Chan Practice of Silent Illumination with Rebecca Li

Silent illumination (mozhao in Chinese) is a Chan method in which stillness and clarity are cultivated together: the mind rests quietly, and that stillness is itself awake and aware. The approach belongs to the Caodong lineage, the branch of Chan that later became Soto Zen in Japan, and it is usually contrasted with koan-based Chan practice. Rather than investigating a question, the emphasis falls on quiet, wakeful sitting; the listing's own description phrases it as cultivating stillness and clarity simultaneously.

The retreat runs June 14-20, 2027 and is residential: you stay at Great Vow Zen Monastery for the six days. Per the listing, three elements make up the program: instruction in meditation methods, dharma talks on the key concepts of silent illumination, and private interviews with Rebecca Li (one-to-one meetings where you discuss your practice directly with the teacher). The listing has not published a daily schedule, so specifics like wake-up times, the number of sitting periods, and how interviews are arranged are not yet available.

The listed price is $280, and the listing does not specify what it covers, such as lodging or meals, or whether there are separate registration steps. It also states no experience requirements. For those details, contact Great Vow Zen Monastery before registering.