Zen Retreat 2026, California

Deepening Your Zen Practice Through Doubting Meditation

Join us for the 3-Day Zen Retreat (SJC3R1), an intensive meditation training hosted by None Zen Center, San Jose. The retreat will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton in Scotts Valley, California, from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026.

—- Sign up now to secure your spot: https://forms.gle/ammuLjKJtKMGo3cD7

—- Email friend@nonezencenter.org if you have any inquiries.

Enhancing Your Self-Awareness and Continuous Concentration

This 3-day retreat is designed to deepen your Zen practice, particularly by enhancing your self-awareness and strengthening your continuous concentration. Through the practice of doubting meditation, or huatou, you will be guided not only to acknowledge your mind movements, but also to meditate on your thoughts, emotions, and sensations. In this way, you deepen your self-awareness rather than ignoring or simply letting go of your mind movements.

You will also be guided to repeatedly return to your meditation method whenever you drift away or become distracted by your inner state or outer environment during the retreat’s intensive and consecutive sitting sessions. In this way, you develop continuous concentration by repeatedly refocusing on one thing and one thing only — your meditation method.

Unfamiliar with Doubting Meditation?

None Zen Center specializes in teaching and practicing doubting meditation (huatou). During the retreat, we will practice doubting meditation, a time-tested and widely practiced method in the Zen tradition that has long been used to lead practitioners toward enlightenment and uncovering their self-nature.

If you are unfamiliar with this method, you are welcome to review the videos from Beginner’s Class 3 Series in our Online Zen School on YouTube, or join our in-person Beginner’s Class or Tuesday’s Zoom Sitting Sessions.

Retreat Site: Four Points Sheraton Scotts Valley

5030 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, California, USA, 95066 (Google Map)
Telephone: +1 831-438-1500

Hotel Room

As the retreat’s first morning session begins at 6:30 am and the final evening session ends at 9:45 pm, we recommend staying at the Four Points by Sheraton. The room rate for a two-night single-occupancy stay is approximately $320-$360 USD and can be booked online.

Please reserve your hotel room in advance to ensure availability during the retreat. Please note that you are responsible for arranging your own accommodations during the retreat.

Meals

The food service is provided by Four Points Sheraton 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 1:00 pm, and dinner, at 6:20 pm. Water, tea, instant coffee, and snacks will be available during morning and afternoon snack times or when needed.

Retreat Schedule

No need to worry—there’s no need to feel overwhelmed.

Each 2-hour block will be divided into several 20–40 minute sessions. You may even choose to sit on a meditation cushion or in a chair.

If you have any questions or requests regarding the retreat schedule, please email us at friend@nonezencenter.org.

Please note that the retreat schedule is subject to change.

Retreat Donation

None Zen Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides tuition-free meditation classes and operates entirely through donations.

All of our Zen masters and instructors are not only volunteers but also primary donors.

We suggest a sliding-scale donation of $350–$600 USD to make the retreat financially possible, sustain the tuition-free Zen environment, and grow the Zen community.

Two-Step Application Procedure

1. You are required to submit the completed retreat application below.

2. Once your application is accepted, you will be invited to complete the retreat donation.

3. Please note that your retreat seat will not be confirmed until both the retreat application form and the retreat donation have been received.

Due to the lack of resources, we will provide you with an annual receipt between January 10th to 31st for the gifts we receive from you the previous year. If you need to receive the receipts earlier, please email us at friend@nonezencenter.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.

Retreat Rules

Practitioners are required to follow the Shifus’ (Zen Masters’) instructions, the retreat rules, and the retreat site regulations in order to help create an intensive communal training environment, benefit from the teachers, fellow practitioners, and the retreat site, and deepen their Zen practice.
We observe a code of silence during the Zen retreat. Please refrain from unnecessary conversation with others, as well as from internal dialogue as much as possible.
To support a focused environment, you will be asked to hand in your mobile phones and other electronic devices upon check-in. Each day at 6:50 p.m., you may collect them from Shifu (Zen Master) Linda and return them by 7:50 p.m. At the end of the retreat, please remember to collect your phone and other devices from Shifu Linda.
Practitioners are required to follow the daily schedule and arrive on time for all sessions, meetings, and meals. The retreat schedule may be adjusted in accordance with Shifus’ instructions.
We provide vegetarian meals, and foods containing dairy will be clearly labeled. Water, tea, coffee, and snacks will be available as needed. If you have any special dietary requests or food allergies, please indicate them on the application form.
Illegal drugs, smoking, vaping, alcohol, pets, incense, and candles are not permitted at the retreat site.
Please wear clean socks, as shoes are not permitted in the Zen meditation hall.
For the benefit of the community, anyone who does not follow the Shifus’ instructions, retreat rules, or retreat site regulations may be asked to leave without a refund.

What to Bring

Bring your own meditation gear, including a meditation cushion, at least one blanket to use as a mat, and additional blankets or towels for padding if needed. For personal hygiene reasons, None Zen Center does not provide shared meditation equipment.
Bring your mug and/or water bottle, although paper cups will be available at the retreat site.
Don’t forget your tooth brush and other personal items.
Bring any necessary medications.
You will not have time to do your laundry. Remember to bring ENOUGH clothes for your daily change.

What to Wear

Wear loose-fitting clothes for comfortable sitting meditation, and comfortable shoes for possible outdoor walking meditation.
Wear or bring warm clothing for chilly mornings and evenings. Windproof and waterproof hoodies or jackets, along with a hat, are recommended for possible outdoor meditation. November weather in Scotts Valley, California, is typically mild and partly cloudy, with daytime highs around 72°F (22°C) and nighttime lows around 50°F (10°C). As this is a transitional season, there is a moderate chance of rain.
Wear clean socks, as shoes are not permitted in the Zen hall.
Please use unscented personal care products to support an allergy-free meditation environment.

Thank You for Joining the Intense Zen Training

Thank you for your interest in joining the 3-Day Zen Retreat at Scotts Valley, California.

If you have any questions, please email us at friend@nonezencenter.org.