North American Sanbo Zen Sesshin

2027 North American Sanbo Zen Sesshin

Sunday, June 13th – Saturday, June 19th, 2027
In-person and online
A collaboration with Sanbo Zen International
Priority registration for this event is given to active students of Sanbo Zen teachers. More registration information coming soon.

We are honored 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 an opportunity for North American students committed to the Sanbo Zen path to practice with the Abbot.

What is it like to practice with Ryoun Roshi?

“Ryoun Roshi is a living legend in the Sanbo Zen tradition. As a schoolboy he began practicing with his father, Yamada Koun Roshi, a practice that took root and has now continued for more than seven decades. To hear Ryoun Roshi or to face him in dokusan is to experience the generosity and clarity of his dharma. What a joy to anticipate his return to Mountain Cloud!” – Associate Sanbo Zen Master and Mountain Cloud’s Guiding Teacher Valerie Forstman

“In one of his writings, Ryoun Roshi said, ‘Zen is not an idea, a philosophy, or a religion in the usual sense of those words. It is simply sitting. That is why it has the power to transcend culture, language, and belief.’And Roshi is a living example of that. I admit, at first, I was quite intimidated to meet him. Not only was he a high powered business executive, he is also my elder — who just celebrated his 86th birthday. His Japanese culture draws stark contrasts to my own, and, as Koun Roshi’s son, he has lived a life so intimately intwined with this wonderful, but sometimes mysterious, world of Zen. But one minute with Ryoun Roshi dissolves these perceived separations away. He is present, filled with joy and earnest care for this shared practice, truly sees us and does not hesitate to encourage us on our path. To do sesshin with him is to truly practice with him, on this shared exploration that transcends culture, language, and belief.” – Sanbo Zen student Sarah Giffin

“If there were just one word to describe what it is like to be guided by Yamada Ryo’un Roshi, it would be compassion. He sees deeply into each and every one in his presence. He wants us, more than anything, to see into the reality of who we really are. To be able to receive his teachings is a precious gift, and one that fills me with immeasurable gratitude.” – Assistant Sanbo Zen Teacher Shana Smith

“Ryo’un Roshi sits like a mountain and speaks like a flowing river. He gives everything he has in his earnest desire that we might awaken to the world he sees so clearly. When he comes into the Zendo and enters into zazen there’s a palpable charge that boosts everyone’s energy and focus. His dokusan can be light or strong, depending on the need or manner of the student, but always comes from a place of deep compassion. Once in dokusan he did not accept my presentation of the koan and said, “Sorry Scott, but this time it is the stick for you.” Somehow this filled me with joy and laughter, and I was energized to see it for myself by the next time we met.” – Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton

“What stands out for me in my years of encountering Yamada Ryo’un Roshi is his sincere dedication to deepening his own practice at the same time that he encourages us to continue to deepen. He walks the walk and shows us what’s possible.” – Sanbo Zen Teacher Carolyn Seburn

Registration Options

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

Onsite Lodging (Cabin, Cottage, Camp): $1,050 (MCZC Member Discount: $893)

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

More registration information coming soon!

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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.

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,

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