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An evening with Daitsu Tom Wright, Arthur Braverman, & Michael Hofmann
Virtual discussion in honor of Uchiyama Roshi
Thursday, Apr 25th, 6:30 - 8 pm (EDT)
Join us for zazen and a virtual discussion with Daitsū Tom Wright, Arthur Braverman, and Michael Hofmann, all of whom spent significant time practicing with Uchiyama Roshi and the Antaiji sangha in Kyoto in the late 1960's and 70's.
As part of our yearlong exploration of Sanshin's lineage & legacy, we'll focus the evening's discussion around the insights and memories of these North American practitioners who travelled to Japan and experienced Uchiyama Roshi's teaching and practice directly. See our lineage & legacy webpage for more information on the event, including bios of our guests. There's no registration - just drop in using the green button at the top right of this page.
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DSI Lecture references (posted a week or so after last lecture)
Note that this list was compiled as able on a volunteer basis in the midst of tech support for the lectures, so it may be incomplete and/or imperfect. For references marked with a (*), particular published source information is offered below.
Lecture recordings have been archived with the Dōgen Institute (message after taking down lecture recordings June 11th)
Over time, lectures from this dharma study intensive on Shobogenzo Zazenshin, past genzo-e, and future study intensives will be made available to our Dōgen Institute listening community. See here to learn more and to subscribe.
Sesshin daily schedules
3-day Uchiyama Roshi memorial sesshin Daily schedule
Please note that virtual participation begins with the first zazen period on the opening evening.
Thursday, Mar 7
5:00 pm - Welcome meeting 5:30 - Dinner w/ oryoki orientation 7:10 - Opening comments and zazen 8:00 - Kinhin 8:10 - Zazen 9:00 - End of day Sunday, Mar 10 05:00 am - Participants in their seats 05:05 - Doshi entrance 05:10 - Zazen 06:00 - Breakfast/Personal time 07:10 - Zazen 08:00 - End of sesshin; cleanup and close ----------------------------------- 09:10 - Zazen with sangha 10:00 - Break 10:10 - Dharma talk ~11:15 - Uchiyama Roshi memorial service followed by informal tea & snacks with sangha |
Friday & Saturday, Mar 8 - 9
04:00 am - Participants in their seats 04:05 - Doshi entrance 4:10 - Zazen 05:00 - Kinhin 05:10 - Zazen 06:00 - Breakfast/Personal time 07:10 - Zazen 08:00 - Kinhin 08:10 - Zazen 09:00 - Kinhin 09:10 - Zazen 10:00 - Kinhin 10:10 - Zazen 11:00 - Kinhin 11:10 - Zazen 12:00 pm - Lunch/Personal time 01:10 - Zuiza ('free sitting') 02:00 - Kinhin 02:10 - Zazen 03:00 - Kinhin 03:10 - Zazen 04:00 - Kinhin 04:10 - Zazen 05:00 - Kinhin 05:10 - Zazen 06:00 - Dinner/Personal time 07:10 - Zazen 08:00 - Kinhin 8:10 - Zazen 9:00 - End of day |
Rohatsu sesshin Daily schedule
Please note that virtual participation begins with the first zazen period on the opening evening.
Thursday, Nov 30
5:00 pm - Welcome meeting 5:30 - Dinner w/ oryoki orientation 7:10 - Opening comments and zazen 8:00 - Kinhin 8:10 - Zazen 9:00 - End of day Thurs, Dec 7 Same as Dec 1 - 6 except: 9:00 pm - Silent tea 9:20 - Zazen 10:00 - Kinhin 10:10 - Zazen 11:00 - Kinhin 11:10 - Zazen 12:00 am - Heart Sutra service Friday, Dec 8 08:00 - Cleanup 09:00 - Breakfast & closing discussion |
Fri, Dec 1 - Wed, Dec 6
04:00 am - Participants are in their seats 04:05 - Doshi entrance 4:10 - Zazen 05:00 - Kinhin 05:10 - Zazen 06:00 - Breakfast/Personal time 07:10 - Zazen 08:00 - Kinhin 08:10 - Zazen 09:00 - Kinhin 09:10 - Zazen 10:00 - Kinhin 10:10 - Zazen 11:00 - Kinhin 11:10 - Zazen 12:00 pm - Lunch/Personal time 01:10 - Zuiza ('free sitting' period/personal time as necessary) 02:00 - Kinhin 02:10 - Zazen 03:00 - Kinhin 03:10 - Zazen 04:00 - Kinhin 04:10 - Zazen 05:00 - Kinhin 05:10 - Zazen 06:00 - Dinner/Personal time 07:10 - Zazen 08:00 - Kinhin 8:10 - Zazen 9:00 - End of day |
Sangha participation with residents, ango 2023
Those living in Bloomington are invited and encouraged to join residential practitioners in their daily schedule of zazen, work and study during the ango (see below). If you wish to join the residents for a meal, please plan to bring your own food unless you've made prior arrangements with the tenzo for that day.
Regular weekdays
5:10 am Zazen 6:00 Kinhin 6:10 Zazen 7:00 Robe chant 7:05 Service 7:30 Reading from Shobogenzo Zuimonki, announcements, soji 7:45 Bow out 8:00 Breakfast 9:00 Eihei Shingi study period 10:15 Work period 12:00 Lunch 1:00 pm Work period 3:30 Personal time 5:30 Dinner 6:30 Zazen/evening practice
Fridays -- same as weekday schedule, except: 8:00 am Breakfast using oryoki 9:00 Eihei Shingi group discussion |
Study of the Eihei Shingi (group discussion Friday mornings, 9 am)
Please come having completed the assigned reading and prepared to discuss. We'll be using Dogen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community, translated by Leighton and Okumura, as well as From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment by Dogen and Uchiyama. Copies of Pure Standards are available for purchase at Sanshin; there is one copy of Zen Kitchen in Sanshin's library for use during the discussion. Other readings will be made available as needed. April 7: Introductory material (through p. 29) 14: Tenzo Kyokun (no meeting this week because of the sewing retreat, but please read in preparation for the following two weeks' discussion) 21: Jinsei Ryori no Hon I: Sections 1 - 7 (Zen Kitchen) 28: Jinsei Ryori no Hon I: Sections 8 - 14 (Zen Kitchen) May 5: Sodo no Gyoji (no meeting this week because of the genzo-e, but please read in preparation for the following two weeks' discussion) 12: Bendoho; Living in the Sodo (Seido Suzuki); Pull your own nose and lift the ancient koan (Shohaku Okumura) 19: Fushukuhanpo 26: Shuryo Shingi June 2: Sesshin; no meeting 9: Taitaiko Gogejariho 16: Chiji Shinji I (through p. 152); Eyes Wide Open (Shohaku Okumura) 23: Chiji Shingi II (director, ino) 30: Chiji Shingi III (tenzo, work leader) |
Fee language
Please note that there are two fee options: regular and sponsor. The sponsor option helps us support practitioners who are not able to pay fees (see below). If you are able to help us in this effort, please consider choosing the sponsor fee from the buttons below.
Sanshin Zen Community aspires to accommodate all sincere practitioners at retreats and events, regardless of their ability to pay. If you are not able to pay the full fee, please contact the Sanshin program assistant to inquire about fee reductions or waivers.
Sanshin Zen Community aspires to accommodate all sincere practitioners at retreats and events, regardless of their ability to pay. If you are not able to pay the full fee, please contact the Sanshin program assistant to inquire about fee reductions or waivers.
Please note that there are two payment options in the registration dropdown menu below: regular and sponsor. The sponsor option helps us to support practitioners who are not able to pay fees (see below). If you are able to help us in this effort, please consider choosing the sponsor fee from the buttons below.
We aspire to include all sincere practitioners at retreats and events, regardless of financial means. If paying the regular fee is a barrier to your participation, please reach out to us to request a fee reduction or waiver.
There is no fee or registration for virtual participation -- if you'd like to donate, please go here rather than using the registration button below.
We aspire to include all sincere practitioners at retreats and events, regardless of financial means. If paying the regular fee is a barrier to your participation, please reach out to us to request a fee reduction or waiver.
There is no fee or registration for virtual participation -- if you'd like to donate, please go here rather than using the registration button below.
February & August: Simplified in-person practice schedule
Weekday mornings
If you wear okesa or rakusu, please put it on before zazen, and be in your seat ready to go by 6:05 am, in time for the doshi's bows.
6:10 am Zazen
7:00 Kinhin
7:10 Zazen
8:00 Announcements as needed, soji (cleanup)
8:20 Bow out
Sunday mornings (except for Sunday, Feb 18th -- see below)
9:10 am Zazen
10:00 Kinhin
10:10 Zazen
11:00 Bow out
Sunday, Feb 18th (Parinirvana Day)
9:10 am Zazen
10:10 Dharma talk by Hoko
~11:00 Q & A
~11:30 Potluck lunch
Missed a Sunday dharma talk? Many recordings are available on our YouTube channel.
No weekday evening activities
If you wear okesa or rakusu, please put it on before zazen, and be in your seat ready to go by 6:05 am, in time for the doshi's bows.
6:10 am Zazen
7:00 Kinhin
7:10 Zazen
8:00 Announcements as needed, soji (cleanup)
8:20 Bow out
Sunday mornings (except for Sunday, Feb 18th -- see below)
9:10 am Zazen
10:00 Kinhin
10:10 Zazen
11:00 Bow out
Sunday, Feb 18th (Parinirvana Day)
9:10 am Zazen
10:10 Dharma talk by Hoko
~11:00 Q & A
~11:30 Potluck lunch
Missed a Sunday dharma talk? Many recordings are available on our YouTube channel.
No weekday evening activities
February & August: Simplified virtual practice schedule
Weekday mornings
If you wear okesa or rakusu, please put them on before zazen. In the zendo, the doshi enters at 6:05 am, so practitioners at home may wish to be in your seat ready to go by then, in time for the doshi's bows.
6:10 am Zazen
7:00 Kinhin
7:10 Zazen
8:00 Announcements, soji (cleanup)
8:20 Bow out
If you wear okesa or rakusu, please put them on before zazen. In the zendo, the doshi enters at 6:05 am, so practitioners at home may wish to be in your seat ready to go by then, in time for the doshi's bows.
6:10 am Zazen
7:00 Kinhin
7:10 Zazen
8:00 Announcements, soji (cleanup)
8:20 Bow out
Okumura Roshi dharma study/zazen quote:
When I began genzo-e, I thought it was dangerous to sit as much as we do at Sanshinji without understanding the deep meaning of zazen practice taught by Dogen Zenji. For me, zazen is the main thing; studying Dogen Zenji's teachings supports intensive zazen practice. Intellectual understanding only without sitting is not so meaningful.
-- Okumura Roshi
-- Okumura Roshi
Regular virtual practice schedule
Weekday mornings
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
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
Wednesday evening book discussion (7 - 8 pm): Ryokan Interpreted by Shohaku Okumura
Wednesdays: 6:30 - 7:00 pm
Wednesday evening book discussion (7 - 8 pm): Ryokan Interpreted by Shohaku Okumura
- You may wish to view this talk by Okumura Roshi, in which he introduces Ryokan's life and work.
- Here is the Shushogi, to which reference has recently been made in our reading of the book.
Regular in-person practice schedule
Weekday mornings
Please be in your seat and ready to go by 6:05, in time for the doshi's bows.
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
Wednesday evening book discussion (7 - 8 pm): Ryokan Interpreted by Shohaku Okumura
Please be in your seat and ready to go by 6:05, in time for the doshi's bows.
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
Wednesday evening book discussion (7 - 8 pm): Ryokan Interpreted by Shohaku Okumura
- See this talk by Okumura Roshi, in which he introduces Ryokan's life and work
- Here is the Shushogi, to which reference has recently been made in our reading of the book.
Saturday is our day off; there's no public practice.
Sunday morning zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am):
Missed a Sunday dharma talk? Many recordings are available on our YouTube channel.
Sunday morning zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am):
- First Sunday: Talk by Okumura Roshi following sesshin or retreat
- Second Sunday: Hosshin leads a sangha work day or Hoko gives a talk
- Third Sunday: Talk by Hoko followed by World Peace ceremony
- Fourth Sunday: Talk by Doju
- Fifth Sunday: Talk by Hoko or a senior practitioner
Missed a Sunday dharma talk? Many recordings are available on our YouTube channel.
Introduction to Zen Buddhism
with Hoko Karnegis, senior dharma teacher
Six Thursdays, 7 - 8:30 pm beginning January 18
Offered at Sanshin in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Center for Lifelong Learning. In-person participation only.
"Zen" has become a shorthand term for zoning out in some blissful state, but in fact this rich, centuries-old practice is not at all aimed at getting us to escape from our lives. Instead, it offers the opportunity to release ourselves from suffering by seeing reality more clearly and becoming intimate with our own moment-by-moment experience. We'll explore what Zen Buddhism is really all about, beginning with the central ideas of Buddhism itself and moving on to the teachings and practices particular to its Zen form. Class will include instruction in sitting practice (zazen) as well as plenty of time for questions and discussion. Enthusiastic participants in this class from previous years went on to form a zazen/book discussion group that is still meeting today. All faith traditions welcome.
Registration and payment managed by Ivy Tech.
with Hoko Karnegis, senior dharma teacher
Six Thursdays, 7 - 8:30 pm beginning January 18
Offered at Sanshin in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Center for Lifelong Learning. In-person participation only.
"Zen" has become a shorthand term for zoning out in some blissful state, but in fact this rich, centuries-old practice is not at all aimed at getting us to escape from our lives. Instead, it offers the opportunity to release ourselves from suffering by seeing reality more clearly and becoming intimate with our own moment-by-moment experience. We'll explore what Zen Buddhism is really all about, beginning with the central ideas of Buddhism itself and moving on to the teachings and practices particular to its Zen form. Class will include instruction in sitting practice (zazen) as well as plenty of time for questions and discussion. Enthusiastic participants in this class from previous years went on to form a zazen/book discussion group that is still meeting today. All faith traditions welcome.
Registration and payment managed by Ivy Tech.
If you're interested in receiving the precepts, please fill out and submit the request form below to begin this process. We'll close applications here when the limit is reached or sufficient lead time no longer remains.
David Fukudō Thompson
Director of the Dōgen Institute
Email David
David joined the board of Sanshin in February 2012. He has been practicing with Okumura Roshi since 2004 – in Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and Bloomington. David has also practiced at other Zen Centers on the East Coast. He began sitting in 2001 with a student of Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi and received the precepts from Reb in 2009. David is currently editing one of Hojo-san's books-in-progress. He is a retired IT strategy consultant, with Master’s degrees in American Civilization and in Organization Development. He is thrilled to have been leading the Dōgen Institute since 2012 and enjoys working and corresponding with its many volunteers across the world. David is a native of Philadelphia, PA, enjoys hiking, and is an avid student of Japanese.
Director of the Dōgen Institute
Email David
David joined the board of Sanshin in February 2012. He has been practicing with Okumura Roshi since 2004 – in Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and Bloomington. David has also practiced at other Zen Centers on the East Coast. He began sitting in 2001 with a student of Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi and received the precepts from Reb in 2009. David is currently editing one of Hojo-san's books-in-progress. He is a retired IT strategy consultant, with Master’s degrees in American Civilization and in Organization Development. He is thrilled to have been leading the Dōgen Institute since 2012 and enjoys working and corresponding with its many volunteers across the world. David is a native of Philadelphia, PA, enjoys hiking, and is an avid student of Japanese.
Template for virtual talks for other temples:
Hoko's talk for Great Tree Zen Temple (Asheville, NC):
What Drives Our Practice?
Connection without Dependance
Saturday, September 23 at 9:30 am EDT
Open to the public -- click here to join
Sanshin's approach to practice is one of nonreliance, or connection without dependance. It's a continuing exploration of an important question: what's driving our practice? It's not calendars, teachers, systems or doctrines -- but without those things, how do we keep practice from becoming a free-for-all based only on our own opinions and preferences? How do we know we're succeeding, and how do we keep from flying apart as a community?
Hoko's talk for Great Tree Zen Temple (Asheville, NC):
What Drives Our Practice?
Connection without Dependance
Saturday, September 23 at 9:30 am EDT
Open to the public -- click here to join
Sanshin's approach to practice is one of nonreliance, or connection without dependance. It's a continuing exploration of an important question: what's driving our practice? It's not calendars, teachers, systems or doctrines -- but without those things, how do we keep practice from becoming a free-for-all based only on our own opinions and preferences? How do we know we're succeeding, and how do we keep from flying apart as a community?
Additional practice opportunities during Temp/Short-term residencies
From Friday, Aug 25 through Friday, Sept 15, Jakusho Pignatiello from Venezuela will be living and practicing at Sanshin as a short-term resident. During this time, in addition to the regular practice schedule listed at right, the sangha is invited to participate with him in the following practice activities as your lives permit. If you wish to join for a meal, please plan to bring your own food, unless you have made prior arrangements to share. Note that during sesshin (Aug 31 - Sept 3), these activities will not be held:
Weekdays* (except Friday mornings - see below)
9 am Breakfast
10:00 Individual dharma study
11:10 Light work/lunch prep or continued study
12 pm Lunch
1 pm Work period
3:30 pm End of day
*On Friday mornings, breakfast will be taken at 7:45 am using oryoki, as usual. From 9 - 10 am, we will be discussing the Gakudo-Yojinshu (Points to Watch in Practicing the Way) by Eihei Dogen Zenji, section by section following the schedule below. The text can be accessed as a free .pdf here (starting on page 5). There are also several copies available at Sanshin.
Aug 25: sections 1 - 4 (pg. 6 - 17)
Sept 8: sections 5 - 7 (pg. 18 - 29)
Sept 15: sections 8 - 10 (pg. 30 - 35)
9 am Breakfast
10:00 Individual dharma study
11:10 Light work/lunch prep or continued study
12 pm Lunch
1 pm Work period
3:30 pm End of day
*On Friday mornings, breakfast will be taken at 7:45 am using oryoki, as usual. From 9 - 10 am, we will be discussing the Gakudo-Yojinshu (Points to Watch in Practicing the Way) by Eihei Dogen Zenji, section by section following the schedule below. The text can be accessed as a free .pdf here (starting on page 5). There are also several copies available at Sanshin.
Aug 25: sections 1 - 4 (pg. 6 - 17)
Sept 8: sections 5 - 7 (pg. 18 - 29)
Sept 15: sections 8 - 10 (pg. 30 - 35)
Standby list for non-local practitioners
Do NOT assume you have a seat and plan to travel to Sanshin unless we contact you to confirm your registration.
Eshō Morimoto
Eshō Kikuko Morimoto was born in Kobe, Japan. She is an artist and a Japanese language teacher who has been practicing meditation since taking a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation course in 1995. Esho began practicing with the Brooklyn Zen Center sangha in 2011, where she eventually served as co-tenzo (head of kitchen) and as fukuten (assistant to the tenzo), and was lay-ordained by Soshin Teah Strozer in 2017. She also taught meditation classes at Brooklyn Zen Center and was a co-facilitator of the Brooklyn Zen Center BIPOC sangha. From 2019 until the spring of 2022, she lived and practiced at Ancestral Heart Zen Monastery in Millerton, NY, where she served as shika (guest manager) and tenzo (head of kitchen). She moved to Bloomington in the spring of 2022 to carry out an okesa sewing apprenticeship with Yuko Okumura and to practice with the Sanshin Zen Community. Eshō was ordained as a novice by Okumura Roshi in December 2023.
Eshō Kikuko Morimoto was born in Kobe, Japan. She is an artist and a Japanese language teacher who has been practicing meditation since taking a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation course in 1995. Esho began practicing with the Brooklyn Zen Center sangha in 2011, where she eventually served as co-tenzo (head of kitchen) and as fukuten (assistant to the tenzo), and was lay-ordained by Soshin Teah Strozer in 2017. She also taught meditation classes at Brooklyn Zen Center and was a co-facilitator of the Brooklyn Zen Center BIPOC sangha. From 2019 until the spring of 2022, she lived and practiced at Ancestral Heart Zen Monastery in Millerton, NY, where she served as shika (guest manager) and tenzo (head of kitchen). She moved to Bloomington in the spring of 2022 to carry out an okesa sewing apprenticeship with Yuko Okumura and to practice with the Sanshin Zen Community. Eshō was ordained as a novice by Okumura Roshi in December 2023.
Homepage Weekly Schedule Template:
Weekday mornings: Zazen (seated by 6:05 and 7:10 am) followed by service and soji (temple cleaning), typically finished by 8:45 am -- practitioners are welcome to participate in all or parts of morning practice activities as schedules allow
Sun, Dec 10: Zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am) by Okumura Roshi on Opening the Hand of Though; followed by Rohatsu service and sangha potluck lunch celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening
Wed, Dec 13: Zazen (6:30 - 7 pm) followed by book discussion -- Ryokan Interpreted by Shohaku Okumura (7 - 8 pm)
Sun, Dec 17: Zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am) by Hoko on Gate 103: 'Accomplishment of the state of dharani'
Weekday mornings: Zazen (seated by 6:05 and 7:10 am) followed by service and soji (temple cleaning), typically finished by 8:45 am -- practitioners are welcome to participate in all or parts of morning practice activities as schedules allow
Sun, Dec 10: Zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am) by Okumura Roshi on Opening the Hand of Though; followed by Rohatsu service and sangha potluck lunch celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening
Wed, Dec 13: Zazen (6:30 - 7 pm) followed by book discussion -- Ryokan Interpreted by Shohaku Okumura (7 - 8 pm)
Sun, Dec 17: Zazen (9:10 am) and dharma talk (10:10 am) by Hoko on Gate 103: 'Accomplishment of the state of dharani'