Gather Rohatsu (in person)

Dates: December 1-8, 2024

Led by: Joshin Byrnes

Logistics: This is an in-person retreat. Participants will sleep, eat, meditate, and serve at Gather, our “community living room” in downtown Middlebury. The schedule will begin with sitting at 7 am, and end with an evening dedication of merit at 8:30 pm. There will be periods of meditation, a daily teaching, meal prep and clean up, and a three hours a day of hosting and hospitality practice.

Theme: Being a Monk for the World. For a week we will be monks for the world, living in community and in vow, set apart from the world yet deeply engaged with it. We will be outsiders to society, not because we are disconnected or removed from it, but because we refuse to take sides of us or them. Instead we live lives intended to heal what separates us. Monks serve as living examples of an alternative to the self-absorbed and divided world. They are secret agents of the power of selfless love. We choose, through vow, to rise to selfless love, often imperfect but always sincere. We’ll draw on many Zen teachings, as well as wisdom from other religions and traditions

Options:

• Option 1: Full Eight Days (Dec 1-8)
• Option 2: Four-Day Option (Dec 1-4 )
• Option 3: Four-Day Option (Dec 5-8)

Contribution: Suggested minimum donation of $50/day to cover the cost of food and utilities. However, all are welcome regardless of ability to contribute.

Details: This retreat involves living at Gather 24/7, sleeping on floors, sharing minimal facilities, and engaging with guests. We will eat, practice, and serve as one body and as healing actions.

Register: Please send an email to info@breadloafmountainzen.org and let us know which option you want to attend