Zazenkai at Plum Blossom Zendo

Zazenkai — literally "zazen gathering" — is the Japanese term for a day-long sit. Unlike a multi-day sesshin, a zazenkai compresses the full arc of intensive practice into a single day: extended sitting periods, walking meditation (kinhin), a meal taken in silence, and time to sit with what arises. It's a useful entry point if you're new to formal practice, or a way to maintain continuity between longer retreats.

This one is held at Plum Blossom Zendo, part of Great Vow Zen Monastery in the Portland-Vancouver area. The format described — longer zazen hours within noble silence — suggests a traditional schedule without lectures or instruction woven in, so it's best suited to people who've sat before or are willing to learn by observation and doing. Arrive ready to sit, with some understanding of basic posture and the container of silence.