2022 August Retreat and Jukai Ceremony
Rocky Mountain Zen will hold a 3-Day Sesshin (Retreat) August 26-August 28, 2022, in Lethbridge, Alberta. The retreat will be held at Martha Retreat Centre (1130 Scenic Dr S, Lethbridge, AB). Registration for in-person attendance is now closed for this year. However, we are still open to having participants attend online. The cost will be $100(CDN). Please email if interested. Additional information about the retreat, including scheduling, will be forthcoming. At the August retreat, Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama will officiate at Rocky Mountain Zen's first Jukai ceremony. The Practice and Liturgy Committee of Rocky Mountain Zen passed a policy related to the conduct of Rocky Mountain Zen's Jukai ceremony, who is eligible to participate in the ceremony, and what the requirements are for those wishing to receive the 16 Bodhisattva precepts during the retreat. Who is eligible to participate? The Practice and Liturgy Committee, with the consent of the Guiding Teacher, agreed that this ceremony would be "open", meaning, anyone who wishes to participate, and who prepares appropriately, is eligible to receive the precepts. To that end, it was agreed that those in attendance in-person at the retreat may participate. The retreat and ceremony is also open to online participation (more information will follow on this process). Individuals wishing to receive the precepts in the Jukai ceremony are asked to prepare for the ceremony and get to know the Rocky Mountain Zen community. This preparation includes: attending and participating in at least two - 1/2 day zazen-kai with Rocky Mountain Zen (held the last Sunday of each month starting April 2022), participate in study of and reflection on Shushogi (The Meaning of Practice of Verification), participate in other study sessions as required by the Guiding Teacher, discuss with Rev. Yokoyama the individual's intentions for receiving the precepts, and prepare or obtain a Soto Zen style rakusu that is DARK BLUE in colour (black rakusus are not appropriate). Instructions for sewing a rakusu can be found HERE, or you can order a rakusu kit on this WEBSITE. If you have any questions or wish to participate in the retreat and Jukai ceremony, please contact us. |
Retreat Schedule
Friday, August 26, 2022 7:00 p.m. Opening Orientation 7:30 p.m. Short Workshop on Ceremonies (Preparation for morning service) 8:15 p.m. Zazen and Four Bodhisattva Vows 8:45 p.m. Personal time 10:00 p.m. Noble Silence Begins Saturday, August 27, 2022 6:30 a.m. Morning Wake-Up Bell 7:00 a.m. Zazen 7:40 a.m. Morning Chanting Service 8:00 a.m. Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Dokusan (Private practice interviews with teacher) / Optional Zazen / Optional Walking Period 10:00 a.m. Zazen and Kinhin 11:00 a.m. Dharma Talk / Study Period 12:00 p.m. Lunch 1:00 p.m. Ceremony Workshop / Rehearsal for Jukai 2:00 p.m. Personal Time 3:00 p.m. Zazen and Kinhin 4:00 p.m. Precepts Discussion 5:00 p.m. Supper 6:00 p.m. Zazen and Kinhin 7:00 p.m. Atonement Ceremony for Jukai and Zazen 8:00 p.m. Personal Time 9:00 p.m. Noble Silence Begins Sunday, August 28, 2022 6:30 a.m. Morning Wake-Up Bell 7:00 a.m. Zazen 7:30 a.m. Breakfast and Personal Time 8:30 a.m. Travel to Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden 9:00 a.m. Zazen and Kinhin at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden 10:00 a.m. Jukai Ceremony 11:30 a.m. Return to Martha Retreat Centre to pack-up 12:00 p.m. Lunch and Departure |