Fall Practice Period 2025
The Capping Phrases of
Jun Po Roshi
with Emyo Darlene Tataryn
Sunday November 23rd, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET (New York)
Siddhartha Gautama taught that there is an end to suffering, including psychological suffering. Mondo Zen practice is this realization, this teaching, this liberation, this Dharma!
- Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi
Koans are both a meditation device and an expression of Enlightenment. Capping phrases (Jakugo in Japanese) are short verses or phrases that express the insight of the koan. Jun Po Roshi developed a series of capping phrases for the Mondo process. The set of 13 capping phrases offers a high-tech pathway to deepen one’s awakening. While any of the 13 capping phrases can occupy a daily meditation practice for weeks at a time, the entire set of phrases can be practiced in a 30-minute sit.
The intention of this one-day zazenkai is to guide participants through the full set of 13 capping phrases, interspersed with group inquiry led by Emyo Darlene Tataryn.
This Retreat will:
Teach the basic dharana practice utilized throughout the full Mondo process.
Teach each capping phrase individually as pointing out instructions in meditation.
As a group, explore the challenges and insights occurring throughout the learning process.
Prepare participants for working with emotional awareness koans
This day-long retreat offers a series of hands-on teachings utilizing the full set of capping phrases for the koans of Jun Po Roshi’s Mondo Facilitation process. This retreat offers beginners a first look at Jun Po Roshi’s capping phrases. For more seasoned practitioners, Emyo’s guidance is always a blessing in the security of a supportive community .
With each moment’s arising flash
Of our normal feelings and thoughts,
We will simultaneously recognize within us
A field of pure awareness, wisdom,
compassion and skillful means.
~ Torei Enji
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Emyo Darlene Tataryn
A pioneer, Darlene has been doing the work since the early 70's. Her depth insight comes from working deeply with somatic healing, dance therapy, developmental and expressive movement, meditation, and other "mystic" practices. She is the creator of the Asaya Process and Maitreya's Chair; two practices which open this breathing body into receptivity, release tension, realign the spine, and bring the body into natural, blissfully calming, self-healing cycles.
As a long time Meditation instructor and Counselor with an Expressive Therapy Bias, Darlene understands and is able to navigate between the disciplines of therapy and meditation. She is steeped in the understanding of the interconnection and interdependence of all of nature. As a Zen Priest and Mondo Zen facilitator, she is able to guide and orient healthy ego function to the service of clarity and depth of heart and mind.
Darlene's history included the Rinzai Zen Hollow Bones Lineage, The Karma Kagyu Lineage, and Sahaja Marg.
“Have you thought about attending sesshin and never get to it? Well, now you can no longer add the excuse that it is too far to go, or you don’t have time. Here, sesshin comes to your home. You can make even a small part of you own home your meditation hall, and join us in zen practice.”