In the Camino Medio Soto Zen Community, sesshin is not simply stepping away from daily life; it is a deep immersion in the very essence of practice. Sesshin combines the Japanese characters for "contact" (接) and "mind/heart" (心), often understood as "touching what is essential" or "unifying mind-heart." This practice traces back to early Buddhism in India, through China, and was consolidated in Japan as a central pillar of Zen tradition.

A sesshin is much more than a silent or intensive meditation retreat. It is a space to encounter our true nature, letting go of identity layers and conditioning that sustain suffering. By entering the silence and depth of present experience, the atmosphere of sesshin supports a direct exploration of who we really are.

Unlike urban retreats, sesshin is longer and includes full board, allowing practitioners to devote themselves entirely to practice without logistical concerns. During sesshin, meals are served in oryoki, a Zen ritual that cultivates gratitude and full attention, turning each meal into meditation practice. These conditions create an ideal setting for total immersion in Soto Zen experience.

Structure and practice in sesshin

Each sesshin day is carefully structured to support practice and sustain present-moment attention. From dawn to night, activities include:

  • Oryoki (ritualized meals): Meals in silence and with full attention, following Zen forms that cultivate gratitude and awareness in the act of eating.
  • Zazen (seated meditation): Extended periods of silent meditation, the heart of sesshin.
  • Kinhin (walking meditation): Maintaining awareness while moving.
  • Samu (conscious work): Practical tasks carried out with full attention, reminding us that every action is practice.
  • Teisho (formal teachings): Talks by teachers that guide understanding of practice.
  • Dokusan (private interview with the teacher): Direct guidance to address questions, obstacles, and personal process.

Each activity serves a specific function, allowing practice to extend beyond seated meditation into all aspects of life.

Silence and transformation

Silence in sesshin is not merely absence of noise; it is a field of deep introspection. Without ordinary distractions, practitioners can observe thought patterns, emotions, and reactivity, becoming aware of how they inhabit the world. This enables genuine transformation, softening ego barriers and opening deeper insight into emptiness and interconnection.

The value of dokusan

Dokusan, the personal meeting with the teacher, is a crucial element of sesshin. In these encounters, practitioners receive individualized guidance, clarify doubts, and receive teachings adapted to their experience. This direct exchange strengthens practice and helps overcome obstacles on the path.

The impact of sesshin

Sesshin is an opportunity to move beyond our limitations and explore the depths of mind. Each moment invites us to release grasping and allow clear awareness to emerge. When sesshin ends, we are not the same: we carry a seed of transformation that continues to flower in daily practice.

Joining a CSZCM sesshin

In Camino Medio Soto Zen Community, sesshin offers intensive and transformative practice. If you wish to experience Soto Zen Buddhism in depth, this is a direct place to begin. You can explore true nature, live with greater clarity, and cultivate deeper compassion.

You are invited to join our sesshin and discover the essence of the Zen path. Please note that participation in a previous urban retreat is required. For dates and details, here are upcoming sessions: