The Tulsa Zen Sangha welcomes you to join them for a simple day of silence consisting of seated meditation, walking meditation, breaks, chanting, and sharing a wonderful meal provided by the Forest.
Please make the $30 payment online when you register.
Call Paula Day at (918) 798-1297 with any questions.
Please arrive by 8:30 am to sign in. Lunch is included.
Overnight guests
If you're staying overnight at the Forest on a personal overnight retreat, you may attend the Day of Zen free of charge.
Day of Zen schedule
8:30 - 9:00 Registration
9:00 - 10:30 Introductions, Chanting, Zen Practice Talk (if we have a speaker), Meditation
10:30 - 11:30 Zen Chores and 30 minute Break
11:30 - 12:30 Meditation
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 Meditation and Closing
Beginners are welcome and requested to come 30 minutes early.
Schedule
Meditation.
Hiking.
Nature.
Labyrinth.
Zen Garden.
FROM TULSA:
Take Hwy 64 West past the town of Sand Springs; exit at 177 West Avenue.
Turn RIGHT on 177 West Avenue and drive about 1 mile to Anderson Road.
Turn LEFT on Anderson Road.
Continue about ½ mile to the entrance to the Shell Creek West housing division.
Turn RIGHT into Shell Creek West housing division.
Turn RIGHT at Lakeview Drive.
Continue until you see Monastery Road.
Turn RIGHT onto Monastery Road until you come to the parking lot for Osage.
Accommodation
Our guest cabins provide a cozy and simple spot in the Forest to focus on what truly matters during your retreat. Many guests comment that they experience deep peace upon arriving at the Forest. Staying in a guest cabin allows you to experience the serene rest that comes with sleeping in the woods.
STANDARD CABINS
Our standard cabins feature a full bathroom, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi access. They include:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
GUEST HERMITAGE
Our guest hermitage cabin is located in a private spot with big picture windows for looking out at the forest. This cabin features two rooms and a larger bathroom. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, plates, mugs, and eating utensils. A private deck is perfect for experiencing the wonder of the forest in solitude.
This cabin includes:
Twin beds
Bathroom with shower
Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels
Hair dryer
Desk
Dresser
Comfortable chair
Alarm clock
Hand soap
Makeup remover wipes
Tissues
Insect repellent
Umbrella
Flashlights
Day of Zen with Tulsa Zen Sangha
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Entering the Forest is a peaceful experience and you'll have the opportunity to meditate in a beautiful Meditation Chapel with large windows looking out into the woods. Other meditation areas include a traditional Zen Garden, a woodland labyrinth for walking meditation, and an underground meditation chamber (the Cave of the Mothers) with wonderful acoustics for chanting.
Our retreat center also has a trail system along wooded bluffs with views of Shell Lake and downtown Tulsa. You can rent a cabin to experience the peaceful setting overnight for your own personal retreat. Our rental rates include three meals a day in our dining room, where you'll eat alongside other guests and residents of our community. The Forest also offers a full range of programs and retreats on meditation and spiritual topics.
You have a range of options to experience meditation in a way that suits you. You might choose to join our resident community for meditation held Tuesday through Saturday at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, or 4:45 p.m., and on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in our Meditation Chapel. Here you'll experience a meditation of 25 to 45 minutes with others who can help guide you.
Or, you may wish to simply rake the Zen Garden as you contemplate the prayer flags in the trees overhead. If you prefer to move while meditating, walking the labyrinth or hiking the trails will give you a chance to reconnect with nature. The Cave of the Mothers provides you with a dark, quiet place where you will be amazed by the sound of your chanting reverberating all around you.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Breakfasts are a self-serve buffet style with cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, toppings such as nuts and raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and a variety of milks from dairy to dairy free. On weekends, we additionally offer a variety of breads and toppings for toast.
Lunch is our main meal of the day and is eaten together in community. Before the meal, we all circle around the table for a blessing and to introduce ourselves. Food options typically include a meat, a variety of vegetables, tofu or other protein for vegetarians, salad bar, and a healthy dessert.
Supper is a light meal and is eaten together in community. Food options typically include a hearty soup, a meat, a variety of vegetables, crackers, salad bar, and a healthy dessert.
What's Included
Meals.
Meditation.
What's Not Included
Airfare.
Customer Reviews
4.92 out of 5.0 average rating
5.0
Verified
Love the Day of Zen 🧘🏼♂️
I have been coming to the FOP every third Saturday of each month, for almost a year now, to join in the Day of Zen. This is my favorite getaway and I look forward to meditation and healing. The energy here is special and the people are graciously accepting. Stay and eat lunch and you will make new friends immediately. It’s only a 20 minute drive from Tulsa. If you want to promote wellness, check out the FOP. ✌🏼
5.0
Verified
A wonderful place to fill your cup!
There are home cooked made from scratch meals, three optional meditations a day, a labyrinth for walking meditations, about three miles of hiking trails, and your own private cabin with full bathroom. You can have your retreat in silence or not. You can eat meals with everyone or not. There is an expansive library with books about many different religions. There are statues and figurines of both western and eastern religious figures throughout the grounds, although no particular religion is preached. It’s very open to anyone from any faith background or those with no faith at all. The people were very welcoming and the land was very beautiful.
5.0
Verified
A beautiful, essential place
I spent the weekend of September 20th at the Forest of Peace for some quiet time where I could recharge and restore my balance. It was my first visit, and it was exactly what I needed. On a physical level, the cabins are simple and sparse but clean and utterly sufficient for any necessity. The main house is cozy and comfortable, with more books than you can count lining the bookcases, spaces for conversation, and the coolest meditation room imaginable. Lawrence was our chef, and wow, can the man cook! Everything was delicious, far better than I had expected.
On a more spiritual level, let me just say the the Forest of Peace could not be more aptly named. Peace emanates from every corner, and from the directors and helpers that populate the place. If you need silence, they will respect that. If you need conversation, there's always someone there to listen. If you need guidance, that is also available. Whether you're walking in the woods, getting to know another visitor, or tracing your way through the meditative labyrinth, you're reminded again and again that life need not be chaotic and wearying. Peace is available. You just have to know where to find it: inside.
5.0
Verified
Unexpected gifts
When looking for a place to rest overnight while on a long car trip, we just wanted an alternative to a hotel. Forest of Peace sounded nice, but what we discovered was way more than "nice". We were blessed with a warm reception, opportunities to meditate, simple delicious food, trails to hike, a library to relish, and an interreligious atmosphere that was a gift to us (my husband and I are both serious about our faith but our religions are different). Our only regret is that we could not stay longer. To say it exceeded our expectations is an understatement!
5.0
Verified
Connection
The variety of activities during the recent retreat were wonderful! We experienced the sacred process of collecting gifts of love offered at the Forest over the past years and honoring them together. We cooked, ate, participated in a tea ceremony and had meditations daily. All the activities were optional, but too good to miss any of them. A joyous time full of rest and community at its finest.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
If the reservation is canceled more than 72 hours before the scheduled arrival date and time, a full refund is provided. Refunds will be made to the original credit card on file or by check within two weeks of the notice of cancelation.
If the reservation is canceled fewer than 72 hours before the