Joint 3 day sesshin with Red Cedar at Samish Island

This 3-day residential sesshin will include all of our meals eaten oryoki style, alternating periods of zazen (sitting) and kinhin (walking) meditation, Dharma Talks, and a special sangha celebration.

This retreat can be done as a stand alone sesshin or as part of Red Cedar’s 2026 Fall Practice period and is also co-sponsored by Seattle Sōtō Zen.

Arrive Thursday afternoon to settle in, eat your own packed in dinner, and begin silence.

Friday and Saturday will be full sesshin days 6am to 8:30pm with alternating zazen and kinhin, meals, Dharma Talks, opportunities for dokusan with the teachers, and a work period.

Sunday will close in the zendo with the Shuso’s Dharma Inquiry Ceremony followed by lunch. All retreat participants then stay to help clean up the campground until about 2pm.

On Zoom:
Zoom attendance at all zendo events is available. We’re unable to provide dokusan over Zoom due to internet limitations at Samish.

Special Ceremonies:
We’ll have a Receiving the Precepts jukai ceremony on Saturday evening and the Shuso’s Dharma Inquiry Ceremony on Sunday morning.

Meals:
You will need a 3-bowl Oryoki set at this retreat. Instruction on Oryoki eating will be provided, no problem if you’ve never eaten oryoki before. You can purchase a set from our friends at Still Sitting (please order the Navy Blue cloths). Red Cedar Zen is not able to provide loaner oryoki sets at this time.

Dharma Talks:
Everyone is welcome to come join us for Dharma Talks either in person or online. No registration needed. Talks will be held on Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am.

Housing: Housing is provided with two options: E-Cabins and Rustic Cabins.

Registration Link: https://redcedarzen.org/event-6639561