Three Robes Retreat
8500 NE Siskiyou St
Portland, OR 97220
USA
The Three Robes Sesshin focuses on right effort in practice. Right effort is different for each of us. The Buddha said that members of the original sangha could wear one, two, or three robes, as they needed. He came to realize that we need both challenge and a degree of physical comfort to move forward in our practice. This insight is the foundation of our retreat.
At the Three Robes Sesshin, the schedule is simple, with fewer bells, allowing for long blocks of unbroken zazen. During those periods, you can sit, stand, walk, or lie down, either in the zendo or outside. Two meals each day will be served oryoki style. Dinner will be informal silent buffet.
This flexibility is part of the challenge of this sesshin. How do we extend ourselves in a way we can sustain? How do we meet our aspiration from within? How do we hold the mind of retreat when the edge of the container is up to us? Together and alone, we will explore the meaning of right effort.
This retreat will focus on some passages from Cultivating the Empty Field. Providing encouragement and sanzen for this retreat are Mark Sosetsu Stauffer, and Todd Tsuho Sattersten. If you have questions, contact the shuso, (shuso at dharma-rain.org)
Registration Guidelines
Participants may join this retreat for full days or partial days. Partial-day participants may enter at the beginning of any sitting block and are asked to attend the entire block. Please coordinate with the Shuso if you will not be attending full days.
Drop-ins are welcome for:
- Morning zazen and service: 5:30–7:20am
- Evening program: 7:00–9:10pm
If attending the evening program, please stay through Vespers. No registration is required for the morning or evening drop-in periods.
Zoom Link for early morning program (5:30am-7:20am)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86703463201?pwd=BRKBGX0suyzUCS13l9lmFZMmLP6TXJ.1
Meeting ID 867 0346 3201
Passcode 539131
Registration closes Thursday, June 18.