Weekend silent retreat (sesshin)
Our twice-annual Weekend Silent Retreat at the Mariandale Retreat Center in the Hudson Valley of New York is open to all Zen practitioners, those currently engaged in Zen practice and those who would like to renew their Zen commitment. Please note that no Introduction to Zen component is offered. The schedule is listed below. Advanced registration required.
The weekend, which begins on Friday evening with dinner at 6 pm and ends after lunch on Sunday, consists primarily of zazen (sitting meditation) and kin-hin (walking meditation) along with a dharma talk, a chanting service, meals, and rest periods. Daisan, an optional private meeting with one of our teachers, is available for all those who attend the retreat.
General Information
Next dates:
Friday, November 8- Sunday, November 10, 2024
Friday, February 7–Sunday, February 9, 2025
Strict registration deadline: Two weeks before; we regret there can be no reimbursement of fee after these dates
Cost: (payable with registration)
$300 for members of SMZ
$375 for non-members of SMZ
Payment can be made through PayPal. Financial assistance is available to SMZ members; please email for details.
Arrival time: Friday anytime after 3 pm; dinner is at 6 pm. Newcomers to our zendo are asked to arrive by 5pm for a brief overview of our meditation forms.
Departure time: Sunday between 12 and 1 pm
To register: Please click here for the registration form
Registration deadlines: October 25 and January 24; we regret there can be no reimbursement of fees after these dates
If you wish to add a donation to help cover costs incurred by SMZ, or donate to our financial assistance fund for those who need it, we would be most grateful.
The Mariandale Retreat Center is located on the banks of the Hudson River in Ossining, NY, and is about 1 hour north of the George Washington Bridge. Metro-North trains from Grand Central Station (GCS) in NYC afford public transport, with a 5-minute taxi ride to the Center.
All rooms are singles with their own sink; bathroom facilities are shared and the Center has an elevator. The welcoming atmosphere and lovely grounds, along with 6 excellent meals (with a vegetarian option) make Mariandale an ideal location for this weekend retreat of concentrated practice.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Or call us at 212-414-3128.
Retreat schedule:
A sitting period consists of three 25-minute blocks of sitting meditation (zazen) with walking meditation (kin-hin) in between.
Friday
6 pm: Group dinner
7 pm: Welcome, followed by a sitting period
9 pm: Retire
Saturday
6 am: Sitting period, followed by breakfast and a morning break
10 am: Dharma talk, then a sitting period, chanting service, lunch, rest
2 pm: Three sitting periods, afternoon break, rest periods, dinner
7 pm: Sitting period
9 pm: Retire
Sunday
6 am: Sitting period, followed by breakfast and a morning break
9 am: Sitting period
11 am - 1 pm: Close of retreat, lunch, depart