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A sesshin is a period of mediation in a monastery. It is an intense mediation period that is often interrupted by the master giving public talks and direction.
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Who might attend a sesshin?
The requirements depend upon the Zen center offering the sesshin. One may be required to attend a shorter (for example, a 2 day) sesshin before one is permitted to attend a longer (for example, 7 day) sesshin. Although they may have to pay a slightly higher fee, non-members of a Zen center are not necessarily excluded from attending sesshins. People with psychological or psychiatric problems may be excluded from attending any sesshins until those obstacles are overcome. Permission to attend a sesshin is not automatic. You must first apply before you are allowed to attend sesshin. A critical factor is motivation. Sesshins are strenuous; they are not for tourists. They may involve a minimum of 10- hours daily of formal sitting--with additional hours encouraged. If a Zen center has an all-day sitting, it's a good idea to attend one of those before applying for sesshin so you'll have some idea of whether or not you are ready for the rigorous training.
What happens at sesshins?
== == Sesshins are the distinctive, prolonged practice periods of Zen Buddhism. They are intense and designed to help serious practitioners still the mind. Sesshins are conducted slightly differently at different Zen centers or monasteries. Their length varies (for example, one week), and their daily schedule varies. Typically, each day involves many (for example, ten) hours of formal, seated practice (zazen'') as well as work such as cleaning and preparing meals that occurs when practitioners are practicing informally rather than formally. There may be a talk (teisho) by the master as well as one, two, or three private one-on-one interviews (dokusan) with the master. Except for the interviews, sesshins are usually conducted in silence. Practitioners are encouraged to eat and to sleep less than normal, which helps to maintain focus on one's practice. In the west, sesshins may be thought of as a taste of monastic life provided for lay practitioners. Sesshins are not for tourists. A one week sesshin is demanding. If you think you may be ripe for a sesshin, find out about the program where you want to attend before applying and, initially, do not apply for a sesshin that lasts more than 1 or 2 days.= =
When do Zen Buddhists meditate?
The contemplation of a koan (Zen parable) and the accompanying teshio (a master's discourse on a koan) and thoughts, or lack there of, about the koan and its (non)meaning are considered meditation in addition to regular Buddhist meditation.Answer:The official periods of meditation are scheduled throughout the day on each monastery's own schedule. As zazen (seated zen) is taxing these sessions are usually no more than an hour in length. The sessions may be scheduled for monks who will be there for years or visitors who are essentially trying out the monastery experience for a few days or a week. They may be as early as 4am or as late as 11pm. During the daylight hours there may also be periods of walking zen meditation. The sessions may be alone or in concert with others under the guidance of an instructor.A monestary may also have periods of Sesshin (extended meditation that includes sitting meditation, walking meditation, chanting, oryoki (a formal, meditative way of eating), Dharma talks by the sesshin leader and a meditative work periods). There may also be Dokusan (private meeting with the sesshin leader).What is taught in Sesshinis that at any time in our daily lives we can focus our full attention to the activity of the moment as a form of meditation. As a consequence the entire day becomes fully a meditation period - when it's time to eat, just eat, and when it's time to sit, just sit. No interfering thoughts arise.
