We held the Ordinary Mind Zen Melbourne 2020 Sesshin, and wanted to share with you some aspects on that experience.
This year, the retreat was entirely “online” due to restrictions in place in Victoria and Australia more broadly. For that purpose, we had designed a specific format and schedule to ensure we were able to experience a fruitful and rewarding meditation retreat at home.
The schedule was composed of online sitting sessions as a group, personal time to practise Zazen and walk in nature, and time as householder practising Zen.
A big thank you to the 16 participants this year, and the wonderful sense of community that everyone contributed to create. Some of the participants have shared thoughts or poem inspired by Sesshin:
Shared by Steve: A great poem by Rumi.
‘Be more silent.’
This silence, this moment, every moment, if it’s genuinely inside you, brings what you need. There’s nothing to believe. Only when I stopped believing in myself did I come into this beauty. Sit quietly, and listen for a voice that will say, ‘Be more silent.’ Rumi
Shared by Jacqui: Experience
My experience here in London of utilising zoom for sesshins and sitting, since our first lockdown in March, has been invaluable. The 4 days with Melbourne Zen Group was such an opportunity and appreciated beyond words. Joy to be practicing with you Melbourne. It has been over 30 years since I was last with you. An extraordinary opportunity!
Thank you for welcoming me, and with love,
Gassho
Shared by Michelle: Ikebana
Hi. I wasn’t able to do the flowers for Vine and Branches, this year, but I did to an ikebana, Sesshin arrangement.
Thank you all.
Gassho