This retreat took place Saturday, September 26, 2026 – Saturday, October 3, 2026. View upcoming retreats at Great Vow Zen Monastery.

Saturday – Saturday · 8 days
Sep 26 – Oct 03
September – October 2026

Soul of the Mountain Sesshin: A Backpacking Sesshin at Bells Mountain

Zen

Zensesshinsilentresidentialzazen

Eight-day sesshin combining intensive zazen with backpacking in the Pacific Northwest. Participants hike to a base camp and follow a structured daily schedule of eight hours of seated meditation, chanting, meals, meditative movement, and guided hiking.

About this retreat

Soul of the Mountain is a sesshin with a distinct physical dimension: participants backpack to a base camp in the Pacific Northwest and sit eight hours daily alongside hiking and meditative movement. This is not a typical monastery sesshin format. The retreat integrates wilderness practice with structured zazen, chanting, and meals.

The center has not yet published the teacher for this sesshin, the daily schedule details, lodging specifics, or what experience level is expected. Contact Great Vow Zen Monastery directly for those details.

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Originally listed on Great Vow Zen Monastery's website.

Full details from Great Vow Zen Monastery

A full Zen sesshin at Bell's Mountain Dharma Center combining intensive meditation practice with backpacking in the Pacific Northwest wilderness. Participants will hike to a base camp and follow a structured daily schedule of eight hours of seated meditation, chanting, meals, meditative movement, and guided hiking.

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