Meditation retreats

Green Mountain Zen offers two formal retreats or sesshin each year near Otaki.

Sesshin means literally to “gather the mind”. This silent meditation retreat is the heart of Zen practice, and is the method that has been practiced by all the Zen and Buddhist masters throughout the ages. The practice of sesshin brings about insight and a deep knowing of the true nature of mind and your place in the world.

Sitting together, and practicing coming back to the present moment again and again over a period of several days, you will begin to see the sometimes subtle ways you have bound and limited yourself. This brings about the resolve to see into your own heart of wisdom and to turn that wisdom into compassionate action for yourself and others. Sesshin is the doorway by which you can enter into life fully and completely..