Home alone 'retreat'.

[Yun Hai]

Hi, everyone! As I'm living on my own, and I don't have access to a nearby Sangha, I'm thinking of doing one/two day retreat at home. Has anyone done it? If so, tips are welcome. 合掌。

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[Kokuu]

Hi Yun Hai

I have done 2, 5 and 7 day home alone retreats. My advice is to set your boundaries and stick to them regarding all modes of communication. I allow a brief check of email first thing in the morning in case of anything really important and otherwise shut off the computer. I find that doing that is better for me than wondering if I have missed something urgent.

Set your schedule out beforehand as to when you will sit, eat, rest, do domestic work and (if you incorporate it as part of the retreat) listen to a dharma talk. For me, retreats work best when you don't have to think about these things once it is going and you know exactly what you should be doing at every moment.

The two day Rohatsu retreat (hopefully someone can find the link) is a great schedule to follow for two days as the timetable is already set for you and you also get to sit with everyone who sat it and engage in the oryoki practice too with the You Tube videos.

Good luck!
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[MyoHo]

Hi Yun Hai,

Good idea but very difficult to do. In my experiance because one or two days of retreat like that tends to become all about form and phisical achievements. " If bodhisatvas develop attachments to forms as they are described and act on them in practice, practicing in this way is acting on the notion of the existance of a real body and also acting on craving for existance." ( Scripture on Perfect insight Awakening to Essence).

Since the whole world is our temple and life is our practice, maybe the best tip I can give you is to sit a bit more often and select some household chores you really dislike ( we all have those " myabe tomorrow" chores) and do them carefully , mindfully and deliberately with full attention. Do the work for the sake of the chore and nothing more. Every thing you do is a sacred ritual, a celebration a miracle. Even brushing your teeth or folding clothes.

Maybe its just me, but I dont think we need to do extra superdooper stuff. Its not what you do but how you do it and that is hard enough practice if you ask me? Enjoy the peace and tranquility, sit and listen to the world and most of all have a laugh or two. Thats what comes to mind as my 2 cent contribution.

Gassho

Myoho

sattooday

[Yun Hai]

Thank you very much, guys. Your comments have really helped a lot. I have kinda worked on the schedule to follow (Zazen, Samu, and so on...). Comunication wise is not that hard to cut off, as I don't get many visits, or at all. My computer broke down, and mobile calls, WhatsApp, etc., can be silenced. Thanks again. 合掌。

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[Kokuu]

Here's the link to the Rohatsu retreat. Is a great self-contained two day retreat!

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14953-TREELEAF-SANGHA-online-2-DAY-ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU-RETREAT-2016-%28MAIN-PAGE%29

[Kyonin]

Hi Yun Hai,

I often do home retreats, although since I consider them nothing special, I usually don't say anything.

What I do is I follow the Rohatsu retreat structure. I have done from 2 to 5 days. It's a wonderful experience.

Just be sure to mix in some physical activities for samu and maybe some outside walks. Oh and let someone know outside your home you are doing the retreat. Just in case.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Mp]

Hi Yun Hai,

I often do home retreats, although since I consider them nothing special, I usually don't say anything.

What I do is I follow the Rohatsu retreat structure. I have done from 2 to 5 days. It's a wonderful experience.

Just be sure to mix in some physical activities for samu and maybe some outside walks. Oh and let someone know outside your home you are doing the retreat. Just in case.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

Agreed! ... I too have done these over weekends (Sat & Sun) before. Just a time to be silent and just practice, a wonderful way to recharge for the coming week. =)

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

[Yun Hai]

Thanks a lot. It helps a lot. 合掌。

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[Yun Hai]

Well, due to my job, I can only do Saturday and Sunday. Thank you, guys, a lot. As for physical activities, I know some Taiji, and my living room is quite spacious to do that and even for some Kinhin. 合掌。

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[Jakuden]

I second (third?) the Treeleaf Rohatsu retreat! Even just looking through the retreat schedule, chants and "retreat pointers" link on the page Kokuu posted above will give you ideas for a home retreat. Somewhere in there, there are instructions for how to make yourself an Oryoki kit from things you have at home, or you can search and look at videos from Shugen's oryoki series. Have fun :-)

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jundo]

I second (third?) the Treeleaf Rohatsu retreat! Even just looking through the retreat schedule, chants and "retreat pointers" link on the page Kokuu posted above will give you ideas for a home retreat. Somewhere in there, there are instructions for how to make yourself an Oryoki kit from things you have at home, or you can search and look at videos from Shugen's oryoki series. Have fun :-)

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

Or someone might design their own Retreat, without the Oryoki and with additional periods of sitting for example. That is fine. There are also preparatory talks. Those were at a different link.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?14952-ATTENTION%21-Our-AT-HOME-2-DAY-ROHATSU-RETREAT-This-Weekend%21-BE-READY%21

Be sure to read the preparatory materials PDF (LINK), and most especially, heed the health cautions especially for something on your own. Incidents are not common, but some folks are more sensitive to the solitary "stir crazy" aspects.

OF COURSE, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION ... if the sitting ever feels too much, be sure to walk lots and lots of Kinhin (even if during a sitting period). And if the whole retreat becomes too much, or you feel ill, you may slow down ... , spread things out, shorten the sittings ... or STOP! Be sure that you have someone close by whom you can call, or who can check on you from time to time. If there is any question about health, do not take any chances!

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Yun Hai]

🙏

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