Zazenkai (Daylong Retreat)
Our Zen Ancestors: Keeping Company with Women Who Light the Way
Saturday, July 11th, 2026
In-person and online
In this six-part Zazenkai/Daylong Retreat series throughout 2026, Associate Zen Master Valerie Forstman invites all of us, regardless of gender identity, into the lives and teachings of modern women ancestors who have contributed deeply to the shape of our modern Zen practice and lineage. After exploring women ancestors of the distant past in 2025, Valerie now turns to contemporary teachers such as Blanche Hartman, Katherine Thanas, Silvia Ostertag, Joan Rieck, and Elaine McInnes— whose lives and teachings illuminate new pathways into practice.
In her talk for our July 2026 Zazenkai or Day of Zen, Valerie will turn to the life and teaching of Sanbo Zen Master Elaine MacInnes Roshi (1924-2022). An accomplished musician who joined a Catholic order at age 30, Sr. Elaine traveled to Japan to teach and there discovered Zen. She was a student of Yamada Koun Roshi and in 1980 became his dharma heir. Her ministry took her to the Philippines, the UK, and Canada, where in each place she planted a sangha and spread the dharma – including establishing the Phoenix Prison Trust as a vehicle for introducing silent sitting to inmates and practicing alongside them.
Valerie brings a rare combination of authentic dharma experience and scholarly depth, helping us encounter these ancestors not only as historical figures but as living presences whose clarity, courage, and compassion continue to shape our own gateless world.
Each Zazenkai offers a full day of practice, including:
- Silent sitting and walking meditation
- Breakfast, coffee, and tea (in-person)
- One or two guided movement sessions
- A Dharma talk from Valerie
- Afternoon Q&A
Whether you are new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, this is a rich opportunity to experience extended practice while meeting the lineage of women who light our way.
This Zazenkai will be available both online and on-site. If you plan to attend in person, please bring your own lunch; tea and coffee will be provided.
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Zazenkai is a term used in Zen Buddhism to refer to a day of intensive meditation practice. The word “Zazenkai” is of Japanese origin, where “za” means sitting, and “zenkai” means gathering. During a Zazenkai, participants engage in periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), and may also include chanting, dharma talks, and other activities related to Zen practice. Zazenkais provide an opportunity for practitioners to deepen their meditation experience and strengthen their commitment to the path of Zen Buddhism. These events can vary in length, with some lasting a full day.
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Schedule (Mountain Time)
6:30-8:00am: Sitting
8:45: Movement
9:00am-12:00pm: Sitting and a Dharma talk
12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch
1:00-3:30pm: Sitting and Q&A
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Participation Fee
Online: $30
In-Person: $60
Join us onsite – and stay the night!
Immerse yourself — stay onsite for a Zazenkai:
Personal retreats are one of the ways you can stay onsite at Mountain Cloud for a Zazenkai. During their stay, personal retreatants can freely enjoy the Zendo and land, 1-1 guidance with Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton, and the supportive embrace of daily community activity of residents. Choose from a range of lodging options from our dormitory style cottage, private cabins, and even camping. Members receive 50% discount for personal retreat stays.
Residency is another way you can stay with us. Residents stay for 1-3 months, in an intimate cohort setting designed for lay practitioners seeking refuge in a moment of transition, depth for their practice, or community support. The residency fee includes any retreats or Zazenkai happening that month and training with Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton.
Zazenkai/Daylong dates in 2026
- January 17
- February 21
- April 18
- May 16*
- July 11
- August 8
- October 17
*Ecodharma-themed; not included as part of the 2026 Zazenkai series with Valerie
