ZenistFall Silent Retreat @Watershed
Soto Zen
Five-day silent sesshin hosted by Atlanta Soto Zen Center at Watershed Retreat Center in the mountains of western North Carolina, October 21–25, 2026. Days alternate 25-minute periods of seated meditation with 5-minute walking meditation, punctuated by meals and simple working meditation tasks.
About this retreat
Atlanta Soto Zen Center runs this five-day silent sesshin at Watershed Retreat Center, in the mountains of western North Carolina, October 21–25, 2026. Sesshin (literally “gathering the mind”) is the standard Japanese term for an intensive multi-day Zen retreat.
The daily shape
The listing describes a rhythm rather than a full timetable:
- 25-minute periods of seated meditation (zazen)
- 5-minute periods of walking meditation (kinhin) between sits
- Meals
- Simple working meditation tasks (work practice)
Silence runs through all of it: participants set aside conversation for the duration of the retreat. The listing doesn’t mention dharma talks, private meetings with a teacher, or opening and closing arrangements, so treat those as open questions.
Practical details
The listed price is $240. What it covers isn’t stated — meals are mentioned, but the listing says nothing about overnight lodging at Watershed, arrival and departure times, or what to bring. No teacher is named. The center’s event page is the place to confirm all of this before registering.
Schedules can change — confirm details on Atlanta Soto Zen Center's website.
Full details from Atlanta Soto Zen Center
A multi-day Zen meditation retreat (Sesshin) in the mountains of Western North Carolina at Watershed Retreat Center. The silent retreat features 25-minute sitting and 5-minute walking meditation sessions throughout the day, with meals and simple working meditation tasks.