Ango Intensive

This online intensive pairs close study of Hongzhi Zhengjue—a Song Dynasty Soto Zen master—with direct practice of shikantaza, "just sitting." Hongzhi's teaching verses are central to the Soto lineage; they point toward the non-dual nature of awareness itself. Rather than koans demanding intellectual struggle, Hongzhi's words open space for a kind of wordless knowing that shikantaza cultivates.

The retreat weaves in a less common element: guided writing. You'll sit periods, then respond to Hongzhi's teachings through prose or poetry. This isn't literary exercise. In Zen practice, writing can clarify what's happening in sitting—a way of turning the words back on themselves, discovering what language actually points to when you're not trying to explain anything.

Online format means you join from home. You'll likely have a schedule of sitting periods and study sessions to follow in real time, or possibly recordings if asynchronous options are offered. The low price ($10) suggests this is donation-based or subsidized; confirm the registration page for what that includes (full access, talks-only, etc.) and whether there are suggested or sliding-scale amounts.