2026 Rohatsu Sesshin with Valerie & Henry
2026 Rohatsu Sesshin
Co-led by Valerie Forstman and Henry Shukman
Monday, December 7 – Sunday, December 13
Online and in-person (onsite or commuter)
Join us for this intensive Zen experience. With 8 hours of silent meditation each day, 1-1 meetings with Valerie Forstman, a daily talk and a daily Q&A, this is a unique opportunity to dive deeply into the heart of traditional practice. (Learn more about this sesshin format and schedule here.)
Valerie and Henry will be co-leading the retreat from Mountain Cloud’s zendo and the event will be hybrid, with both part-time and full-time attendance options.
Sesshin – finding the heart – is the practice that opened up Shakymuni Buddha to his true nature, and it’s the well-tested practice that can open up the boundlessness at the core of each of our lives. We gather in stillness to let ourselves relax, rest, and release into the true source of all experience – the wisdom and compassion that is our true home.
What is Rohatsu?
“Rohatsu” literally means the 8th day of the 12th month, known elsewhere as “Bodhi Day,” the day Siddhartha Gautama is said to have looked up at the morning star and attained enlightenment. During this retreat we celebrate his experience and take it into our practice as a teaching for our own path.
This retreat occurs as days are getting shorter and we approach the darkest time of year. We gather ourselves together in the warmth of one another’s presence, bolstered by the silence of the coming winter to deepen our practice-realization through zazen.
Experience the unique opportunity of extended practice with support from:
- The resounding silence and stillness of the age-old sesshin format
- The deep container supported by Sanbo Zen Associate Master Valerie Forstman and Sanbo Zen Master Henry Shukman
- Dokusan (one-to-one interviews) conducted in person by Valerie and online by Sanbo Zen Teacher Carolyn Seburn
- Optional hybrid breakout discussions with Sanbo Zen Teachers Scott Thornton and Carolyn Seburn
- Live Q&A with Henry
- Guided movement with Mountain Cloud members
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Sesshin is a term used in Zen to refer to an intensive period of meditation practice, typically lasting several days to a week or more. During sesshin, practitioners engage in extended periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), chanting, and other forms of Zen practice under the guidance of a teacher. Sesshin is often held in a retreat setting, with participants observing noble silence and following a strict schedule of meditation sessions interspersed with short breaks for rest and meals. The purpose of sesshin is to deepen one’s meditation practice, cultivate mindfulness, and gain insight into the nature of reality.
Visit this page to view a sample sesshin schedule.
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Program Costs*
Online
Full-Time: $240
Just the Talks: $75
In-Person
Shared Lodging: $1,050
Camp/Bell Tent: $900
Commute: $825
25% scholarships available. Please see registration page for details.
Members receive 15% off. See the registration page for details. If you’re not a member, learn more about membership here.
*Pricing has changed for 2026. Please click here to learn more about these changes.
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Engaging Online Experience
We are thrilled to offer a comprehensive online experience that can offer profound connection and depth. Online participation includes:
- Orientation & Welcome Session: First evening of sesshin. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your fellow online retreatants, set the tone, and establish intentions for the week ahead.
- Closing Session & Integration Session: We offer a closing circle at the end of the retreat, and an “integration” session in the week after the retreat. These provide extra context, opportunity for Q&A, and the chance to connect with fellow participants.
- Daily Recordings: Receive recordings of Talks and Q&A sessions each day, allowing you to revisit and deepen your understanding of the teachings at your own pace.
- Optional Break-Out Group Support Sessions: Days 1-3 we will offer sessions with Zen teachers for personalized support and guidance as you settle into your practice, make adjustments, or navigate challenges.
- Optional 1-1 Practice Guidance: Full-time participants will have the opportunity to meet 1-1 with Sanbo Zen teacher Carolyn Seburn, providing extra support to dive even deeper during the retreat.
Explore our Online Retreat Handbook to delve deeper into the practices and principles of our Zen retreats. Learn how to create an optimal environment for deep practice from the comfort of your home. Click here to access the handbook.
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Immersive Onsite Experience
Onsite attendance offers a profound opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the practice and the sesshin schedule. Whether you choose to stay on-site or commute from your own lodging, being on campus allows you to deeply engage with your community of fellow practitioners and experience the interconnectedness of our practice community. Our lodging options include rustic cabins, a cottage, camping (in your own tent or one of our three bell tents), or bringing your own camper/van. While we cannot guarantee lodging preferences, we will be in touch upon the acceptance of your application to discuss available options.
In-person retreatants are accepted based on an application process designed to ensure that this intensive sitting experience is a good match for you.
