City Refuge Retreat

City Refuge is designed for people who want the structure and depth of a traditional sesshin — multiple periods of zazen, formal meals, work practice, private meetings with a teacher — without the commitment of a residential retreat. You sit in silence during the day and return home each evening.

The three-day format condenses what's usually a week-long sesshin into a weekend-intensity schedule. Expect a full day of sitting periods, oryoki (formal Zen meal practice), service work, and dharma talks, all held in silence. This is substantially different from a day-sit: you're doing the whole sesshin structure, just commuting.

If you live in or near the city and want to test residential retreat without the time commitment, or if your life simply doesn't allow a week away, this is a practical entry point to sesshin practice.