One Day Retreats with Mondo

A Zen retreat can be a life-changing experience. At a retreat we pay mindful attention throughout the day to our meditation, our breath, chanting, silent work, and a silent meal. We slow down, but in the midst of discipline, our minds and bodies have a chance to catch up with each other.

Participation

Full-time participation is strongly encouraged, but feel free to join us for any part of the schedule in the Dirt or Cloud Zendo. On the registration form you can describe your intentions for participation.

Mondo Practice

Mondo is a formal question-and-answer ceremony and takes place at the end of the One-Day retreat. People take turns presenting short verses from a shared study text, and responding to questions from those present. The presenter aims to remain centered in their own truth without getting drawn into intellectualizing or self-doubt, and the questioners aim to more fully understand the truth being presented. Ideally the exchanges are spontaneous, brief, and to-the-point. Mondo practice can help us get to know one another better, and can help the presenter clarify the strengths as well as the edges of their own understanding.

Note: If you want participate in/witness Mondo Practice, please try to attend the entire day, but at least the afternoon chanting/zazen sessions starting at 2:15pm Pacific Time. If you want to present a verse from the shared text, you need to attend the whole retreat and let Domyo know of your interest (email info[at]brightwayzen.org and the message will be forwarded to her).

If you are going to attend Mondo Practice, please click here to learn about the ceremony.

Click link for the text we will be studying and doing mondo on for the March 2025 retreat:

Dogen’s Fukanzazengi (Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen)

Retreat Schedule – Click Here for a Printable Copy

Full time attendance is a valuable practice, but you are welcome to arrive and leave at any point in the schedule.

CLOUD & DIRT ZENDO TOGETHER:
7:30am …….Zazen (seated meditation)
7:55 …………Posture Adjustment
7:20 …………Kinhin (slow walking meditation) – walk slowly, one half-footstep per breath, back and forth between two points.
8:30am …….Zazen
8:55 …………Posture Adjustment
9:20 …………Chanting Service (In the Cloud Zendo, chant along but keep yourself muted; it doesn’t work to chant together on Zoom – Click here for a copy of the chanting service.)

CLOUD & DIRT ZENDO SEPARATELY:
9:50 ……….Break – maintain silence and mindfulness
10:15 ……..Silent Work – Click here for a copy of the work chant, which we recite together at the beginning of the work period

In the Dirt Zendo: Please accept a work assignment, and work silently and mindfully. Work until the bell rings to end the work period.
At home: Choose something simple, physical, and restorative to do, like cleaning, sewing, gardening. Also take this time to prepare your lunch. Set a timer for yourself so you can work without looking at the clock. When the timer goes off, immediately stop your work and clean up.

11:15 ……….End Work/Break – give yourself time to wrap up/clean up your work and prepare yourself mentally and physically for zazen

CLOUD & DIRT ZENDO TOGETHER:
11:30 ……….Zazen
11:55 ……….Kinhin
12:05pm…….Zazen
12:30 ……….End Zazen/Meal Prep – go get your lunch, come back and sit down, wait in silence for meal chant to begin.
12:35 ……….Formal Lunch – Click here for a copy of our meal chant.

ALL PARTICIPANTS INDEPENDENTLY:
1:00 …………Rest period – spend this time doing something very quiet and relaxing – take a nap or a leisurely walk, read some Dharma material, or just sit in the sun (or listen to the rain).

CLOUD & DIRT ZENDO TOGETHER:
2:15 …………Afternoon Recitation (Mondo Text)  – see link above for mondo text
2:30 …………Zazen
2:55 …………Kinhin
3:05 …………Zazen
3:30 …………Mondo Practice
4:30 …………Retreat Ends