The Purpose of Sesshin

            A Zen retreat is called sesshin, which means “unifying the mind.”  And that’s one of the primary reasons for attending this type of retreat.  Free of distractions, I can sit on the cushion and simply be present.  When I am doing work practice (which can range from cleaning toilets to raking leaves), I can again bring my attention to whatever I am doing.  In my everyday life, I might spend most of my waking hours thinking about what I’ve already done, or what plans I need to make for the future.  When I am at sesshin, I am training myself to let go of past and future, and simply be present to whatever arises.  When my thoughts begin to bounce around, the training I receive on the cushion allows me to work with my thoughts, emotions and body sensations; instead of running away from them, I begin to simply be with them, opening to the way they show up, change and eventually vanish, until the next distraction appears.  As my mind quiets down after the first few days of sesshin, I become increasingly aware that thoughts frequently arise or physical discomfort emerges, yet I am able to be with them, or watch them continually change, without pushing them away or holding onto them.  This intensive training supports, and is supported by, my regular daily practice, as I meditate to learn how to be thankful for my life.

The Container

            Whether I am doing a formal sesshin (with ritual and traditional practices) or a bare bones retreat, I have the opportunity to take advantage of this “container” that has been designed precisely for the practice of unifying the mind.  The structure of sesshin provides a schedule, with bells and routines that keep the time for me; I don’t even need a watch.  I only need to show up—mentally, physically and emotionally.  Everyone is asked to maintain the schedule, since it is tempting, particularly for beginners, to rebel against the framework.  We are asked to maintain silence to avoid distractions and idle conversation, which are typically ways that we escape from the reality of “what is.”  At different times we may wrestle with our demons that have been suppressed for a long time and that find a way into our consciousness in the stillness of retreat; a teacher is available during designated times to help us sort out our struggles.

Why Do It?

            In Zen, rather than only learning to quiet the mind “on the cushion,” I am actually learning in my daily life how to understand the nature of thought, and how I can best work with it so that I am caught up less frequently in negative, destructive thinking.  And when I am tangled in sadness or frustration, I am learning how to work with this kind of thinking, how it is constantly changing, and how it is an ongoing process, but not who I am.  Rather than making thinking “bad,” I’ve grown to appreciate and enjoy and even laugh at the nature of my own mind, and it has made my life richer and sweeter.  Having a daily meditation practice has greatly helped me move in the direction of ongoing gratitude for my life; sesshin, however, has helped me undo some of my most knotted places, particularly with the help of my teacher.  Although I fly 3,000 miles, I am blessed to join with like-minded people and a great teacher who all help me liberate myself from my stuck places and encourage me to continue growing and learning about this wonderful gift called life.