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2024 North American Sanbo Zen Sesshin (hybrid)

2024 North American Sanbo Zen Sesshin
Monday, June 17 – Saturday 22
This is offered in-person (sold-out) & virtually
Register for virtual attendance
We are honoured to have our Abbot, Masamichi Yamada (Ryoun Roshi) travel from Japan to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2024 to lead the NASZ sesshin. This sesshin is a collaboration with Sanbo Zen International, and provides and opportunity for North American students committed to the Sanbo path to practice with the Abbot.
If you’d like be part of our online experience reserve your spot by completing this form. And here’s something special: our Roshi has graciously offered to provide dokusan for online participants, pending numbers. We’re optimistic about making this happen!
Program Cost – In US Dollars
- On-site, shared lodging: $650 (sold out)
- On-site, camping: $550 (sold out)
- Commuting: $500 (sold out)
- Online (includes dokusan): $345
- Online (part-time or talks only): $115
+ Dana for the Roshi
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About Zen Master Masamichi Yamada
Zen Master Masamichi Yamada, also known as Ryoun Yamada Roshi, the head Abbot of Sanbo Zen. Yamada Ryoun Roshi is the current, and fourth, abbot of Sanbo-Zen. Yamada Ryôun Roshi was born in 1940 in Manchuria, and became Yasutani Roshi’s disciple when he was 16 years old. In 1978 he finished his formal Zen training under Yamada Kôun Roshi, and in 1985 he
succeeded to the Dharma of Kôun Roshi. As a Zen Master (shôshike) of the Sanbô-Zen he took over the office of the Abbot of the Sanbô-Zen in October 2004.” ~ excerpt from Sanbo Zen official website
Ryoun Yamada, aka Yamada Ryoun or Yamada Masamichi, the son of the late Yamada Koun, is the current Zen master of San’un Zendo in Kamakura, Japan and the Abbot of the Sanbo Zen school of Zen Buddhism. Sanbo Zen is a lay organization of Zen, so Yamada also worked at Mitsubishi Bank and Mitsubishi Securities. Currently he heads the Itoki Corporation. …” ~ from the Wikipedia page on Ryoun Yamada
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About the Event Hosts
Mountain Cloud Zen Center will be organizing and hosting this retreat. For those who do not know, Mountain Cloud has been in service to practitioners from the Sanbozen lineage since Mountain Cloud’s very conception. We are the “home center” for Associate Master Valerie Forstman and Assistant Teacher Scott Thornton, and we are honored to open the doors of this Zendo to all of you, on our campus for the very first time.
- Mountain Cloud is positioned in the high desert of Santa Fe, on 20 acres of beautiful mountain foothills overlooking the valley.
- Lodging consists of shared dorms in our cottage and cabins — rustic and simple. Additionally, we offer camping on-site and will help provide recommendations and support for those who wish to lodge off-campus.
- Participants are also welcome to extend their stay at Mountain Cloud before and/or after the retreat for an additional fee.
- All participants (on-campus or off) will receive 3 meals a day on campus prepared by an experienced sesshin cook/practitioner, cooking on-site
Some unique aspects of retreat at Mountain Cloud include:
- Online participation — including streaming from the zendo throughout the entire sesshin schedule
- Zen-style zendo,
- (optional) guided movement in the schedule,
- (optional) Samu work practice,
- online accessibility for those who are not able to join in person,
- hiking trails throughout our 20 acres with stunning views,
Next Steps for You!
We are now accepting registrations for online attendance only. Register here.
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NASZ Schedule (Subject to change)
Monday, June 17
8:00 – 10:30 a.m. Arrival & registration of all onsite participants
10:30 –11:00 Welcome remarks, Sesshin Directives & Orientation to Mountain Cloud
11:00- 12:30 Zazen
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 Rest period
2:30 – 4:00 Zazen with Dokusan
4:00 – 4:30 Tea break
4:30 – 5:15 Zazen
5:15 – 5:30 Chanting
5:30 – 7:00 Dinner
7:00 – 8:30 Zazen with Dokusan
8:30 – 8:45 Evening Chant
Tuesday – Thursday
6:00 a.m. Rise
6:30 – 7:30 Zazen
7:30 – 8:15 Zazen with Dokusan
8:15 – 8:30 Chant before Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 Breakfast & Samu/work practice
10:00- 10:15 Chant before Teisho
10:15 – 11:00 Teisho
11:00 –11:30 Zazen
11:30 – 12:30 Zazen with Dokusan
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 Rest
2:30 – 3:30 Zazen
3:30 – 4:00 Tea break
4:00 – 5:15 Zazen with Dokusan
5:15- 5:30 Chant before Dinner
5:30 – 7:00 Dinner
7:00 – 8:15 Zazen with Dokusan
8:15 – 8:30 Evening Chant, Close of day
Friday
6:00 Rise
6:30 – 8:15 Zazen with Dokusan
8:15 – 8:30 Chant before breakfast
8:30- 10:00 Breakfast, packing & vacating rooms
10:00 – 11:30 Zazen with Dokusan
11:30 – 12:30 End of Sesshin Ceremony, Closing Remarks, Group Photo
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch. Sesshin finishes.
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Saturday, June 22nd – Mountain Cloud Benefit & Fundraising Gala
All in-person retreatants lodge for free Friday & Saturday nights to attend this special event!
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- Start
- June 17, 2024
- End
- June 22, 2024
- Event Categories
- Retreats, Sanbo Zen, Special Events



