True Heart Women's Retreat 2026
Soto Zen
Three-day women's retreat at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community, May 14–17, 2026. Lightly structured with silent and guided meditation, body work, group conversation, and time in nature. Open to all experience levels, including those new to meditation. Online format.
Hokyoji's annual True Heart Women's Retreat takes its name from Katagiri Roshi's teaching: "Whatever kind of question you ask or whatever you think, finally you have to return to silence." The retreat is an invitation to step back from noise—external and internal—and sit with yourself and other women in a supported, unhurried space.
This is not a silent sesshin in the traditional Zen mold. Instead, the three days blend silent and guided meditation with body work, personal time, and group conversation. The structure is deliberately light, which means you're not locked into a rigid schedule of sitting periods and formal meals. There will be laughter. If you're looking for the austere intensity of a seven-day sesshin, this isn't it. If you're looking for a weekend that honors both stillness and connection, it fits.
Hokyoji sits in Minnesota's Driftless Region—rolling, wooded country—and springtime there is genuine. The retreat includes a simple private room and vegetarian meals; that's what the $320 covers. Teachers are supported through dana, so additional donations are welcomed but never expected or pressured.
The online format means you'll join from home. The source material doesn't specify the technical setup—whether you're on camera in a virtual sitting room, in breakout groups for conversation, or something hybrid—so contact Hokyoji directly if those details matter to your participation.
Full details from Hokyoji Zen Practice Community
In the book Returning to Silence, Katagiri Roshi says, “Whatever kind of question you ask or whatever you think, finally you have to return to silence.” Katagiri points to a simple truth we often overlook in this exceedingly noisy world of ours: we need to be intentional about carving out space to slow down and catch up with ourselves.
That is the intention of Hokyoji’s annual True Heart Women’s Retreat, which I have the privilege of leading this year. The retreat begins with supper on Thursday, May 14 and ends at noon on Sunday, May 17. Though not strictly a silent retreat, it is an invitation to enter into stillness of being and connection with nature, with yourself, and with each other. The retreat is lightly structured to include periods of silent and guided meditation as well as personal time, body work, and group conversation. And yes, there will be laughter.
The fee includes accommodation in a simple private room and nourishing vegetarian meals. Women of all backgrounds are welcome, including those with no or very little experience in meditation or Buddhism.
Return to the silence of your true heart in the supportive company of other women in the springtime beauty of Minnesota’s Driftless Region. Hokyoji welcomes you with open arms.
Registration fees cover lodging and food. Hokyoji compensates teachers through the dana system. If you would like to contribute, you may do so before, at, or after the retreat. If you would like to donate online, please click here.
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