Introduction to Zen Training Weekend

This weekend retreat introduces the fundamentals of Zen practice in a structured, supportive setting. You'll learn zazen (seated meditation) from instructors, participate in chanting and liturgy, and have the chance to meet one-on-one with a teacher in dokusan. The retreat follows a traditional sesshin schedule — early mornings, multiple sitting periods, communal meals, periods of work practice — giving you a real sense of how Zen training unfolds daily.

The Catskill Mountains location means you're in a quiet rural setting, which matters for a retreat focused on inner work. You'll stay overnight, eat with the group, and experience what monastic community practice looks like, even in a weekend format.

This is explicitly designed for people new to Zen, though returning practitioners also attend. You don't need sitting experience or knowledge of Buddhist terminology to participate. The retreat's structure — instruction built in, teacher availability, clear schedule — makes it a solid entry point into sesshin practice.