Hi all, my apologies if I posted this in the wrong section of the forum. So this Friday 05/16 I will be in the hospital for my first procedure of DBS (DBS is for Parkinson's), Second procedure is 05/23 and the unit gets turned on 05/30. I'm thinking I will have 3-4 weeks of recovery from the surgeries, so there will be some down time. With this, I was considering doing a low key Self Sesshin during the 30 or so days. Does anyone have any experiences, suggestions, etc for a schedule, routine, etc for a Self Sesshin? Thanks in advance PTB
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Hi there, friend. First of all, I wish you an easy time throughout this procedure and recovery.
As for the solitary retreat... It sounds great to me. I do one every year on Nehan. You can either make a schedule for yourself, for example morning sitting, breakfast time, some study time, noon sitting, lunch, study time, afternoon sitting, and then evening sitting. You could also check our Practice Calendar HERE and hop in throughout the day to sit with the sangha. That's always a lovely experience. You can add special practices like keeping silence, maybe include some chanting, metta practice, find something to give up during this period ... focus on a particular thing that you want to improve, correct or eliminate in yourself etc... There are many great ways to engage with solitary practice.
Hope this helps a bit!
Gassho
sat lah"A person should train right here & now.
Whatever you know as discordant in the world,
don't, for its sake, act discordantly,
for that life, the enlightened say, is short." - The Buddha -
Hi PTB,
First, an excellent spirit for this time is having great acceptance and equanimity about your illness and the procedure during this period. That itself is a powerful Zen Retreat, to be done in the hospital and outside.
Second, know that each moment of the procedure and recovery is its own sacred ritual. Shaving the head for surgery, shaving the head as a Buddhist ... all the same. Like that.
Third, anything you wish to add ... sitting times (which can be reclining in hospital bed times too), chanting or reading, walking Kinhin, small work practice ... all excellent. Take what resonates with you, fits your health and abilities, and make your own retreat. Walk in rehab, walking Zazen ... same walking. Like that.
Read or listen to some Zen books during this period too. They can be the teaching lectures of the retreat. We have a good list, choose what seems right ...
Let us know anything more that we can do to help.
Of course, our Treeleaf Sangha travels with you wherever you are through this time.
I will be sitting today for your fast recovery. I know a little about this DBS procedure, and it is truly amazing. It helps two other friends with Parkinson's.
Gassho, Jundo
stlahALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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Bion - Thanks for the tips. I"ll probably do 6 hours of sitting, walking, etc meditation in the morning. I start running out of gas late afternoon. Then see how I can practice for 30 days. Thanks again PeterComment
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Jundo - thanks for your reply and your encouragement. May we all find our true zendo within this moment. - PeterComment
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