Equinox Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat

A zazenkai is a day-long sitting, typically 6–8 hours of zazen with breaks for walking meditation (kinhin) and a communal meal. This one marks the fall equinox, a traditional moment in Zen practice to sit intensively. You'll spend most of the day in the zendo (meditation hall) in noble silence — no talking, no phones, no distractions — which creates a deliberate container for practice.

At Great Vow, a Soto Zen monastery in Oregon, the schedule usually includes multiple 30- or 40-minute zazen periods, kinhin between rounds, and oryoki (formal communal eating). There's no dokusan (private teacher meeting) on a single day-sit, but the monastery's sangha (community) sits with you. This format works well for both new practitioners testing whether longer sitting feels right and seasoned meditators wanting a day of deeper immersion without a week-long commitment.

Bring comfortable clothing you can sit in. The monastery provides cushions and benches. Arrive early enough to get oriented. The $35 fee is low-barrier; Great Vow operates on dana (donation) principles, so if cost is tight, ask about sliding scale.