Pari-Nirvana Sesshin: A Meditation Retreat Exploring Life, Death & the Unknown

The theme

Parinirvana is the Buddha's final passing — the death of someone already awakened. Sesshin organized around it treat death not as an abstraction but as something to sit with directly; this one's title frames it as an inquiry into "our relationship with death, dying, and the unknowns of life." Many Buddhist communities mark the Buddha's Parinirvana in mid-February (Nehan-e in Japanese Zen), which lines up with the February 15–21, 2027 dates. The description also cites "winter stillness" as part of what supports the practice.

Sesshin — a term usually glossed as "gathering the mind" — is the Zen word for an intensive retreat. The listing describes this one as silent, so expect conversation to be set aside for the stretch; how silence is handled in detail isn't specified.

What's published — and what isn't

Great Vow Zen Monastery is hosting, in person. Beyond that, the listing is spare. Not yet published:

• Teachers — none are named
• A daily schedule
• Lodging details

The $75 is the only price shown; what it includes isn't stated. If the fee structure, lodging, or meals matter to your plans, check with the monastery before registering.