5.0
Verified
City Refuge Retreat
3 days of stillness in the city. Great food and companions.
Summer Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat
Top Rated
Summer Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat
4.92104 reviews
6401 NE 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97211, USA
Up to 22 in group
August 15, 2026
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Darah Shonin Ashton has practiced with the Zen Community of Oregon since 2009 and was made a Dharma holder in 2019. She currently co-leads Thursday evening meditation at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple. Since 2019 she has served as treasurer for ZCO. Shonin recently retired from a 30 year chiropractic career and enjoys spending more time with family and friends. A sewing hobbyist, she happily tutors zen students through the construction of wagessas and rakusus.
Details of this retreat
Experience deeper practice within a container of noble silence. Longer zazen hours and the support of community help reveal to ourselves what we’re capable of and reopen the window of possibility. Make Zazenkai a part of your seasonal practice and join us in keeping the wheel of Dharma turning.
Prerequisite: If you do not have previous retreat experience, please attend an Investigating Zen Practice workshop or one of our regular sitting programs to receive face-to-face Zen meditation instruction before signing up for this retreat. Reach out to how@zendust.org if you have any questions.
Suggested donation includes a vegetarian/vegan lunch. No one turned away for lack of funds. Also, these retreats fill with waitlists. if you cancel your registration, please let us know ASAP so we can give your spot to someone else.
This retreat is held in silence.
7:30 a.m. Zazen
9:00 a.m. Full Chanting Service
9:30 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Work Circle (work practice includes cleaning, cooking, or gardening.
11:00 a.m. Zazen
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Zazen
2:00 p.m. Dharma Talk
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Zazen
5:00 p.m. Closing Circle and Temple Cleaning
Please note: This is an approximation; Zazenkai schedules may vary.
This event is in-person only.
Prerequisite: If you do not have previous retreat experience, please attend an Investigating Zen Practice workshop or one of our regular sitting programs to receive face-to-face Zen meditation instruction before signing up for this retreat. Reach out to how@zendust.org if you have any questions.
Suggested donation includes a vegetarian/vegan lunch. No one turned away for lack of funds. Also, these retreats fill with waitlists. if you cancel your registration, please let us know ASAP so we can give your spot to someone else.
This retreat is held in silence.
7:30 a.m. Zazen
9:00 a.m. Full Chanting Service
9:30 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Work Circle (work practice includes cleaning, cooking, or gardening.
11:00 a.m. Zazen
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Zazen
2:00 p.m. Dharma Talk
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Zazen
5:00 p.m. Closing Circle and Temple Cleaning
Please note: This is an approximation; Zazenkai schedules may vary.
This event is in-person only.
Schedule
This retreat is held in silence.
7:30 a.m. Zazen
9:00 a.m. Service
9:30 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Work Circle (work practice includes cleaning, cooking, or gardening.
11:00 a.m. Zazen
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Zazen
2:00 p.m. Dharma Talk / Interviews
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Zazen
5:00 p.m. Closing Circle
5:30 p.m. Temple Cleaning
Please note: This is an approximation; Zazenkai schedules may vary.
7:30 a.m. Zazen
9:00 a.m. Service
9:30 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Work Circle (work practice includes cleaning, cooking, or gardening.
11:00 a.m. Zazen
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Zazen
2:00 p.m. Dharma Talk / Interviews
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Zazen
5:00 p.m. Closing Circle
5:30 p.m. Temple Cleaning
Please note: This is an approximation; Zazenkai schedules may vary.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Zen Community of Oregon, 6401 NE 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97211, USA
Accommodation
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
What's Included
- Vegetarian/vegan meal and snacks provided. Please indicate food allergies upon registration.
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Turning the Mirror Inward
Participating in inner criticism is like turning yourself around in front of a mirror—up, down, left, right, front, and back—so that you can truly see yourself clearly. You must be brave and honest enough to face your true self—the depths of your own heart. Inside, there is good and evil, light and darkness, and a tangled mix of disguise and authenticity intertwined with your external relationships.
It takes courage to see and honesty to confront this stubborn “self” and the attachment to “ego.” From my own learning experience, this is only the first step in self-cleansing. It may take years of self-acceptance (often a painful process) and the wisdom to protect that inner self. Only by taking this first step can one truly begin the practice of cultivating the mind and nurturing goodness.
I am deeply grateful to Teacher Jogen for his guidance to beginners in meditation. His approach is both kind and down-to-earth, and he highlighted the importance of turning our awareness inward. I am also thankful for all his teachings and final reminders. Through persistent daily meditation and prayer (self-reflection), we can cultivate the mind and nurture goodness.
It takes courage to see and honesty to confront this stubborn “self” and the attachment to “ego.” From my own learning experience, this is only the first step in self-cleansing. It may take years of self-acceptance (often a painful process) and the wisdom to protect that inner self. Only by taking this first step can one truly begin the practice of cultivating the mind and nurturing goodness.
I am deeply grateful to Teacher Jogen for his guidance to beginners in meditation. His approach is both kind and down-to-earth, and he highlighted the importance of turning our awareness inward. I am also thankful for all his teachings and final reminders. Through persistent daily meditation and prayer (self-reflection), we can cultivate the mind and nurture goodness.
4.0
Verified
New Member Tea
Glad I attended as it gave me more insight into why sangha matters. I had felt seperate from others, I think because my 'usual' way of relating, mostly through conversation, simply had not had nor made many opportunities as I sat at home on zoom, or even as I attended zazenkais over the last many couple of years.
I appreciate the opportunity to share and to ask questions of interest to me.
Thank you.
I appreciate the opportunity to share and to ask questions of interest to me.
Thank you.
5.0
Verified
Well worth the time
I was reluctant to sign up for a full day Basic Zen Buddhism offering but the experience was well worth the time. Teachers were excellent and covered all of the basics that aren’t covered anywhere else. It’s like learning a new culture!
I loved the environment and atmosphere and all of the people attending were so pleasant. Beautiful way to spend the day.
I loved the environment and atmosphere and all of the people attending were so pleasant. Beautiful way to spend the day.
5.0
Verified
Heart of Wisdom Zazenkai: Sept. 20, 2025
This one-day retreat was my first with the Zen Community of Oregon (ZCO) at the Heart of Wisdom temple. I found the treat so peaceful, so calming, in such a beautiful and comfortable space. The retreat was intimate, but not too small---about 25 attendees. I found this to be perfect. I found the dharma talk to be uplifting and personally impactful. I'm looking forward to the next opportunity for extended time with the ZCO!
Chad O.
Chad O.
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