Ryumonji offers monthly weekend retreats (sesshin) throughout the year. Winter Ango is January 20-March 19. Summer Ango is June 16-September 17.  Partial participation is acceptable.

Sesshin (literally, “collecting the mind”) is a structured retreat of multiple periods of zazen, formal oryoki meals, work practice, and observation of silence. While sesshin is open to beginners, you may wish to have a little sitting experience before undertaking sesshin.

Ryumonji sesshins begin at 7:30PM on Friday evening with an orientation. An informal dinner is offered at 5:30PM on Friday. You are welcome to come anytime before sesshin begins but are encouraged to arrive by 5:00PM. Sesshin concludes with informal lunch on Sunday.

If you are not familiar with Ryumonji, it is recommended that you plan to arrive during daylight hours. Because of its remote location, Ryumonji may be difficult to find after dark.

Bedding and towels are provided in the Kuin building for sesshin participants. Housing is dormitory style. There are 16 guest beds; overflow participants can be housed on mats in the Buddha Hall.

There is refrigeration space available if you have special dietary or medication items that require refrigeration. Please let Ryumonji know when you register if you have food allergies or medical conditions that require special dietary considerations.

To help mitigate the spread of illness, Ryumonji Zen Monastery Board of Directors requests that visitors with symptoms of illness wear a mask while at Ryumonji. Additional health safety practices are outlined below.

To protect the health of all, including those at highest risk of complications, we request that individuals notify us prior to visiting in-person should special arrangements be needed.

“To avoid all harm, to cultivate good, and to purify the mind. This is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
— The Dhammapada

ANGO (PRACTICE PERIOD)

Ryumonji offers a traditional Winter and Summer Ango. Dates for the ango can be found in the Yearly Schedule.

Ango (practice period) is an opportunity to experience residential monastic life and training. Literally, “Ango” means “Dwelling in One Place in Peace and Harmony.”

Registration for full time or part time participation can be arranged. The requirement for ango participation is previous attendance at a minimum of one weekend sesshin at Ryumonji.

GUIDELINES FOR SESSHIN AND ANGO

Registration
Please register online, call or e-mail Ryumonji to register (also to cancel). We would appreciate knowing your arrival and departure dates and times. Try to attend the entire sesshin or ango if at all possible.

Arrival
Please arrive by 5:00PM Friday. This will give you time to get settled in your room and familiar with the monastery. We will have an informal meal at 5:30PM. Upon your arrival, please read the schedule and assignment sheets in the kuin dining room. Sesshin begins Friday evening at 7:30PM with an orientation.

Attire 
Monks/Priest: full robes for zazen, service and oryoki meals. Lay Ordained: lay sitting robe or clean, modest street clothing and rakusu. Other lay persons: clean, modest street clothing. (shorts, halter tops, sleeveless or see through tops are not appropriate for sesshin.) Please bring outer and indoor footwear (slippers are worn inside). Please wear indoor footwear in kuin, including kitchen. No footwear or socks are worn in the Buddha Hall.

Health & Emergencies
Please be aware that the nearest medical facility is at least 30 minutes away and that medical emergencies are handled by calling 911. Those attending events at Ryumonji are responsible for taking care of their own health. If you have health concerns please review the schedule carefully and consult with your health care provider before  attending.

Our goal is to minimize the risk of contracting illnesses by Sesshin and Ango participants while at the monastery. With that in mind, we have put together safety practices and suggestions for the peace of mind of all participants. Do not hesitate to reach out if you would like clarification on anything outlined below, or have a question or concern not addressed here.

• Infection control guidelines for Sesshin and Ango may be slightly more strict than current CDC guidelines due to the congregate setting.

• If you have symptoms of infectious illness, please do not come to Ryumonji until you have been symptom- and fever-free for 24 hours.

• We prefer but don’t require that Sesshin and Ango participants be up to date with their vaccines. If you are not at all vaccinated, however, please let us know so others can decide their level of comfort in participating.

• Please wear a mask while you have symptoms of illness (i.e. sneezing, coughing) until your symptoms resolve.

• The monastery is well ventilated, and it is equipped to allow adequate exchange of air in the buildings.

• Please bring your preferred allergy and cold medications and/or other interventions to control symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.

• Please bring your vaccination and health insurance cards, if you have them, to facilitate obtaining appropriate medical care should you need it.

• Please know that Ryumonji is not responsible for medical expenses of Sesshin or Ango participants.

• Please provide Ryumonji with more than one Emergency Contact as a precaution against unavailability of your main contact.

• Please bring masks for yourselves in case you contract an illness.

• Participants will please observe all safety measures as requested by Ryumonji during Sesshin and Ango.

• People from the public will attend regularly scheduled public sittings, provide volunteer work, have tours, etc. We will have guidelines for them to protect the health of those participating in Sesshin and Ango.

Please note that safety measures are subject to change in accordance with latest National and State guidelines.

Meals
Please notify the Tenzo (head of kitchen) if you have food allergies or medical/dietary needs (such as diabetes) that require special diet. Meals are taken with community and we eat what is offered at assigned meal times and tea. Nothing is made available after the evening meal. No food or beverages in the Buddha Hall.

Wake Up
The community gets up at the same time when the wake up bell is rung. No need to set your alarm clock. Please stay in bed until you hear the bell as to not disturb others who are sleeping.

Zazen
You will hear 3 hits on the Han five minutes before start of zazen . Please be on time. You should be settled in your seat when the Doshi enters. If you need to exempt yourself from part of the schedule or leave sesshin early, please let the Ino know. A bench or chair may be used during zazen.

Silence
Silence should be held throughout sesshin as much as possible. During work periods & kitchen duty please speak quietly. This silence also includes opening /closing doors, handling utensils etc. The Great Silence begins after evening zazen until morning service. Please observe this silence for the benefit of the entire community.

Computers/Cell Phones
Please leave computers and cell phones turned off during sesshin. The office director (kanin) will let anyone know of emergency calls.

Departure
On the day of your departure please strip your sheets/pillow case from your bed. Gather your towels you have used and put them in the laundry room. Also remove oryoki linens from your bowls at the end of the last oryoki meal.

There are no fees for sesshin or ango participation. Free-will dana offerings are customarily offered.

Please refer to the Yearly Schedule for dates of sesshins and angos and Sesshin Schedule and Ango Schedule for daily schedules of sesshins and angos.

If you have questions please contact Ryumonji office by phone at (563) 546-1309 or e-mail at office@ryumonji.org.