Fill out the Application Form
Watch 2019 retreat video
Watch 2018 retreat video
If you have any questions about Zen Retreat 2021, please contact us at friend@nonezencenter.org.
Zen Retreat Kit (2021)
A Zen retreat is an intense training event to help practitioners advance their Zen practice, break through the loop of duality, and uncover the nature of self within a set period. We will be practicing the Zen method of doubting meditation (ch: huatou, jp: wato, kr: gwanhwa), a time-tested and widely-applied skill which has been proven to lead people to enlightenment, to uncover their self-nature.
This is a rare opportunity to learn and practice the traditional Zen method of doubting meditation, through self-inquiring to self-realization. You will be introduced to the history and the skill of doubting meditation, learn the fundamental Zen concepts through Zen stories from the discourses of ancient Zen masters and their disciples, practice doubting meditation, and share your Zen meditation experience with your fellow practitioners.
You will also take the Zen Tour training to explore the local culture (and FOOD!) , conduct outdoor sitting meditation, and above all, practice doubting meditation while enjoying the Zen tour to learn how to meditate in your daily life!
Preparing for the Intense Zen Training
You may want to prepare yourself for the intense Zen training. We suggest you practice sitting meditation consistently, at least once a week, and train yourself to sit for at least 30 minutes a session before attending the retreat.
If you are not familiar with the skill doubting meditation or huatou, you may enroll in our Online Zen School to take “Beginner’s and Bridging Class” and “Advanced Class.” Or you may attend the realtime or in-person classes at our Centers in San Jose (CA, USA), Manchester (UK), Tainan (Taiwan), and Taipei (Taiwan).
To find the class suits you best, please contact us at friend@nonezencenter.org.
Practitioners Safety – COVID and beyond
We plan the Zen Retreat 2021 amid the pandemic in October 2020 to meet with our worldwide fellow practitioners in person after the COVID lockdown. With each other’s strength and support, we hope to create a Zen environment for every practitioner to advance their Zen practice in Vancouver, Canada, in the beautiful summer of 2021.
To ensure the safety and health of our practitioners and local community, we will continue to comply with government, retreat site, and None Zen Center’s safety procedures through COVID-19 period and beyond. Thank you for your cooperation to support a safe Zen community
- We will take your temperature when you check in to the retreat and every morning and evening during the retreat. If your temperature is higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, you won’t be able to attend or continue the retreat.
- We will practice social distancing, limited seats available.
- Practitioners must sanitize their hands whenever entering the Zen hall, dining area, bedroom, or when needed.
- If necessary, practitioners will be required to wear a mask.
- We don’t use shared meditation gear.
- Where possible, we provide plated meals rather than buffets.
Retreat Plan
You will have about three and a half days of intense sitting meditation training and spend one day on the Zen Tour training. Here is the general plan for retreat 2021.
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Retreat 2021 |
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| Aug 14 (Sat) |
Aug 15 (Sun) |
Aug 16 (Mon) |
Aug 17 (Tue) |
Aug 18 (Wed) | Aug 19 (Thu) |
| 5:30pm-6pm: Retreat check-in 6pm-7pm: |
Intense sitting meditation training | Intense sitting meditation training | Intense sitting meditation training | Zen Tour
5:30pm-9pm: *Lunch and snacks on your own |
Retreat conclusion
11:30am: |
Daily Schedule
The wake-up time is 6 am, and bedtime is 10 pm.
We will have at least twelve sessions per day, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, and working meditation. You will be assigned retreat-related jobs for your working meditation. Please note that working meditation is part of the intense training.
The detailed schedule won’t be released until two weeks before the retreat and is subject to change according to Shifus’ (teachers’) instructions. Practitioners must follow the Zen retreat’s daily schedule and be on time for every session, meeting, and meal.
Retreat Site:
Carey Center on UBC Campus, Vancouver, Canada
The retreat site Carney Center is located at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. With a short distance of 11 miles (or 19 km) from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and 6.5 miles (or 10.5 km) to downtown Vancouver, Carey Center provides a tranquil yet easy-to-access venue for global practitioners.
We will turn the Carey Center’s Lecture Hall or meeting room into our Zen Hall. Use the UBC Rose Garden for our early morning sitting meditation. Take walking meditation along the coast and have outdoor meditation at Acadia Beach or Spanish Banks Beach.
Zen Tour Training
On the Zen Tour day, Aug 18, we will use the Sandman or YWCA Hotel venue for the evening event Winner’s Night and stay at YWCA Hotel. And on Aug 19, we will have the early morning sitting meditation at Cooper’s Park and use the Sandman or YWCA Hotel venue for retreat conclusion.
Meals
The food service is provided by Carey Center catering and is vegetarian—no meat, fish, or fowl. Foods containing dairy will be clearly marked.
The breakfast is at 7:30 am, lunch is at 12 pm, and dinner, at 6 pm. Water, tea, instant coffee, and snacks will be available when needed.
Please note that NO FOOD may be brought to the retreat site. If you have a special request, please address your needs in the retreat application form.
Accommodations
Carey Center provides hotel-style bedrooms with a private bathroom in each bedroom. On Aug 18, we will stay at YWCA Hotel in downtown Vancouver.
We recommend you share a double room (facilitated with two beds) with another practitioner for your retreat training, even though you may choose a single-occupancy room.
Application
Fill out the application form.
After sending the retreat application, you will receive an acceptance or rejection notification within 5 business days. Please do NOT pay for the retreat fees until you receive the retreat acceptance email. We will NOT refund you if you pay for the retreat fees without prior acceptance.
None Zen Center reserves the right to hold or cancel the Zen Retreat 2021 and accept or reject applications.
Please note that you will not complete your application process until you receive the retreat acceptance notification and complete the full retreat payment.
Retreat Fees and Suggested Donation Amount
Just like all meditation classes provided by the None Zen Center, the retreat is also tuition-free. However, you will need to pay the retreat fees for the bed and board, Zen tour, insurance, retreat related expenses, etc.. Please note that the retreat fees do not cover the following items.
- Traveling costs to the retreat site Carey Center
- Traveling costs from downtown Vancouver to any destination after the retreat
- Lunch and snacks on Aug 18, the Zen Tour day
- Personal spending (e.g., coffee and snacks on the Zen Tour day)
When to pay for the retreat fees
You may pay for the retreat fees when you receive the retreat acceptance notification. Please do NOT pay for the retreat fees until you receive the retreat acceptance email. We will NOT refund you if you pay for the retreat fees without prior acceptance.
| Retreat Fees 2021 | |||
| Early Bird Rate US$1,200 for double occupancy US$1,500 for singe occupancy 2 installments: 1st installment by Dec 16, 2020 2nd installment by Apr 16, 2021 |
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| Room Type | Amount | Paypal Button | |
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Early Bird
1st installment 30% of retreat fees by Dec 16, 2020 |
Double occupancy | $360.00 |
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| Single occupancy | $450.00 |
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Early Bird
2nd installment 70% of retreat fees by Apr 16, 2021 |
Double occupancy | $840.00 |
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| Single occupancy | $1,050.00 |
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| Standard Rate
US$1,350 for double occupancy US$1,650 for singe occupancy Single installment Dec 17, 2020 – Apr 16, 2021 |
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| Room Type | Amount | Paypal Button | |
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Standard Rate
Dec 17, 2020 – Apr 16, 2021 |
Double occupancy | $1,350.00 |
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| Single occupancy | $1,650.00 |
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| Late Rate
US$1,500 for double occupancy US$1,800 for singe occupancy Single installment Apr 17, 2021 – Jun 16, 2021 |
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| Room Type | Amount | Paypal Button | |
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Late Rate
Apr 17 – Jun 16, 2021 |
Double occupancy | $1,500.00 |
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| Single occupancy | $1,800.00 |
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Please note that the retreat fees are not donations to None Zen Center, and the Center will not issue donation receipts for retreat fees.
Suggested Donation Amount
Please note that the None Zen Center is run entirely by donations and we do hope you consider giving a $250 donation to support None Zen Center. Donations of greater or less sums are all appreciated. No one will be turned away for lack of donations.
Click the donation button below to select or set up your donation amount, and give the gift contactlessly. Or, you may give your donation when you check in to the retreat, and/or at the last day of the retreat.
Bank Transfer
In case you are unable to use the Paypal service, you may pay your retreat fees via bank transfer. Please note that your transfer amount should be able to cover the bank fees. None Zen Center will not confirm your retreat registration until we receive your full payment.
If you also consider giving your donations via bank transfer, please separate your retreat fees and donations into two transactions, as retreat fees are not donations.
Please email John Morillo, our global class secretary, to confirm your payment when you complete your bank transfer (See the email address below).
Bank Information:
Account Name: None Zen Center, Inc.
Add: 1680 The Alameda, Suite C, San Jose, CA 95126, USA
Account No.: 325104413676
Routing No.:121000358 (paper & electronic)
026009593 (wires)
SWIFT Code (for incoming wires in U.S. dollars): BOFAUS3N
Bank Add: Bank of America, NA
555 California Street, San Francisco, CA94104
If you have any questions about the retreat details or payment method, please contact our global class secretary.
John Morillo
Global Class Secretary, None Zen Center
john.morillo@thenone.org
Cancellation Policy
The None Zen Center reserves the right to either hold or cancel the retreat, to accept or reject applications, and to change the retreat venues and dates.
Note that the retreat fees and donations are non-refundable. In the event that None Zen Center cancels the retreat, you will receive a refund, minus the retreat deposit that None Zen Center has paid to the retreat venues and vendors, and a 10% handling fee (mainly the Paypal/bank fees).
Rules
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Practitioners are required to accept and abide by the Shifus’ (teachers’) instructions, the rules of the retreat, and the regulations of the retreat site in order to communally create an intense training environment and benefit from the teachers, your fellow practitioners, and the retreat site, as well as to advance your Zen practice.
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You will be asked to hand in your handsets, 3C devices, and watches when checking in to the retreat. Your devices will be returned to you when you sign out of the retreat.
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We follow the code of silence during the Zen retreat. Practitioners are required to keep silent, not talk to others (not engage in unnecessary conversation), not use handsets or any 3C devices, not write any diary or note, and not read books, in order to focus your entire body and mind on your Zen practice.
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Practitioners are required to follow the daily schedule and be on time for every session, meeting, and meal. The detailed schedule won’t be released until two weeks before the starting date of the retreat, and is subject to change according to the Shifus’ (teachers’) instructions.
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We provide vegetarian meals. Foods containing dairy will be clearly marked. During the period of intense sitting training, water, tea, instant coffee, and snacks will be available when needed. No food may be brought to the retreat site. If you have any special request or are allergic to particular foods, please address your needs in the application form.
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No illegal drugs, no smoking, no alcohol, no pets, no incense, no candles, and no kerosene lamps are allowed at the retreat site. Do not wear scented body products. Shoes are not worn in the Zen meditation hall.
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Working meditation is part of the retreat training. Practitioners will be assigned retreat-related jobs.
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For the communal benefit, anyone who does not abide by Shifus’ (teachers’) instructions, retreat rules, or retreat site’s regulations will be asked to leave without refund.
What to Bring and What to Wear
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All practitioners must bring their own meditation cushion and retreat meditation gear – the None Zen backpack, blanket, and outdoor meditation mat.
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If this is the first time that you are accepted to our retreat, you will receive a None Zen backpack, blanket, and outdoor meditation mat from your local Center. If you are an online student or do not belong to any of our physical centers, you will be given the backpack, blanket, and outdoor mat when you check in to the retreat. Remember to bring your meditation cushion!
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The weather is comfortable and sunny with a rare chance of rain, and the average temperature is 55 – 73 degrees Fahrenheit (or 13 – 23 degrees Celsius) in Vancouver, Canada, during August. However, due to climate change, Vancouver hit the 92-degree-Fahrenheit (or 33- degrees-Celsius) mark on Aug 16, 2020.
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Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for the walking meditation, outdoor meditation, and Zen Tour training.
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Bring socks, as shoes are not worn in the Zen hall.
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Bring loose clothing for your sitting meditation, and warm clothing for chilly nights and mornings if necessary. Wind/rainproof hoodies or jackets are recommended for outdoor meditation. Bring your hat to avoid sunburn.
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You will not have time to do your laundry. Do bring ENOUGH clothes for your daily change.
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Bring your toothbrush and toothpaste. For male practitioners, bring your own shaving gear. Please do not wear scented body products, if possible.
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Bring your mug and/or water bottle.
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Don’t forget your personal medicine, if any.
Spending Money
You will need some spending money during the Zen tour. CA$200 could be a healthy budget to spend on souvenirs, coffee and snacks, and your lunch on the Zen Tour day if you are not shopping too much. It will cost you about CA$30 to CA$50 (depending on Uber service types) to take an Uber from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to the retreat site Carey Center.
Students from outside Canada, please buy Canadian Dollars when or before you arrive at YVR airport, as you will not have another opportunity for money exchange during the retreat.
Thank You for Joining the Intense Zen Training
Thank you for your interest in joining the Zen retreat 2021.
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For more information about the Zen method of doubting meditation, please go to: https://thenone.org/zen-practice/what-is-doubting-meditation/
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For more information on Zen practice and None Zen Center, please visit our website at www.nonezencenter.org
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For any question about the Zen retreat, Zen practice, or None Zen Center, please contact us at friend@nonezencenter.org.
