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North American Sanbo Zen Sesshin

2026 North American Sanbo Zen Sesshin

Sunday, June 21 – Friday June 26
We offer in person (both onsite and commuting) and online participation.
 Registration will be open to Sanbo Zen Teachers and their students on March 1st. Registration will open for the general public the week of March 15. Reach out to your teacher to learn how to receive priority registration or sign up for registration alerts to be notified when registration opens (week of March 15th).

We are honoured to have our Abbot, Masamichi Yamada (Ryoun Roshi) travel from Japan to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2026 to lead the North American Sanbo Zen (NASZ) sesshin. This sesshin is a collaboration with Sanbo Zen International, and provides and opportunity for North American students committed to the Sanbo Zen path to practice with the Abbot.

Program Cost and Participation Options

Shared Lodging: $1,050 (MCZC Member Discount: $893)

Camp/Bell Tent: $900 (MCZC Member Discount: $765)

Commute: $825 (MCZC Member Discount: $701)

Online: $240 (MCZC Member Discount: $204)

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

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,

For general questions about the retreat contact Xander
The Zendo

Start
June 21
End
June 26
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