Exploring Wisdom and Compassion: Further Steps Along the Path of Zen

This three-day retreat takes the classical Zen pairing of wisdom and compassion as its frame—not as abstract ideals but as qualities that mature through sustained practice. The schedule balances zazen (sitting meditation) with teaching and group discussion, creating space both for deepening concentration and for examining how that clarity translates off the cushion.

The "further steps" framing suggests this isn't an introduction to sitting or basic technique, but an intermediate exploration—for people who've already sat a sesshin or done regular practice and are ready to work with subtler aspects of mind and heart. The focus on "both on and off the meditation cushion" indicates the retreat looks beyond formal periods into how mindfulness shapes moment-to-moment living.

A three-day format is long enough for the mind to settle but short enough to fit into most schedules. Expect a traditional sesshin rhythm: early wake, multiple sitting periods separated by kinhin (walking meditation) and breaks, formal meals, and time for dokusan (private meetings with a teacher) if offered. Bring comfortable sitting clothes, a journal if you journal, and expect to maintain noble silence except during scheduled discussions.