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Beginner Meditation Retreats

These retreats welcome newcomers and include instruction in meditation posture, technique, and retreat etiquette. Many are also open to experienced practitioners looking for a gentler pace.

April

2026 09 retreats

Saturday

18

Zazenkai (Daylong Retreat)

with Valerie Forstman

Mountain Cloud Zen Center / Santa Fe, NM, USA

Sanbo Zen · zazenkai · day-sit
$30

Saturday

25

Half-day Sit

with MRO Staff

Zen Center of New York City/Fire Lotus Temple / Brooklyn, NY, USA

Zen · online · zazen
$10

May

2026 13 retreats

Friday – Sunday

01–03

Introduction to Zen Training Weekend

with Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Danica Shoan Ankele, Gokan Bonebakker

Zen Center of New York City/Fire Lotus Temple / Brooklyn, NY, USA

Soto Zen · sesshin · residential
$300

Saturday

02

May 2 All-Day Sitting

with Norman

Everyday Zen Foundation / Oakland, CA, USA

hybrid · residential · online
$30

Thursday – Sunday · 4 days

07–10

Ango Intensive

with Geoffrey Shugen Arnold

Zen Center of New York City/Fire Lotus Temple / Brooklyn, NY, USA

Soto Zen · online · silent
$10

Saturday – Monday

09–11

Norman Fischer Retreat

with Norman Fischer

Mountain Rain Zen Community / Vancouver, BC, Canada

Soto Zen · sesshin · residential

Thursday – Sunday · 4 days

14–17

Chado: The Zen Art of Tea

with Pei-Tsen Tao, Naomi, Andrew Hobai Pekarik, David Kozen Williams

Zen Center of New York City/Fire Lotus Temple / Brooklyn, NY, USA

Urasenke · residential · beginner-friendly
$400

Thursday – Sunday · 4 days

14–17

True Heart Women's Retreat 2026

Hokyoji Zen Practice Community / Eitzen, MN, USA

Soto Zen · online · residential
$320

Monday – Sunday · 7 days

18–24

2026 Bay Area Sesshin

with Zoketsu Norman Fischer

Everyday Zen Foundation / Oakland, CA, USA

sesshin · hybrid · residential

Saturday

23

Inner Critic Workshop

Great Vow Zen Monastery / Clatskanie, OR, USA

Zen · day-sit · silent
$75

June

2026 11 retreats

July

2026 06 retreats

August

2026 06 retreats

September

2026 07 retreats

October

2026 07 retreats

November

2026 04 retreats

December

2026 02 retreats

January

2027 01 retreat

March

2027 01 retreat