Fall Practice Period 2026
The Five Gates of
Cosmopolitan Zen
Koans as pointing out instructions
with Ekai Joel Kreisberg Roshi
Sunday, October 11th, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm ET (New York)
Rather than simply defining meditation as shamatha and vipashyana, Ekai Joel Kreisberg'‘s meditation instructions orient to learning to more deeply monitor one’s experience through metacongnition. What is meta-cognition? Simply put, it’s thinking about thinking. In a meditation process, it’s learning to notice the experience as it’s happening.
The meditation instructions in this half-day retreat will build on on each other in sequence. Each session will focus on one of the five gates. By the end of the retreat, participants will have experience and guidance through four of the five gates of Cosmopolitan Zen.
Traditional Rinzai Zen offers very few meditative instructions, focusing on Shikantaza, just sitting, or koans, stories that facilitate exploring awareness beyond dhyana. With the help of pointing out instructions, koans can be a way of developing a more effective and more complete meditative practice. Rather than simply sitting and waiting for insight, a good meditation can facilitate deeper and deeper insights for meditators. Ekai has been exploring the use of pointing out instructions in his weekly practice periods. These have become the teachings of the Five Gates.
This half-day Zazenkai retreat is open to beginners and advanced students.
Registration:
About Ekai Joel Kreisberg Roshi
Ekai continues to evolve his practice to incorporate a variety of Buddhist wisdom in his teachings. His commitment to compassionate action keeps offering endless opportunity for learning and growth.
“When you rest in the experience of mind, which is beyond extremes or elaborations, what is the experience of that like? It is characterized by a profound state of ease, which means an absence of agitation or discomfort”
Schedule
All times in EST (New York)
8:45 – 9:00 am Zendo Opens
9:00 – 9:15 am Check In
9:15 – 9:30 am Orientation
9:30 – 9:50 am Meditation - Gate One
9:50 – 10:10 am Discussion
10:10 –10:40 am Meditation - Gate Two
10:40 – 11:00 pm Discussion
11:00 - 11:20 pm Break
11;20 - 11:40 pm Meditation - Gate Three
11:40 - 12:00 pm Discussion
12:00 - 12:20 pm Meditation - Gate Four
12:20 - 12:35 pm Discussion
12:35 - 12:50 pm Meditation - Review and summary
12:50 - 1:00 pm Closing Check in