Zenist2026 Spring Sesshin
with Valerie Forstman·Sanbo Zen
Six-day Sanbo Zen sesshin led by Associate Master Valerie Forstman, March 16–22, 2026. Offered both online and in-person (residential or commuter). Online participants receive orientation, daily talk recordings, optional teacher-led support sessions, and one-on-one guidance; in-person participants engage in the full sesshin schedule with zazen, kinhin, chanting, dokusan, and noble silence.
About this retreat
Seeds of Practice: Planting Peace in Turbulent Times is the title of this spring sesshin—a six-day intensive in the Sanbo Zen tradition. Valerie Forstman, a Sanbo Zen Associate Master, leads both the in-person and online groups. The retreat theme frames the sesshin as a communal practice anchored in silence and mutual support.
Sesshin means "touching or meeting of the heart." During these six days, in-person participants follow a traditional schedule of zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), chanting, and dokusan (private meetings with the teacher). All participants observe noble silence. Dokusan will be conducted in person by Forstman and online by Zen Teacher Carolyn Seburn.
Online participation
The center offers a structured online option with its own schedule of support. Full-time participants ($240) receive an orientation and closing session, daily recordings of talks and Q&A, optional small-group sessions with teachers during the first three days, and the option of one-on-one practice guidance with Carolyn Seburn. A recordings-only option ($75) provides access to daily talk and Q&A recordings without live sessions or group support.
In-person attendance
In-person participants choose from lodging options: rustic cabins, a cottage, bell tents, or bring their own tent or van. Commuter participants attend the full sesshin schedule from their own lodging. In-person registration requires an application; the center uses this process to ensure the intensive format suits the participant. Pricing: shared lodging $1,050, bell tent/camp $900, commute $825. Scholarships covering 25% of the fee are available; members receive an additional 15% discount.
Contact Xander with questions about the retreat. The center has published a sample sesshin schedule and an online retreat handbook to help participants prepare.
Originally listed on Mountain Cloud Zen Center's website.
Full details from Mountain Cloud Zen Center
Seeds of Practice: Planting Peace in Turbulent Times
2026 Spring Sesshin with Valerie Forstman
Monday, March 16 – Sunday, March 22
Online and in-person; residential or commuter
Register to Attend Here
Register to Receive Talks Only
Spring is coming, even while – here in Northern New Mexico – we wish for more seasonal temps, deeper snows, and a relief to record-setting drought. Elsewhere, the environment shifts and groans in other ways. At the same time, right in the midst, the inexhaustible wellspring of this practice waters seeds of peace – seeds we plant and nurture during sesshin.
Join us – at Mountain Cloud and in the cloud – for six days of deeply shared silence, offering our practice for the peace of the whole world.
Experience the unique opportunity of extended practice with support from:
The profound silence and stillness of the age-old sesshin format.
The deep container provided by Sanbo Zen Associate Master Valerie Forstman.
Dokusan (one-on-one interviews) conducted in person by Valerie and online by Zen Teacher Carolyn Seburn.
Q&A and small group discussion sessions with Sanbo Zen teachers.
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Sesshin is a term used in Zen to refer to an intensive period of meditation practice, typically lasting several days to a week or more. It literally means “touching or meeting of the heart.” During sesshin, practitioners engage in extended periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), chanting, and other forms of Zen practice under the guidance of a teacher. Sesshin is often held in a retreat setting, with participants observing noble silence and following a strict schedule of meditation sessions interspersed with breaks for rest and meals. The purpose of sesshin is to deepen one’s meditation practice, cultivate mindfulness, and gain insight into the nature of reality.
Visit this page to view a sample sesshin schedule.
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Program Cost*
Online
Full-Time: $240
Just the Talks: $75
In-Person
Shared Lodging: $1,050
Camp/Bell Tent: $900
Commute: $825
25% scholarships available. Please see registration page for details.
Members receive 15% off. See the members’ newsletter and/or Members Zone for a special link. If you’re not a member, learn more about membership here.
Register to Attend Here
Register to Receive Talks Only
*Pricing has changed for 2026. Please click here to learn more about these changes.
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Engaging Online Experience
We are thrilled to offer a comprehensive online experience that can offer profound connection and depth. Online participation includes:
Orientation & Welcome Session: First evening of sesshin. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your fellow online retreatants, set the tone, and establish intentions for the week ahead.
Closing Session & Integration Session: We offer a closing circle at the end of the retreat, and an “integration” session in the week after the retreat. These provide extra context, opportunity for Q&A, and the chance to connect with fellow participants.
Daily Recordings: Receive recordings of Talks and Q&A sessions each day, allowing you to revisit and deepen your understanding of the teachings at your own pace.
Optional Break-Out Group Support Sessions: Days 1-3 we will offer sessions with Zen teachers for personalized support and guidance as you settle into your practice, make adjustments, or navigate challenges.
Optional 1-1 Practice Guidance: Full-time participants will have the opportunity to meet 1-1 with Sanbo Zen teacher Carolyn Seburn, providing extra support to dive even deeper during the retreat.
Explore our Online Retreat Handbook to delve deeper into the practices and principles of our Zen retreats. Learn how to create an optimal environment for deep practice from the comfort of your home. Click here to access the handbook.
Not able to join us full-time online? Sign up to receive recordings of the Dharma talks and Q&A sessions, so you can receive the wisdom Valerie shares over the course of the week.
Register to Attend Here
Register to Receive Talks Only
For general questions about the retreat contact Xander.
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Immersive Onsite Experience
Onsite attendance offers a profound opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the practice and the sesshin schedule. Whether you choose to stay on-site or commute from your own lodging, being on campus allows you to deeply engage with your community of fellow practitioners and experience the interconnectedness of our practice community. Our lodging options include rustic cabins, a cottage, camping (in your own tent or one of our three bell tents), or bringing your own camper/van. While we cannot guarantee lodging preferences, we will be in touch upon the acceptance of your application to discuss available options.
In-person retreatants are accepted based on an application process designed to ensure that this intensive sitting experience is a good match for you.
Register Here
For general questions about the retreat contact Xander.
Cabin Lodging
Cabin Lodging
Cabins have porches.
Zendo
Main building
Views from campus
Cottage lodging
Cottage Kitchenette
Bell Tent
Inside a Bell Tent
Outdoor sitting spots
Kinhin labyrinth