What is Sesshin?
Sesshin, the traditional intensive meditation retreat, is offered four times a year at Zen Center of Syracuse HoenJi. During sesshin, frequent dokusan and daily teachings are offered, in addition to a rigorous schedule of sitting, chanting, work practice, and formal meals.
Sesshin (from the Japanese ses, “collect”, and shin, “heart-mind”) is an intensive period of meditation practice. During sesshin, we follow a strict schedule that allows us to more deeply enter our breath and focus on this very moment.
We offer four three-day sesshins each year. During sesshin, our regular schedule is suspended and our doors are closed to visitors.
2026 Schedule
- HoenJi Winter Sesshin
Jan 15 to Jan 18, Zen Center of Syracuse or Online via Zoom - HoenJi Spring Sesshin
Apr 16 to Apr 19, Zen Center of Syracuse or Online via Zoom - HoenJi Summer Sesshin
Jul 16 to Jul 19, Zen Center of Syracuse or Online via Zoom - HoenJi Fall Anniversary Sesshin
Oct 15 to Oct 18, Zen Center of Syracuse or Online via Zoom
What to expect
Expect to be physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged. Sesshin offers relatively few opportunities for rest, long periods of meditation that are likely to result in physical discomfort, and prohibition of many of the physical and emotional creature comforts that adorn everyday life.
Expect to withstand physical discomfort during meditation. Most discomfort experienced during meditation arises naturally; often, it is a symptom of emotional discomfort. Do your best to breathe through what is not comfortable for you. It is likely that, if you are feeling discomfort, others are as well. Cultivate stillness, particularly for those who are also uncomfortable. Of course, if you feel you are in danger of breaking a bone or otherwise seriously damaging your body, please tend to yourself. If you have a condition whereby sitting completely still for 45 minutes is likely to cause damage to you, please consult with a senior student before registering for sesshin.
Expect to embody silence with your voice and your actions. If an emergency arises, please notify a senior student; you can expect to speak with Shinge Roshi in dokusan (private interviews about your practice); and some work assignments may require you to coordinate activities verbally. As a general rule, refrain from any unnecessary speech; you may be surprised at how little is truly necessary.
Expect to attend everything on the schedule. Expect to pay close attention to the conduct of senior students and others around you. Much of sesshin includes intricate forms; while they may not be explained to you explicitly, we strive to harmonize our actions, and you should be aware of and prepared to follow the actions of those senior to you.
Expect to have no contact with the outside world. You may bring your cell phone with you, but turn it off before sesshin begins. The Zen Center’s phone is regularly checked during sesshin. In the event of an emergency, you can leave your contacts our telephone number, as well as include it in an away message on your voice mail.
Sesshin Schedule
Typically, the schedule for sesshin follows the format outlined below:
Thursday evening
Arrive before 6:45 p.m.
7:00 p.m. Sozarei (ceremonial tea) and Opening Exhortations
8:00 Kinhin (walking meditation)
8:15 Zazen (formal seated meditation)
8:55 Kaichin (evening closing ceremony)
9:00 Zuiza (optional unstructured sitting)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings
5:00 a.m. Shinrei (wake-up bell)
5:30 Zazen
6:00 Breakfast and meal cleanup
7:00 Nitten Soji (Work period)
7:50 Morning Service or Special Ceremony, Kinhin
9:15 Sutra chanting
10:15 Zazen, Dokusan (private meetings with the teacher), Kinhin
12:00 p.m. Saiza (formal lunch) and meal cleanup
1:00 Nitten Soji
Friday and Saturday afternoons/evenings
2:00 p.m. Sarei (tea in the zendo), Zazen, Kinhin
2:45 Dharma talk or Teisho
4:15 Zazen or Yoga
5:00 Yakuseki (formal supper) and meal cleanup
6:30 Tei Dai Denpo (lineage chanting), Zazen, Dokusan, Kinhin
9:25 Kaichin
9:30 Zuiza
Sunday afternoon
2:00 p.m. Sarei, Zazen, Dokusan, Kinhin
4:45 Sozarei and Sesshin Closing Ceremony
5:00 Sesshin Ends