Don't Know Fall Practice Period 

Sunday, September 6 through Sunday September 20

This Fall Practice Period creates the optimum conditions for you to study directly and intimately with the Great Teacher Don’t Know. It is a 15-day residential practice intensive at Ashland Zen Center that concludes with a three-day sesshin.

There are ways to benefit from Practice Period through complete attendance, attendance as a commuter, or attending only the sesshin, depending on your life circumstances. Read the attendance options carefully below.

Each day of Practice Period begins with the wakeup bell and ends with the pillow bell. These days include four periods of zazen; chanting and bowing service; study; work; three simple, nutritious meals; rest and bath period. Each five days of Practice Period is followed by a personal day for laundry, rest and personal care.

See the Practice Period Schedule by Clicking Here

Practice Period concludes with sesshin – three days of profound settling, meeting and touching heart-mind in the zendo, in silence, in oryoki meals, in work, in chanting, in bowing.

On the final day of sesshin at 3:00 PM there will be a Jukai Ceremony (ceremony of receiving the Buddhist precepts). Everyone is invited to the Jukai Ceremony.

Fall Practice Period is a time and place to study Don’t Know, digest Don’t Know, sit Don’t Know, share Don’t Know, become Don’t Know.

Ways to Attend:

Closed Gate

Traditionally at a monastery when Practice Period begins, the temple gates close. Those within are ALL IN. Closed Gate is full attendance of all 15 days of the Fall Practice Period. Overnight accommodations are provided and recommended. Cost for the entire Practice Period is $330 or $260 for pledging members of Ashland Zen Center.

Open Gate

Open Gate is for those who are not able to step away from work, school or other commitments for full days during Practice Period and instead are committed to coming and going through the temple gates in the mornings and evenings for the first 12 Practice Period days. Open Gate attendance becomes Closed Gate attendance during the 3-Day Sesshin. Open Gate attendees make a donation for their 12 days of commuter attendance plus sesshin fees. Sesshin fees are $150 or $120 for pledging members of Ashland Zen Center.

Sesshin Only

Sesshin Only is for those unable to step away from work, school or other commitments for all 15 days but with the support of friends and family are able to enter completely into sesshin for three days. Sesshin fees are $150 or $120 for pledging members of Ashland Zen Center.

Open Door

Open Door is for newer sangha members who are ready to engage the Practice Period as a beginner through daily zazen in community. Open Door attendees will come through the zendo door every morning and evening for the first twelve days of Practice Period. This encompasses morning zazen and evening zazen and includes the Wednesday night programs during Practice Period. Open Door attendance does not include Sesshin. Open Door attendees make a donation to Ashland Zen Center for their 12 days of commuter attendance.

Requests for individualized schedules must be made in person with Ramana before August 23.

Please Note The Wednesday night programs during Practice Period are open to everyone. So is the Jukai Ceremony on Sunday, September 20 at 3:00 pm. If attending Jukai please RSVP and arrive by 2:45 pm.

Ask lots of questions. Register by Sunday, August 23

Registration is Due August 23

Payment is due with your registration. There are no refunds for canceling after registering. Religious Education at Ashland Zen Center is fully tax-deductible. Ashland Zen Center's Tax-ID number is 93-1146070.

Partial work-exchange scholarships may be available - inquire in person. 

After you register you will receive more information about Practice Period including what to bring and what to leave behind.

Deliver registration form and payment to Ashland Zen Center, 740 Tolman Creek Road, Ashland OR 97520 or pay below now.