Beginner's Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat

This weekend retreat at Great Vow Zen Monastery introduces the fundamentals of intensive Zen practice in a compressed format. You'll sit seven hours per day in zazen (Zen meditation), participate in Buddhist chanting services, and take part in formal community meals and work practice. The center provides instruction on meditation foundations on Friday evening, so you're not expected to arrive with prior experience.

The retreat follows a traditional Soto Zen sesshin structure held in silence. Formal meals (oryoki, or meditative eating with bowls) and work practice are part of the schedule, not optional add-ons. If you're curious about what intensive Zen practice actually involves—the rhythm of sitting periods, the quiet formality, the community aspect—this weekend offers a genuine entry point without requiring you to commit to a longer retreat first.