Rochester Zen Sesshin at Chapin Mill: What Zen Would Be Like if Zen Was Established in the West

Last updated on: July 22, 2012 at 9:17 am by Dosho Port

Rochester Zen Sesshin at Chapin Mill: What Zen Would Be Like if Zen Was Established in the West 2012-07-22T09:17:05-06:00 Dosho Port

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Just back from sesshin with Bodhin Kjolhede and crew at the Rochester Zen Center’s beautiful Chapin Mill site. So this here’s part of my ongoing travelogue of sesshin on planet Earth.

Two words: Wonderful! Wonderful!

And for now just a couple quick observations, a complaint, and an exhortation.

First, the Chapin Mill facility is the finest for sesshin that I’ve seen, including in Japan. It was designed with this specific function in mind and it just flows. Even though there were ~65 people, for example, I didn’t ever have to wait to pee – not to be underestimated in profound significance when practicing the Way.

Second, I was surprised and impressed with how intelligently Roshi Kapleau adapted Soto Zen form. Attention to detail and spirit were strikingly available throughout the sesshin day. And night.

All the basic principles were there in how we moved together but simplified and focused. The liturgy, for example, is based on the three services all done within the traditional Soto morning service but tweaked in length (shortened), spread through two services instead of one, and with some substitutions (e.g., instead of the “Universal Gateway,” “Affirming Faith in Mind”).

Bodhin’s talks seemed to flow from and heartfully express his long intimacy with this style of practice and were steady, smart, on-point and with occasional flashes of summer lightning.

Now the complaint – no coffee. At least you could warn a brother! Maybe I missed that one in the rules. After the headache wound down, though, I enjoyed being decaffeinated. Really. And then asked the person giving me a ride to the airport to detour to the nearest coffee shop so that I could reboot the manic neural network.

And as for the exhortation, well, here’s another fine practice center, a mature practice community (with a good group of youngsters too – a few who not only run to dokusan but also run back to the zendo afterwards), and an excellent teacher. If you’re still thinking that you might want to get serious about your practice, enough already. Stop thinking about it and do it. Click here.

Uncategorized

Chapin Mill

sesshin

Previous Post

July 12, 2012

Koan Confessions 5-8: A Half-Baked Potato

Next Post

July 29, 2012 Soto Zen is Really Small but Love Isn't

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 December 2016 October 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul say godliness with what is great gain?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faith Love Prayer Contentment