PLEASE NOTE — SESSHIN IS NOW FULL.
A traditional four-day Zen Sesshin with Sensei Kynan Sutherland in historic Fryerstown, Victoria
It helps you to cross the stream when the bridge has broken down.
It guides you back to the village on a moonless night. (Wumen)
Over the last few years we’ve been rocked by incredible change. Familiar bridges have broken down and we’ve been tipped into unfamiliar streams of thought and activity. So how might Zen help us to accept and navigate these waters? How might it guide us back to the village on a moonless night?
Sesshin means to "touch, settle and convey the heart-mind”. This four-day sesshin is a powerful opportunity to embrace uncertainty and reconnect with others. At sesshin, everyone plays a role, from chopping vegetables to ringing bells, creating a village of shared practice that illuminates the Way for all.
Sesshin includes zazen (silent meditation), sutra chanting, kinhin (silent walking), oryoki (formal meals), teisho (dharma talks), samu (mindful work) and dokusan (interviews with the teacher). If you’re longing to deepen your practice and immerse yourself in the Zen tradition, this is your chance.
Sensei Kynan Sutherland was authorised to teach by Susan Murphy Roshi in 2019. Since then he has led numerous events with Castlemaine Zen and Zen Open Circle, offering regular talks to the Mountains and Rivers Zen Group in Hobart, The Melbourne Zen Group and The Buddhist Library in Sydney. You can read more about Kynan’s appointment here.
There are two ways to attend this sesshin: non-residential and residential.
Non-residential means you can stay at home and drive in each day. The Non-residential timetable is 2pm-8.30pm (Friday), 9am - 6pm (Saturday and Sunday), 9am-2pm (Monday). Vegetarian lunch and supper provided. You are welcome to stay on for the evening session if you decide to do so.
Residential means camping onsite in one of the many flat campsites with your own tent, sleeping bag and mattress. The Residential timetable is 2pm-8.30pm (Friday), 4.30am-8.30pm (Saturday and Sunday), 4.30am-2pm (Monday). Vegetarian breakfast, lunch and supper provided.
Sesshin Fee
Residential (camping, with extra early morning and evening zazen) — $320 + dana*
Non-Residential (driving from home, daytime 9am-6pm only) — $240 + dana*
Concession rates and scholarships are available by request. If you are facing financial hardship please do not hesitate to contact Carolyn Leach, our sesshin coodinator.
Your place is secured as soon as we receive full payment. Full refunds are available up to one week before sesshin begins.
Places are strictly limited to 20 people, so please get your applications in early.
Note that this will be a Covid conscious event. Please refer to our Covid Guidelines for more details.
*A note about the practice of Dana. The beautiful Buddhist tradition of Dana regards the teaching as a freely offered gift, while relying on the generosity of all who feel its benefit in return . Dana is thus a gift cycle, that affirms life and turns the Dharma wheel. Sensei Kynan Sutherland freely provides the gift of the teaching and your generosity helps make that possible and sustainable. You’ll find a Dana Bowl at the sesshin hall where you can practice offering what you can, in gratitude for the teaching. Contributions are anonymous and recognise the depth of the teacher’s unstinting commitment of time and dedication to our practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend if I’m an absolute beginner?
Yes. However, sesshin is ideally suited to those with some meditation experience. If you are new to Zen we suggest a non-residential sesshin. If you are familiar with other traditions or meditation styles you are also very welcome. The form may be different to what you’re used to, but when embraced wholeheartedly you will find sesshin very rewarding.
What sort of orientation is offered?
There are a number of ways to access orientation for this sesshin. You can request an orientation at one of our regular Sunday sits. You can also visit our Orientation and Ritual and Form pages. Once you have registered you will be sent a copy of our sesshin guidelines. These will also be shared on the first night, with the opportunity to ask questions. Regular check-ins are offered throughout the sesshin, and each participant is invited to meet the teacher in dokusan (dharma interviews) at least once a day.
Are my dietary requirements accommodated?
All meals are vegetarian. We accomodate other dietary requirements by request, including gluten-free and lactose-free. If you have any dietary requirements that are important to observe, please include them in your sesshin registration form. They will be factored into our shopping and meal preparation.
Is this a silent retreat?
Yes. The retreat is silent, but there will be periods of shared chanting, sutra reading, dharma talks and interviews with the teacher.
What do I wear?
Loose, dark (preferably black) clothing is recommended, free from distracting patterns or logos. A wood heater has been installed to keep the dojo warm, but we recommend bringing a number of layers in case the weather gets cold.
What if I can’t make all four days?
Priority will be given to people attending full time. There are two ways to do this: residential and non-residential (see above). However, if you can only attend part time and would like to join our waiting list, please contact us. We will let you know as soon as possible if a seat becomes available at your requested time.
How many people can attend?
We are limited to 20 people at the Fryerstown School, so please register early to secure your place.
What about Covid?
Full refunds are offered up to one week before the event, regardless of your situation. We cannot guarantee a full refund after that time but if covid strikes we will do our very best to support you. Great care is taken to shop and prepare for your particular needs, so we may have spent some of your money already. In that case, we will refund as much as we can.
If you have any further questions, please contact Carolyn Leach, our sesshin coodinator.