Ango Opening Zazenkai

Ango—the traditional Buddhist practice period—opens in late summer and early fall at Zen Mountain Monastery. This zazenkai (literally "zazen meeting") marks that opening and functions in two ways: for newer students, it's a gateway practice, a chance to sit in a structured formal format and meet a teacher one-on-one before committing to a full sesshin. For experienced practitioners, it's a seasonal recalibration—a day to sit hard and recommit to the rhythm of intensive practice.

The day follows a traditional shape: several periods of zazen interspersed with liturgy and movement, a private dokusan (face-to-face meeting with a teacher), a formal talk, and oryoki lunch—the practice of eating together in silence, using ritual and minimal waste. This format gives you a taste of sesshin structure without the five- or seven-day commitment.

If you've never sat sesshin or never sat at this monastery, a one-day zazenkai is a low-risk way to learn what the container feels like and whether this particular tradition and community fit your practice.