Sunday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024

You and I are only alive now.

There is no future time, no better time, no other time. There is no future I, no better I, no other I. We don’t repeat a single moment. Our nature is total change. The Buddhist understanding of this impermanent self is called Time Being. That is what we are. All of human life is based on this understanding. To see directly and clearly into impermanence is to shine a light in this world.

Into the Time Being of winter, into the dark, Rohatsu Sesshin shines. 

Join Rohatsu. For seven days, set aside hopes of improvement, dreams of a finish line, measurements of good or bad. Sit upright and shine. Awaken to this priceless life. This Time Being.

No one can tell us what it is. No one can tell us how to share it. But we must! We do. We are this Time Being together with everyone and everything.

During Rohatsu Sesshin we return to silence. In silence we don’t activate our many discursive habits. For the first three days we will not chant. Starting on the fourth day, chanting and teisho, words of dharma, will be heard.

Attendance

Attendance for all seven days of Rohatsu is highly recommended and overnight accommodations are available. Those unable to attend seven days may attend fewer days, for full days. The exception is for medical conditions that make it impossible to attend full days.

Kigetsu Ramana will lead Rohatsu. She and Tendo Stacy will both offer dokusan during Rohatsu. Dokusan is a private meeting with a teacher, an essential element of sesshin.

Once you register you will receive more information about sesshin: what to bring, what to leave behind, and guidelines to support you in receiving the full benefits of sesshin.

Health Protocols

If you have the flu or flu-like symptoms in the 10 days before sesshin please report your health progress to Ramana. Windows will be open and air purifiers will be running in all shared indoor spaces during Rohatsu. COVID testing may be required of participants depending on conditions in December. COVID vaccination is required for participation at Ashland Zen Center.

Registration

Cost for Rohatsu is $350, or $280 for pledging members of the sangha. For those not attending the full sesshin this is $50/day, or $40/day for pledging sangha members. Partial work-exchange scholarships may be available for pledging sangha.

It is our tradition to express gratitude to the teacher through a dana offering. For this purpose a bowl will be out during Rohatsu for donations.

Application and payment are due by Wednesday, Nov. 27

Payments by:

1) Check to AZC, delivered with your application to Ashland Zen Center, 740 Tolman Creek Road, Ashland OR 97520 (preferred)

2) PayPal (below)

Registration Form

Print out and return the form below.

NOTE: If you pay using the button below the prices listed are for all seven days of sesshin with an additional charge included to cover some of the PayPal fees.

In the payment choices you may click 'other amount' to pay per day for fewer than seven days of sesshin. The price for each day with an additional charge included to cover some of the PayPal fees is:

$52/day for regular registration

$41/day for pledging members.