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Practice activities requiring registration

The following practice activities require prior registration to participate. Most also allow for both in-person and virtual participation (see below), though some are available in only one format or the other. Click on linked practice activities below for more information and to register:
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• 3-day sesshin (Sept 3 - 6) - ​Registration closed.​
• 2-part virtual discussion with Tonen: Sharing the Reality of Buddha (mid-September) - Learn more & register by Sep 7.
• 3-day retreat with Hoko: Ten Major Themes of Dogen (Oct 1 - 4) - In-person or virtual - Learn more & register by Sep 24.
• 1-day sit with Hosshin (Saturday, Oct 24) - registration opens in mid-September
• Virtual dharma study intensive with Okumura Roshi: Dogen Zenji Goroku (Oct 26 - 30 & Nov 2 - 6)
• Rohatsu sesshin ​(Nov 30 - Dec 8)
• 3-day Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin (Mar 4 - 7, 2027)
• 5-day sesshin (June 1 - 6, 2027)

Learn more about sesshin, a central practice offering at Sanshin, as carried out here in the "sesshin-without-toys" style of Uchiyama Roshi.

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Our practice theme for 2026: World of Soto Zen

Throughout the year, we'll be exploring how we understand and express "what it means to be a Soto Zen Buddhist."  Learn more and get the latest content and resources here!

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Virtual practice

Many of the practice activities offered here at Sanshin are also streamed online via Zoom. For a full schedule of our virtual practice offerings and the link to participate from home as able, please visit our virtual practice page.

And, if circumstances allow, please continue to support and participate with your local or regional dharma center.  While you're welcome to participate in our virtual practice no matter where you live, it's no substitute for in-person practice with a sangha.  Not only does practicing with others benefit you, your presence supports that local group and makes it possible for others to practice.   ​

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Mud and Lotus Collective recovery dharma group
Tuesdays, 6:30 - 7 pm @ 1st Presbyterian Church (221 E. 6th St.)
Thursdays, 6:30 - 8 pm @ Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington (2120 N. Fee Ln.)

This in-person group, which includes participation from Hosshin Shoaf (a dharma heir of Okumura Roshi, and one of Sanshin's practice leaders), explores the intersection between Buddhist teachings and practice and addiction recovery.  Following 20 to 30 minutes of guided meditation, participants read and discuss books or other materials related to recovery and the dharma.  No registration is necessary; simply attend as your life permits. No fee, donations welcome.

Regular practice 

The following describes our regularly scheduled practice activities, open to all - there's no registration.

​If you are new to Sanshin or to Zen practice, please visit our New to Sanshin? page for basic orienting information, including registration info for our monthly Getting Started in Zen Practice sessions.

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All times listed are Eastern time.

Weekday mornings
Please be in your seat and ready to go before 6:05 AM if joining us for the first zazen period, before the doshi's entrance.
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​6:05 am  Doshi enters
6:10 am  Zazen
7:00 am  Kinhin
7:10 am  Zazen
8:00 am  Robe chant
8:05 am  Service
8:30 am  Reading from Shobogenzo Zuimonki, announcements, ​soji (cleanup)
​8:45 am  Bow out

Weekday evening zazen
Wednesdays: 6:30 - 7:00 pm
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​Wednesday evening dharma book discussion (7 - 8 pm): On The Roots of Goodness by Kosho Uchiyama.  You're welcome to drop in as your schedule allows, even if you're not familiar with the text.

Saturday is our day off; there's no public practice.

​Sunday morning zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am)​: Our typical dharma speaker schedule is listed below.

• First Sunday: Talk by Hoko on the "World of Soto Zen"
• ​Second Sunday: Hosshin leads a sangha work day following zazen (no dharma talk)
• Third Sunday: Talk by a novice teacher followed by World Peace ceremony
• Fourth Sunday: Talk by Hoko on the "World of Soto Zen"
• Fifth Sunday: Talk by Hoko or a senior practitioner

Missed a Sunday dharma talk?  Many recordings are available on our YouTube channel.​​ ​

Getting Started in Zen Practice, second & fourth Tuesdays (Sep 8 in-person & Sep 22 online via Zoom), 7:00 - 8:30 pm -- sign-up and more information is here.

Ryaku fusatsu: Monday evening closest to the 15th day of the month (September 14), 7 - 8 pm
Our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to follow the sixteen bodhisattva precepts.  Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether or not you've formally taken precepts. 

Sesshin:  3, 5, or 7 days, typically covering the first weekend of the month (Mar, June, Sep, Dec)
A retreat consisting only of 14 50-minute periods of zazen, 3 meal periods, and sleep each day.