Interdependence Sesshin

This is a six-day residential sesshin — an intensive stretch of group Zen practice, typically characterized by sustained silence — at Zen Center of New York City's Fire Lotus Temple, July 19–25, 2027. The title points to the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, the idea that all things arise through mutual conditions; centers often name sesshin for the theme the teaching will center on. The listing itself doesn't describe talks or study sessions, so treat the title as a pointer rather than a published program.

The schedule as listed

The format is demanding by any measure: seven to ten hours of zazen (seated meditation) daily, plus:

• chanting services
• formal silent meals, eaten together in silence
• work practice — work periods treated as part of practice (the listing doesn't say what the work involves)
• private interviews with teachers — one-on-one meetings during the retreat

Seven to ten hours is given as a range, not a fixed figure, and no full timetable has been published — no wake-up time, period-by-period structure, or rest schedule. The signup page may fill in some of this.

Practical notes

Residential is stated explicitly, so participants stay at the temple overnight; the listing doesn't describe rooms, bedding, or arrival logistics. A single price of $200 is shown, and this listing doesn't itemize what the fee covers — confirm on the registration page before signing up. Two gaps worth knowing about: no teacher is named, and no school or lineage (Soto, Rinzai, and so on) is stated, so it's hard to place the retreat's style from the listing alone. The listing also doesn't say whether first-time retreatants may attend. Given the sitting load, contact the center with questions about suitability.