A sesshin (接心, or also 摂心/攝心 literally "touching the heart-mind") [1] [2] is a period of intensive meditation retreat in a Japanese Zen monastery, or in a Zen monastery or Zen center that belongs to one of the Japanese Zen traditions outside of Japan.

Sesshin is a period of time, usually ranging from 2 - 7 days, in which silence is maintained and the focus is on zazen. Sesshin is a cornerstone of Zen practice for which there is no substitute—it is essential for any practitioner who hopes to gain insight into their true nature.

A sesshin (攝心) is a period of intensive meditation in a Zen monastery. While the daily routine in the monastery requires the monks to meditate several hours a day, during a sesshin they devote themselves almost exclusively to zazen practice.

Zazen, the zen form of sitting, is the primary practice of sesshin, taking up 8-10 hours of the daily schedule. It is what allows the mind to quiet, the body to still and one’s innate wisdom and compassion to emerge.

Sesshin is the Heart of Zen. Sesshins offer an environment for deep inner work, silence and community support for your practice and well-being, Zazen, rest periods, quiet meadow and ponds, outdoor kinhin, silent meals.

While we recognize that unpredictable things happen during sesshin, heading off crises and early departures makes the sesshin go more smoothly for everyone. Registration information is listed at the bottom of this page, along with a schedule of upcoming sesshin.

Sesshins (Zen meditation retreats held in silence and seclusion) are offered about once a month at the Rochester Zen Center. They vary in length from two to seven days. Sesshins are rigorous, demanding a great deal of the sitter. About ten hours of formal zazen are scheduled each day, and more hours of informal zazen are encouraged.

Sesshin is a powerful tool for spiritual transformation. A little like a meditation marathon, sesshin requires enormous endurance.

Sesshin means to collect the heart/mind. Participants spend 3, 5, or 7 days meditating, eating, and working in silence, devoting every aspect of the day to the realization of the Buddha Way. Sesshins begin with an orientation the evening before at 7:30 pm in the Buddha Hall.

Tahoma Zen Monastery holds sesshin throughout the year. Shodo Harada Roshi leads sesshin in February, May, and September. Daichi Zenni leads sesshin in May and September.