Announcing the
Greater Boston Zen Center Sesshin
September 19-22, 2024 
Northwestern Massachusetts 

Dear Sangha Friends, 

We are pleased to announce that we will hold a residential retreat from September 19-22 in the scenic Berkshires town of Monroe, Massachusetts. The three-day sesshin will begin with dinner at 5:30pm Thursday evening, September 19 and end at noon on Sunday, September 22. Because space is limited to ten people and we know you want to be able to make plans, we are starting registration now. 

Our sesshin days will begin early in the morning and conclude by 9pm each evening. Our schedule will include periods of sitting (zazen) and walking (kinhin) meditation, chanting, work practice (samu), formal meal practice (oryoki) and discussions led by volunteer attendees. For those who want them, private meetings (dokusan) will be offered by qualified senior practitioners. We will be staying in a well-furnished home and preparing our own simple, vegetarian meals.

The total fee for the retreat is $210 for members and $240 for non-members. Single rooms may be available for an additional fee. Scholarships are available for those who can’t afford the full fee. Donations to the scholarship fund from those who can afford it are very welcome!

Registrations will be accepted through September 12 – but with limited space early registration is strongly encouraged! The first ten registrants will receive immediate confirmation of registration and be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit of $20.  The balance of fees will be due no later than August 22. Those on the waitlist will be notified of space as it becomes available. 

Carpools will be arranged, where possible. 

To register, please fill out this form. It asks for your contact information, retreat background, your preferences regarding rooms and roommates (if any), and your needs for special accommodations, financial aid, or transportation. You will (by email) then receive more details about fees/scholarships if you are among the first ten registrants, or be told you are on the waitlist if not. Those attending the sesshin will receive more information about retreat observances, the schedule, carpools, and what to bring as the sesshin approaches. 

If you have questions – about registration, fees, schedules, or on-site arrangements – please contact me.

We hope to see you there! 

Julie Nelson (Sesshin Registrar)

and the GBZC Retreat Working Group
[email protected].