Spring Sesshin 2026

THE ZEN GARLAND ORDER Spring 5-DAY SESSHIN (RETREAT)
May 36-30, 2026
Whitewater State Park, Altura, Minnesota
Sponsored by Dharma River
Open to experienced and beginning practitioners

Join the Zen Garland Order Community for a 5-day Zen retreat immersed in the peaceful, natural beauty of Whitewater State Park.

Guiding teachers at the retreat include: Roshi Paul Kisho Stern, Sensei Trish Baishin Johnson, Roshi Paul Genki Kahn, Roshi Monika Genmitsu Kahn

This retreat will allow you to settle in with a safe, supportive structure and under the guidance of a wonderful team of highly experienced teachers, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Zen practice. The daily schedule for this retreat includes several periods of zazen/kinhin, private dialogue and interviews (dokusan) with teachers, Dharma talks, yoga and qi gong, engagement with the natural world, liturgy, work practice, Zen Focusing and contemplative, creative work. The design of this retreat is to support serious practitioners in deepening their practice across our ZGO Core Practices.

General Retreat Details:

• Each day will be designed to provide an intensive environment for practice that begins at 5:30 am each day and end at 8:00 pm each evening.
  There will be periods of extended silence as part of our practice.
• Fees cover Zen teachings, practice environments, healthy vegetarian meals and simple lodging. Please contact us with any special dietary needs - kishoroshi@zengarland.org
• Previous meditation experience and the openness for personal developmental work required. Extended retreats can be challenging, while they also provide the opportunity for growth and development.
• Upon registration, you will receive a follow-up document to complete in preparation for the Sesshin.

The Zen Garland Order Teachers look forward to embracing our time together, to deepen and diversify our intimacy with Zen practice.