to living beings inherent throughout much of the global food system in which we're all currently enmeshed.
Engaging as best we can with smaller-scale contemporary food structures like CSA (community supported agriculture), farmers' markets, and backyard and community gardens, we begin to step back into the long and joyful tradition of Buddhist sangha embeddedness in the land and communities that have always sustained life and practice. Learn more about the dharma context and practicalities of our local food practice endeavors here at Sanshin. 
Our temple vegetable garden opening ceremony, at a Bloomington Community Garden plot, May 2025.
Picking up sesshin produce at Stranger's Hill Organics in Bloomington. September, 2023
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Daily Schedule
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Registration closed. |