Fall Sesshin 2022
Sesshin means “collecting or joining together the heart-mind,” and is a period when sangha members come together for a period of more intensive practice. Zazen and kinhin are combined with periods of work (samu) and meetings with the teachers (sanzen/dokusan). The 2022 Indianola sesshin will be our first opportunity for many months for the Seattle Soto Zen sangha to join our heart-minds together and practice intensively as a community, under the same roof.
Indianola, WA is a small town spread along the shores of Puget Sound. We usually travel there via the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry. The sesshin is held at Camp Indianola, a peaceful shoreline setting. The lodge where we will practice faces east over Puget Sound to sweeping views of Mt Rainier and the skyline of Seattle.
Logistics
Covid Policy
The Covid pandemic is of great concern to SSZ as we plan for this sesshin, and as such there will be protocols and procedures to address the transmission of this disease. The guidelines and recommendations about group gatherings from federal, state, and local authorities often change as new information and data becomes available. SSZ is committed to providing a safe environment for our practice, using our best judgement of the information and data. In order to participate, participants agree to the following:
• Wear a mask to sesshin and wear it while indoors except when sleeping or eating. Participants will be required to bring their own own mask.
• Provide a record of vaccination, including appropriate boosters.
• Have a negative COVID test 48 hours prior to the beginning of sesshin (September 14, 2022), and on the first day of sesshin (September 16).
• Practice 6 feet apart whenever possible. Sitting areas will be spaced 6 feet apart in the zendo area.
Accommodations
Because of COVID precautions, bunk rooms that normally hold several people will all be single occupancy. Please email registrar@seattlesotozen.org if you are in a close relationship with another participant and would like to share a room. Alternately, you may also bring your own tent for camping on the nearby field.
Two gendered bathrooms, each with two toilets, showers and sinks are available. People are encouraged to use the spaces most comfortable for them.
Accessibility
Although the buildings we are using are not ADA compliant, there is a stair free path from the parking lot to the two retreat buildings, which may require some assistance depending on need. Bathrooms are also not ADA compliant. Please email registrar@seattlesotozen.org if you would like to discuss how we can best meet your needs within the constraints of the space.
Meals
We will practice a modified form of oryoki with food prepared by our tenzo, Jundo Steve Given, and his assistants. Please note any dietary restrictions on the registration form and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Schedule
Please check in no later than 6:00 PM on Friday, September 16, for an evening session that will begin at 7 pm. Weekend-only check-out will occur Sunday evening. The full sesshin ends mid-day Wednesday, September 21, after a morning of practice.
The detailed daily schedule and other info will be sent out later to registered participants.
Registration and Fees – due September 1, 2022
Please see below for sesshin fees — Seattle Soto Zen keeps the fees as low as possible to cover the cost of the event.
Weekend-only participation will be accommodated on a space-available basis once full sesshin participants have registered. Please email registrar@seattlesotozen.org if you are interested in attending for just the weekend, or some other partial participation arrangement. We are still exploring an online streaming option – please check back for updated info closer to the date.
Fees do not include teacher dana, which may be offered online (please include the teacher’s name in a note) or in-person at the sesshin by cash or check.
