UPCOMING

2023-04-07

April sesshin

Applications are open for this 7-day sesshin, which starts on Good Friday. It will be led by Kanja Roshi. Please apply by the closing date of 24 March.

2023-05-06

May sesshin

Members are welcome to apply for this 7-day sesshin, which starts on 6 May and will be led by Dharman Sensei. Please apply by the closing date of 22 April.

2023-05-27

Vesak

Members and their families are warmly invited to register for the Vesak celebration on Saturday 27 May. You can come for just the day, or stay till breakfast on Sunday. On Saturday morning you can either arrive by car, or we can pick you up from the train in Arboga. Please register by 20 May.

2023-06-10

June sesshin

Members are welcome to apply for this 7-day sesshin, which starts on 10 June and will be led by Kanja Roshi. Please apply by the closing date of 27 May.

2023-07-06

Beginners' retreat (English)

Every year, we offer two live-in retreats suited to complete beginners, one in English and one in Swedish. Participants will learn everything they need to know to get started with their Zen practice. The English retreat will run from 6 to 9 July and be led by Kanja Roshi this year. Members can apply online. Non-members please email for details.

2023-07-14

Nybörjarretreat (svenska)

Varje år har vi två retreater som passar nybörjare, även de utan någon som helst tidigare erfarenhet. Vi har en retreat på svenska och en på engelska. Deltagarna får lära sig allt man behöver för att komma igång med sin zenpraktik. Den svenska retreaten kommer vara 14-17 juli och leds av Sante-roshi i år. Du som är medlem kan ansöka på hemsidan. Alla andra får maila Zengården för ytterligare information.

Zen practice

Intensive Retreats - sesshin

A traditional Japanese Zen retreat, or sesshin, is a period when all non-essential work is put aside and participants engage in 9 or more hours of formal zazen each day. The silent zazen is complemented by a daily lecture (teisho) and 2 or 3 private meetings each day with the teacher (dokusan). The intensive nature of sesshin allows one to put aside all workday concerns and focus strongly on unifying the mind, with the aim of seeing into one’s true nature. Sesshin practice is for more experienced practitioners and we ask that you speak to one of the teachers if you are planning to apply.

Residential Zen training

Intensive Zen retreat, or sesshin, is one form of Zen practice. Between sesshins, another form of practice is offered to members: Zen training. Instead of focussing so strongly on formal zazen, we move from the base of our daily meditation practice into staying aware and present during all activities, whether working, socialising, eating or playing.

The training schedule typically includes five hours of formal sitting each day, four hours of work and several hours of unstructured time. Dokusan (a private meeting with the teacher) is offered regularly to enable students to receive individual guidance on their practice. One day a week has no formal schedule.

Beginners' Retreats

People usually come to Zengården once they have established a Zen practice through one of our city centers. We recognise that it can be difficult to take part in a retreat for the first time. An extended introduction, including explanations to the different parts of the full day schedule, is useful to many members who want to take part in the events at Zengården. For this reason, in the summer each year, we offer a small number of people who are genuinely interested in finding out whether this practice is for them the chance to participate in a 4-day retreat. During the retreat, participants learn everything they need to know to get started in Zen and about the practice at Zengården. If you would like more information about this, please contact us.

Zengården   |   e-mail: enquiries@zentraining.org   |   phone: +46 (0) 76 1495374, +46 (0) 72 2257631   |   Plusgiro: 45 97 38-1