Fall Sesshin

Fall Sesshin is Zen Center of Denver's five-day autumn intensive, held in the center's zendo at 1856 S. Columbine Street in Denver. It begins at 2:30 pm on October 2 and ends at noon on October 7, 2026. A sesshin is the traditional Zen retreat format — consecutive days of concentrated practice — and it requires advance registration, unlike the center's drop-in daily sittings.

The practice schedule

The center hasn't published an hour-by-hour schedule, but the description names what the five days contain: zazen (seated meditation), dokusan (a private meeting with a teacher), teisho (a formal dharma discourse offered by a teacher), chanting, and oryoki-style vegetarian meals. Oryoki is the traditional Zen meal form, in which food is served and eaten in a set sequence with a set of nested bowls; "oryoki-style" indicates the meals follow that form.

The teachers

The sesshin is co-led by Peggy Metta Sheehan and Karin Ryuku Kempe, both teachers at Zen Center of Denver. The center publishes recorded teisho by each of them, so you can get a sense of their teaching before committing to five days.

Practical notes

The center hasn't yet published pricing or lodging information for this sesshin — contact the office (303-455-1500 or [email protected]) with questions about cost or arrangements. If you register and then need to cancel on short notice, the center asks that you call the office and leave a message.

• Events begin precisely on time; doors are locked five minutes before the start to foster an environment of supportive silence in the zendo.
• Plan to arrive at least ten minutes before the stated start time.
• Parking in the neighborhood is challenging — allow extra time to find a space and walk to the center.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes; dark, quiet colors are preferred.
• Please avoid perfume and scented products, out of care for those with allergies.