Beginner's Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat

Great Vow Zen Monastery runs this weekend silent retreat December 18–20, 2026, listed at $150. The title references beginner's mind — shoshin, the Zen term for approaching practice without preconceptions — and the center describes the retreat as an introduction to intensive Zen practice. No lead teacher is named on the listing.

The description names four components:

• Approximately seven hours of sitting meditation (zazen) across the weekend
• Buddhist chanting services
• Formal meals
• Community work practice (shared work carried out as part of the retreat)

Silence is stated plainly; most other practical details are not. There is no published daily schedule, no description of the center or its setting, and no lodging information — the event is marked in-person, but whether the $150 fee covers an overnight stay is not specified. Contact the monastery for those details before registering. In terms of intensity, the listed components make this an entry point to monastic-style retreat practice rather than a full-length sesshin.