The word "sesshin" means to embrace and sustain, to care for, to concentrate attention,and to gather together, the heart and mind. "Rohatsu" means December 8th, bodhi day, or the time of awakening. This is a traditional time that acknowledges and participates in the awakening of the Buddha. It is said that after the Buddha's enlightenment, he spent seven days sitting, enjoying and consolidating his experience. Thoughout the world, at this time, many, many Buddhists sit down together, gathering heart and mind, being "bodhi."

In this rohatsu sesshin we will learn and practice the simple and elegant Zen forms. For those new to these ways, complete guidance will be provided. We will have a traditional but flexible practice schedule of sitting and walking meditation. It will include informal practice discussions, individual meetings with the teacher, and in the evenings we will study together Dogen Zenji's well known "Genjo Koan." The Genjo Koan says: "To learn the Buddha Way to learn 'self,' to learn the self is to forget 'self,' and to forget self is to be confirmed by all existence..."

Shoho Michael Newhall began practicing and studying with Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi in the early seventies. He was ordained in the mid-eighties by Chino Roshi and also in Japan by his brother Kiebun Otogawa Roshi, with whom he did ceremony and temple training. He also practiced with Dainin Katagiri Roshi and Tozen Akiyama Roshi. Monastery training was with Tenshin Reb Anderson at Tassajara, and also under Kobun Chino Roshi as shuso of angos at both Hokoji and Jikoji temples. In the early nineties he was director at Jikoji. Throughout this time he taught visual arts at various schools and universities, including Naropa University, where he also taught meditation and Buddhism. He received Dharma Transmission in 2004. Since that time Shoho Michael Newhall has been the resident teacher and chief priest at Jikoji Zen Center.

Jikoji is a Soto Zen temple and retreat center located approximately one hour south of San Francisco, California, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Visit the Jikoji website

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