Sesshin Guidelines

At sesshin, we separate ourselves from the concerns and preoccupations of our busy everyday lives. In these special training circumstances we are free to devote ourselves entirely to the practice of realising the Buddha Way.

The forms and procedures that follow are designed to establish an optimum setting for true Zen training for everyone attending sesshin. These guidelines provide a structure, which supports each of us in giving full attention to the matter at hand. At the same time, internalising the guidelines, and practicing them mindfully, we establish the sangha, which creates a strong container for genuine transformation.

There is a lot to remember. It is all right to make mistakes. You will find that you will pick it up as sesshin continues. Just practice with sincerity.

The Three Essentials of Sesshin:

            1.         Don’t talk or whisper.
            2.         Don’t seek eye contact with others.
            3.         Don’t greet people or make gestures.

If a practice-related problem arises and it is necessary to speak to someone about it, speak only to the Tanto or one of the leaders, or to the Teacher in dokusan. If a work-related problem arises, speak only to your work leader - the head vegetable chopper, the head server etc., or to the Jisha. Don’t speak or write notes to the cooks or to anyone else. Don’t give advice or seek help from your fellow students. Let the sesshin leaders and the Teacher handle any difficulties.

Your eyes should be kept lowered. Eye contact is very distracting during sesshin. Don’t signal others with gestures. Please don’t greet or acknowledge your friends as you come and go in sesshin. Continue zazen at all times. Keeping your hands in kinhin position whenever possible will help to bring you back to your practice. During work periods, bring all your attention to the task at hand.

Promptness and Attendance

Always be at your place early and do not leave until you have the signal to do so. If you are not at your place, the Jisha will have to go looking for you.

If an emergency arises, speak only to one of the leaders about it (do not leave a note). Do not ask to leave sesshin just because you are upset. Such times can be important for your zazen. Your absence inevitably would disturb the group spirit. Never leave sesshin without speaking first to one of the leaders and to the Teacher.

Entering the Dojo

Step into the dojo.
Bow at the threshold in the direction of the altar. This is your bow to the Buddha. Do this every time you come in, even if it is only to get a zafu.
If you are coming in for zazen, place your hands in kinhin position and walk quietly around the edge of the dojo to your seat. Please do not walk through the centre of the dojo.
Bow towards your seat. This is your bow to the Dharma.
Turning in the direction of the altar, face the room and bow. This is your bow to the Sangha.
Turning in the direction of the altar, take your seat.

Leaving the Dojo

When you leave the dojo, bow to the Buddha. There are three instances when you do not do this:

When you go to dokusan.
When you leave for outside kinhin (we take the dojo with us)
When we leave for informal supper in kinhin order.

In the Dojo

Please walk quietly in the dojo, and keep your hands in kinhin position. The only exception to this is when you return from dokusan: then your hands should be in gassho, and your zafu under your arm.

Sit still during zazen, chanting and other activities in the dojo. If you are in pain, moving makes it worse. There are chairs outside the dojo to use if your knees are sore. If you are using a chair, choose a flexible zabuton ao that you can fold it in half for your feet to rest on. When seated, make sure your spine is upright and not leaning back into the chair.

Kneepads, zafus and sitting benches are stored in in the corner of the dojo.

If you feel a sneeze or a cough coming, do not hesitate to cover your mouth. At such times consideration for others should be your first concern.

From time to time the Jikijitsu will say `please sit facing in’. This will be for the first and final rounds of zazen each day, meals, sutras, readings and teisho. At all other times sit facing out. This includes the middle rows (if applicable).

Kinhin

When you hear the Shijo bell struck twice, it is time for kinhin.

Still sitting on your zafu, bow.
Turn around on your zafu in the direction of the altar.
Stand up and place your hands in kinhin position. If your foot has gone to sleep, be careful when standing. It is all right to stay sitting down until you can safely stand. If you cannot join the kinhin line, wait on your zafu until your place comes back. Then gassho and join the line.
Gassho when you hear the Jikijitsu’s clappers.
Turn to your left and start walking immediately. The Jikijitsu sets the pace. Please maintain the distance between you and the person in front of you.
Keep your head up and your eyes lowered during kinhin.
Continue your zazen practice during kinhin and at all other times.
The Jikijitsu will clap the clappers before you reach your zafu to let you know kinhin is finishing. Stop at your place with your back to your zafu.
Gassho with everybody together. Then turn in the direction of the altar to face your place. Gassho again and take your seat.

If you need to leave the dojo during kinhin to get a drink, go to the toilet, or attend to some sesshin job, you may leave in one of the following ways:

If you need to go to the toilet, it is important to leave immediately after you hear the Shijo bell for kinhin.. This is to ensure you make it back from the composying toilet in time for the next round of zazen. Gassho at the threshold..
If you cannot leave quickly, walk in the kinhin line until you get to the door. Gassho while in the line, but not at the door.
If the person in front of you leaves, maintain the gap.
When you get back to the dojo, wait until your place in the line comes round. Gassho quickly and step in.
If your place has already passed or you are too late, wait, near the threshold until the line has stopped. Gassho with the final bow. Only then return to your place. If you need to get a chair, a kneepad or another zafu, please wait until the final bow of kinhin. The principle is - ‘everyone moves together’.
If you are late for the beginning of zazen, do not enter while the Jiki’s shijo bell is ringing. Wait until it has finished, gassho and move quietly to your place.

Kinhin is not a rest period. Leave the line only to go to the toilet or to get a drink or if you need to attend to some sesshin duty, such as cooking.

Early Morning Procedures

When you hear the Jikijitsu ring the rising bell at 4.30am, get up quickly and go directly to the dojo.

Arrive promptly at 5.00am. Enter the dojo, make your bows, and begin zazen facing in.

There will then be a short exercise period announced by the Jikijitsu, followed by fast kinhin. Please remove your socks for fast kinhin.

This will be followed by tea. The Ino will ring the inkin bell once. Please take out your cup, unwrap it, and set it on the folded napkin. If you are seated next to one of the servers, please take out their cup and prepare it in the same way.The servers will then enter and serve tea. When the sever bows to your group of three, bow with them and offer your cup with one hand. Use the other hand to signal when you have received enough by simply raising it palm up into the air. When everyone in the group of three has been served, bow together. When the entire sangha has been served, the servers will re-enter and take their place, and the Ino will ring the inkin bell. Drink your tea, wrap up your cup and set it in front of you. The Ino will ring the bell one last time, after which you return your wrapped cup to its original position behind your cushion.

The Ino will then recite the verse of the rakusu. Everyone is invited to chant along, regardless of whether you wear the rakusu or not.

Kentan

The first round of zazen in the morning is sat facing in. Towards the end of this round the Teacher will enter the dojo for kentan. The Teacher first bows to the altar and then walks slowly round the dojo. As she approaches your place, raise your hands in gassho, but do not bow. After she has passed, lower your hands to the zazen mudra again. Leaders make a full bow with the teacher.

Acupressure

Acupressure is an effective way to relieve tiredness and tension, especially in the shoulders. Acupressure will be offered in this sesshin, but only at your request.

To request acupressure:

When you hear one of the leaders walking behind you, do a tea ceremony bow with your hands on your thighs with your elbows out.
Do not tense your shoulders. Just continue your practice.
When the leader has finished, raise your hands to gassho and continue zazen.

The leader walking the kyosaku may adjust your posture. If you do not want your posture to be adjusted, please let the leaders know now or in private before sesshin begins.

Sutras

The sutra books are under the mats.
When you use the book, hold it well up with your middle three fingers outside and your thumb and little finger inside.
When you are not using the book, place it on your zabuton. Do NOT place the sutra books on the floor.
Put your hands back to zazen position between chants.
Most of the chants are recited with hands in gassho. For the first day or two watch the leaders.
When you slide the book back under your zabuton, please do so with the spine first. This helps to protect the books.

Teisho

For teisho, the Tanto and Jisha will show you where to move your zabuton.
Sit formally through the sutra and the Teacher’s reading of the case, or until the teacher asks everyone to “please sit comfortably.
During the teisho, sit comfortably within the limit of your zabuton. Do NOT lean against the wall.
During the sutra after teisho, please sit formally.

Dokusan

It is important to meet the Teacher in dokusan. Dokusan is a chance for creativity and mutual deepening. The Teacher’s intention is to guide us towards realisation of our essential nature, not to judge us.

Dokusan is a time to ask questions about our practice. You don’t have to have a reason to go. Say what is in your heart. If you have nothing to say, that’s all right. Tell the Teacher you have nothing to say. This is your presentation.

Dokusan is completely confidential. The Teacher does not discuss it with anyone else, and it is requested that you do the same. The teaching given to you may be inappropriate for someone else.

On the first and last days of sesshin, every one goes to dokusan in turn, tapped by the Jisha to call them. This is called sosan. The Jisha will say ‘sosan - please wait until you are tapped.’ Do not join the line until you are tapped.

When the Teacher has seen everyone, then sosan is finished and dokusan begins. It is good to make regular use of dokusan, but also consider the needs of others. The procesdure for dokusan is as follows:

First the Teacher rings the bell. Then the Jisha does an accelerando on the Kansho bell. The Teacher rings again. Finally you will hear the Jisha ring ‘dong, dong’. These two bells are the signal for dokusan to begin, and you may leave the dojo at this point, but not before.
In the early morning, there will be no bells. The signal to join the dokusan line is the announcement.
Take your zafu under your arm, and with your hands in the gassho position, leave the dojo. No bow is required at the door.
You may join the dokusan line when you hear the Jisha announce it, after the two bells, when kinhin starts, at the end of kinhin or when somebody else returns from dokusan. This helps to keep the coming and going to a minimum.
When it’s your turn, carry your zafu with you and leave it by the dokusan door. Continue your practice. Please refrain from going to the toilet or to get a drink, while you are at the head of the line.
If you are a cook or a leader, and you the nature of your job means you cannot sit in the dokusan line, stand next to the person at the head of the line. If you are at the head of the line, and one of the leaders or a cook stands beside you, let them go in first.
If you have attemoted to join the line but the line is full, you will need to wait until the next opportunity, ie. once the bells have sounded. If you are in the line and the line closes, the Jisha will tap you to rejoin the line once dokusan resumes.

Going to Dokusan

Once you are at the front of the line and hear the Teacher’s bell, gassho, strike the kansho bell twice (the Jisha will strike it only once for sosan) on the rim, get up, walk briskly to the room with your zafu and leave it by the door.
Step into the room. Close the door behind you.
Do a full bow in the direction of the altar (Buddha).
Move to the free zabuton and do a full bow towards the teacher (Dharma).
Sit on the zafu in front of the Teacher, in any formal zazen position.
Give your practice - “I am doing Mu”, “my practice is breath counting” - etc.

Leaving Dokusan

When the Teacher rings the bell, gassho.
Stand up, move to wards the door and do a full bow towards the dojo (Sangha).
Open the door. Close the door behind you.
Collect your zafu and return immediately to the dojo, hands in gassho.
Return to the dojo in the ordinary way.

General Rules for Sesshin

Open and close doors mindfully.
Do not open the windows or adjust the fans or lights. These are the responsibility of the Tanto and the Jisha.
Keep your seat in the dojo tidy. If you have been sleeping in the dojo, please clean everything away before the next period begins.
During sesshin, do not read or take notes unless instructed to do so by the Teacher.
Unless you are a cook or a leader, do not wear a watch in the dojo.
It is important to be aware of personal hygiene during sesshin, as infection can spread very quickly. Please be careful to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food.
Please make sure that all mobile phones are turned off.
No smoking during sesshin.

There is a lot to remember. Most of it is learned and becomes second nature as you do sesshin. Just do your best and feel free to make mistakes. No one is judging you.

These rules and procedures help to establish the form of sesshin, which is here to serve our practice. This is an ancient and time-honoured ritual of deep attention. It frees us from ordinary concerns and social pressures and allows us to sink deeply into our practice. In following the form you look after your own practice and the practice of everyone around you.

Sangha Spirit

Wholeheartedly joining in is the key to a fulfilling sesshin. If you come from another discipline, please put it aside during sesshin, and join in with us. Engage in the timetable of activities, and in your free time have a sleep, go for a walk, etc. Indeed, with this spirit, relaxing or working, everything becomes zazen.

“Sesshin” means, ‘to settle the mind; to touch the mind; to convey the mind.’ Each day provides myriad opportunities to continue this practice. Essentially, each moment contains everything we need. Maintaining the mind of zazen moment by moment opens us up to these possibilities, allowing us to explore the full richness of being right where we are.

(Are there any questions or matters of concern?)

Sesshin has now begun. Have a wonderful sesshin.