Practicing the Way Retreat

This retreat centers on a specific Dogen teaching: that Buddha activity—awakening to the dignity and potential in all beings—is not separate from ordinary practice and action in the world. Rather than treating meditation as preparation for some future realization, the retreat explores how Buddhist practice manifests moment to moment, interpenetrating daily life. The pairing of classical Zen texts with essays by Václav Havel and Martin Luther King Jr. signals that this is a retreat grounded in engaged Buddhism, connecting zazen to questions of justice and dignity.

The hybrid format means you can sit in-person at Hokyoji or join online. In-person participants have full access to the schedule, meals (buffet style), lodging, and communal practice. Online participants join the same schedule remotely—though the exact format (livestream, Zoom, recorded talks) is not detailed here, so confirm with the center. The schedule link should clarify daily sitting periods, talk times, and breaks.

What to expect

• Zazen (silent sitting)
• Dharma talks
• Discussion periods
• Communal meals and space-building
• Suggested preparation: read Dogen's essays on Buddha activity and the Bodhisattva's embracing actions before arriving

Hokyoji operates on a dana (voluntary offering) basis for teacher compensation. The registration fee covers only basic costs. Participants are invited to contribute what they can before, during, or after the retreat—this is how the community sustains its teachers and practice space.