2026 Annual STO/ASZC Fall Retreat

The 2026 Annual STO/ASZC Fall Retreat runs October 14–18 at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, with online participation available as well. It is framed as a celebration of the teachings of Kongo Langlois Roshi, whom the center identifies as the former Abbot of the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago — so this is a retreat organized around a particular teacher's body of work rather than a general introductory event. ASZC's name places it in the Soto Zen tradition, in which zazen (seated meditation) is the core practice.

The description names three activities: zazen, dharma talks, and dialog with members of thirteen affiliate sanghas. The sangha dialog element signals that this doubles as a gathering of a network of practice communities, more than a solo sitting retreat. Nothing in the posted description says the retreat is held in silence, and no daily schedule has been published, so it isn't yet possible to say how the days are structured or how many sitting periods there are.

Two gaps worth knowing about before registering. First, no living teachers are named for this event; the center hasn't said who will give the dharma talks or lead the zazen. Second, practical details — lodging, meals, pricing, how the online option actually works (streamed talks versus a full parallel schedule), and who is eligible to attend — have not been published. The center's signup page for the event is the place to check as the date approaches.