Join us for the first session of the Fall Practice Period. Ekai Joel Kreisberg will explore Spirituality and Spiritual Identity, the opening chapter in When the Buddha Needs Therapy.

Led by trained facilitators, the Mondo Koan Intensive takes participants through the entire ten koans of the Ego Deconstruction-Reconstruction process. Participants will practice together in the full group as well as being led in small-group triads in order to better close the gap between facilitator and participant.

Emyo Darlene Tataryn will offer a teaching on the dignity and disaster of the ego for this second dharma reflection with Kogen’s When the Buddha Needs Therapy. The teaching will be followed by a discussion.

Daiden Dan Pecaut will frame the challenge of each of these two perspectives - traditional zen and modern psychology - as preparation for how to move into working with both together. Daiden’s dharma reflection will conclude with an interactive discussion.

With a healthy zazen practice, on can have a choice as to whether one reacts with anger or responds to the anger arising with an enlightened view. Shunya Lynn Hyer will offer the dharma reflection this week which will include a discussion with participants.

The opportunity occurs whenever you find yourself emotionally triggered, this is precisely the moment to remember and choose the wisdom of Zen. - everything is impermanent, everything is dependently arising and the self is expressing a natural wisdom. Remember and choose a compassionate response. Kenshin Cian Whalley takes up this key perspective his is dharma reflection about the illusion of the victim.

Kogen Keith Martin-Smith will take us through his four steps or practices for awakening. Recognizing several Zen insights is key to this practice and Kogen offers his own wisdom and unique perspective.

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 is for beginners as well as practitioners interested in this style of practice, all in the security of a supportive community .