Layperson retreat?

[EricR]

Is there a specific retreat appropriate for laypeople that could be adapted for use at home? I have never been to a formal retreat, and I am blessed with a dedicated room for my practice that I could even sleep in. Is it appropriate for a layperson to practice in a "monk's cell" type of way?

Gassho, Eric
SatToday(I can't figure out what LAH means)

[Meian]

Hi Eric,

I'm sure that others here will provide much better info than I can, but here is a little bit to get you started.

Almost forgot: "LAH" means "lent a hand" -- have a look at what this is about: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...Lend-A-Hand%29

First, to answer what I think is your main question: "Is it appropriate for a layperson to practice in a 'monk's cell' type of way?" Absolutely! From the home-landing page, "About Treeleaf":

Treeleaf Zendo is an all-digital practice place for Zen practitioners who cannot easily commute to a Zen Center due to health concerns, living in remote areas, or childcare, work and family needs, and seeks to provide Zazen sittings, retreats, discussion, interaction with a teacher, and all other activities of a Soto Zen Buddhist Sangha.
Available for you any time, all fully online.

Treeleaf is completely an online sangha -- and other than our priests and unsui, we are all laypeople here.

To answer your question about specific retreats -- yes, these happen periodically each year, but the specific one that comes to mind is Rohatsu. Have a look at last year's Rohatsu: 2021 Rohatsu Retreat -- completely online

There are also daily and personal "recommended practices" to consider -- you can customize as needed:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?6020-RECOMMENDED-DAILY-Metta-PRACTICE&highlight=at-home+liturgy

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?8069-RECOMMENDED-At-Home-Liturgy&highlight=at-home+liturgy

And every year we have Ango, Jukai, and Rakusu sewing that happens in the autumn. Have a look:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?18972-ANNOUNCEMENT-Treeleaf-ANGO-%28The-90-Days-of-Dedicated-Practice%29-2021&highlight=at-home+liturgy

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?18973-ANNOUNCEMENT-It-s-JUKAI-TIME-2021%21&highlight=Jukai+2021

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?19032-2021-Rakusu-Sew-a-Long&highlight=Jukai+2021

This beautiful renewal practice occurs monthly on the Full Moon -- can be done live or (as with most of Treeleaf) you can view the recording on YouTube at any time: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...y-14-June-2022

Just for starters -- again, others here can provide you with much better information, I am certain. But these links and suggestions are what many of our members have found helpful over the years. Feel free to use the "Search" box and browse around the forum, including the archives. Treeleaf is like a massive library with many hidden gems. Of course, nothing replaces our core practice of zazen and shikantaza.

Keep asking questions, and keep practicing.

gassho, meian st

[EricR]

Thank you Meian! I'm afraid some of the terminology leaves me befuddled sometimes on what is and isn't appropriate for laypeople and what is reserved for priests and unsui- I don't want to break protocol. I appreciate your clarification!

Gassho, Eric
SatToday

[Bion]

Layperson retreat?

Hi Eric!
Yes, absolutely you can create your own at-home retreat that can include as much zazen, samu (work periods), kinhin and chanting as you wish. I structured one for myself, and actually did a 1 day retreat just this January. You can model it after our rohatsu retreat for example and set up blocks of time and assign activities to them. Maybe 2 or 3 zazen periods at a time, separated by kinhin, then samu periods, some assigned readings or recorded dharma talks in video or podcast format (we have plenty here to choose from), some more zazen, rest periods, chanting etc

It’s a lovely way of intensifying one’s efforts for a day and dedicate oneself to zen practice.

[emoji1374] Sat Today ( sorry for running long)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Koushi]

Hi Eric!

Meian and Bion's responses were wonderful, and I don't have too much to add on that front. However, when you say:

I'm afraid some of the terminology leaves me befuddled sometimes on what is and isn't appropriate for laypeople and what is reserved for priests and unsui- I don't want to break protocol.

Here at Treeleaf, you'll find that we tend to blur the lines between priests/unsui and "layperson." There's very little here that is reserved for priests/unsui outside of a few specific roles and responsibilities—and if you feel like creating/structuring a personal retreat-style space/time at home, go for it!

In fact, many of us, priest/unsui or not, have many instances of taking days/weeks as a personal retreat of sorts. Our main sangha retreat, as Meian pointed out, is Rohatsu, which falls near the end of Ango each year, which everyone is invited to and encouraged to participate if you wish.

Gassho,
Koushi
STLaH

[Jundo]

Thank you to everyone above for such helpful responses to Eric.

Eric, if you email me again at jundotreeleaf[a]treeleaf.org, I can resend our welcome information to you too. It has some other resources listed.

To answer your question about specific retreats -- yes, these happen periodically each year, but the specific one that comes to mind is Rohatsu. Have a look at last year's Rohatsu: https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...hlight=Rohatsu

Truly, this may be sat any time, and again and again, for the time of Buddha's enlightenment ("Rohatsu") is now and now and now ...

If you do so, be sure to review the at home "retreat pointers" in this PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXM...ew?usp=sharing

Or, you can design your own like Bion describes, with a schedule and content inspired by the above. Let us know if we can help support your doing that.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

[EricR]

Thank you to everyone above for such helpful responses to Eric.

Eric, if you email me again at jundotreeleaf[a]treeleaf.org, I can resend our welcome information to you too. It has some other resources listed.



Truly, this may be sat any time, and again and again, for the time of Buddha's enlightenment ("Rohatsu") is now and now and now ...

If you do so, be sure to review the at home "retreat pointers" in this PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXM...ew?usp=sharing

Or, you can design your own like Bion describes, with a schedule and content inspired by the above. Let us know if we can help support your doing that.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

Thank you Jundo, thank you Sangha, I appreciate everyone's help!

Gassho, Eric
SatToday/LAH