Zen Retreat Kit 2021

Zen Retreat 2021 (ZR2021LV1, live online retreat)

May 29-31, 2021
Start time: May 29, 6am (Pacific Daylight Time)
End time: May 31, 10am (Pacific Daylight Time)

Join us for this one-of-a-kind LIVE retreat from anywhere as the real-time Zen Talks and guided meditation sessions will run AROUND THE CLOCK 24 hours a day so that practitioners can log in to live sessions for real-time teaching no matter where they are located.

Our deepest gratitude cannot thank Shifu (Master) Linda and Shifu Jeremy enough for their enthusiasm and compassion for leading this around-the-clock retreat for the global Zen community. Each of them will devote 12 to 16 hours per day to give Zen Talks and lead guided meditation sessions to ensure practitioners from all over the world have the chance to attend live sessions.

We sincerely invite you to join this one-of-a-kind retreat. With each other’s strengths, we hope to create a Zen environment for every practitioner to advance their Zen practice. And we thank you wholeheartedly for your participation, cooperation, and support to make this around-the-clock retreat possible.

Please read thoroughly the Zen Retreat Kit below and sign up for the Zen Retreat 2021 (ZR2021LV1, Live Retreat).

If you have any questions about Zen Retreat 2021 (ZR2021LV1), please contact us at friend@nonezencenter.org.

Zen Retreat Kit (ZR2021LV1)

The retreat and meditation method
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 in PLAIN language. You will be introduced to the history and the skill of doubting meditation, learning the fundamental Zen concepts through Zen stories (Chn. Gongan, Jpn. Koan), practicing doubting meditation, and sharing your Zen meditation experience with your fellow practitioners.

You may want to prepare yourself for the intensive Zen training. We suggest you practice sitting meditation consistently, at least once a week, and train yourself to sit at least 30 minutes for a session before attending the retreat. If you want to have some ideas about doubting meditation, you may take Lesson 3 of Beginner’s Zen Class or Bridging Class on the Online Zen School. Or you may sign up for the real-time or in-person classes at our Centers in San Jose (CA, USA), Manchester (UK), Tainan (TW), or Taipei (TW).

If you have any questions regarding finding the best suiting classes, please contact us at friend@nonezencenter.org.

Daily Schedule
The retreat will start on May 29 at 6 am and end on May 31 at 9:30 am, Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). For Day 1 and Day 2 The wake-up time is 6 am and the bedtime is 10:30 or 11 pm. We will have 10 sessions around the clock. Practitioners are highly recommended to take 7 sessions a day for the best training result. On the Day 3, we will have a 2.5-hour retreat conclusion session.

We design the retreat agenda based on Pacific Daylight Saving Time. You may want to arrange your retreat plan with your local time zone, but do abide by the 6 am to 10:30 or 11 pm schedule for the best training result. For your reference, we provide 3 daily schedule plans for practitioners in California (US), UK, and Taiwan in the Retreat Agenda below.

Retreat Recordings
You may not be able to attend some sessions, as they will take place during your sleep. Don’t worry. The raw recordings will be available for registered practitioners from within 2 hours after each live session to June 6 at 10 pm, Pacific Daylight Time.

To make the retreat recordings and the use of the recordings possible, we sincerely ask for your kindness and generosity to agree with recording all of the retreat sessions and using the recordings that include your images and voices when you fill out the retreat application form. For example, we will edit the recordings into online courses or promotional videos and use them on our Online Zen School, Facebook, or Youtube to benefit the global Zen community.

Fill out the application form to become a registered practitioner to receive the detailed agenda and access to the retreat sessions and recordings.

Retreat Preparation
1. Equipment
1.1 You will need to have a computer, pad tablet, or smartphone to connect to the internet. We suggest a bigger screen as the teachers may share slides when giving Zen Talks.
1.2 We will use the app Zoom for the real-time classes. If you are a 1st-time Zoom user, we suggest you sign up for a Zoom account, download the app Zoom, and test the app before taking the class. Click to sign up Zoom. https://zoom.us/
1.3 Ensure your device’s camera, speaker, and microphone function well.

2. Meditation gear, clothing, and environment
2.1 You will need to find a sitting spot at home, where you can sit on solid ground with your legs crossed. In case you need to sit on a chair, please find yourself a stable chair with a hard (or not too soft and fluffy) seat surface. Ensure your camera can take your full picture so that the teacher can see your sitting situation.
2.2 You will need to have a meditation cushion or pillow to sit on when you sit on solid ground. It would be better if you can place a blanket under your pillow for padding.
2.3 You may want to have spare towels or blankets for extra padding if needed.
2.4 Wear loose-fitting clothes for sitting meditation practice.
2.5 Before the retreat or each lesson, please let your family, friends, or colleagues who live/stay in the same household/workspace know that you need to have a period of time for the Zen retreat. You may also want to talk to your dogs, cats, or birds for the luxury time, whether it works or not.
2.6 Before the retreat, you may want to find a space for walking or exercise during the session breaks. It could be a park or trail nearby, your patio, or even in your room at home. Please note we usually have a 30-minute break between sessions. Make sure you can come back to the next retreat session in time.

3. Meals, snacks, and your medicine
3.1 Prepare your food before the retreat.
3.2 It would be better if you can have light but nutritious meals during the retreat.
3.3 You may also want to have some snacks for the session breaks. Fruits, energy bars, nuts (if you are not allergic), and even chocolates are highly recommended. You may find intensive training is energy-consuming even though you are just sitting on a cushion.
3.4 Drink water. You may have tea or coffee if you like to.
3.5 Remember to take your medicine, if any.

Retreat Rules
1. Retreat rules are set for the Zen community’s communal benefits, even though it could be against your habit or personal lifestyle. Practitioners are required to abide by the Rules and prepare themselves well for the intensive training.

2. Practitioners are required to accept and abide by Shifus’ (Masters’) instructions to create an intense training environment, benefit from the retreat teaching, and advance your Zen practice.

3. We follow the Code of Silence during the Zen retreat. Try not to engage in unnecessary conversation, including texting, checking and replying to emails, reading books, or watching TV or movies during session breaks throughout the retreat period.

4. Please take no illegal drugs, no smoking, and no alcohol during the retreat period.

5. Access the retreat sessions
5.1 We will email you a retreat notification with an attached file “Class Schedule and Zoom Links_RT2021LV1” when we accept your retreat application. Please keep this file, as you will need the links to attend classes. Each specific link can only allow you to access the designated session.
5.2 Join the lesson 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time to test your camera, speaker, and microphone.
5.3 Turn on your camera and speaker all the time for the real-time sessions.
5.4 Mute your microphone after testing. And turn on your microphone only when you are permitted to speak.
5.5. It would be very kind of you to send absent emails to friend@nonezencenter.org for the sessions you cannot attend in advance. With your thoughtful help, the retreat admin practitioners (Zoom host) do not need to wait for your log-in.

6. For the communal benefits, anyone who does not abide by Shifus’ (Masters’) instructions or retreat rules will be canceled their access rights to the retreat.

Internet stability
If you encounter internet unstable issues, you just wait for the internet stability to recover itself. In most cases, you will rejoin the session automatically. Or you may rejoin the session manually by clicking the session link again.

Retreat Fees and Donation
Just like all meditation classes provided by the None Zen Center, the retreat is also tuition-free. As the Center is run entirely by donations, we hope you consider giving a $150 donation to support the tuition-free Zen environment and grow the Zen community. Gifts of greater or fewer sums are all appreciated. No one will be turned away for lack of donations. Please click the donation button below to select or set up your donation amount.

When completing your donation, you will receive a prompt receipt from PayPal. We will provide you with an annual receipt between January 10 to February 20 for the gifts we receive from you the previous year due to the lack of resources. If you need to receive the receipts earlier, please email us at friend@nonezencenter.org..

Bank Transfer
In case you are unable to use the Paypal service, you may give your gift via bank transfer. Please email us at friend@nonezencenter.org to confirm your payment when you complete your bank transfer.

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

Cancellation Policy
The None Zen Center reserves the right to either hold or cancel the retreat, change the retreat dates and schedule, and accept or reject applications.

Daily Agenda
Please note that we design the retreat agenda based on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). You may want to arrange your retreat plan with your local time zone, but do abide by the 6 am to 10:30 or 11 pm schedule for the best training result. For your reference, we provide 3 daily schedule plans for practitioners in California (US), UK, and Taiwan in the Retreat Agenda below.

You may not be able to attend some sessions, as they will take place during your sleep. Don’t worry. The recorded videos will be available for registered practitioners from within 2 hours after each live session to June 6 at 10 pm (Pacific Daylight Time).

Fill out the application form to become a registered practitioner to receive the detailed agenda, Zoom links, and access to the recorded retreat videos.

Day 1
California, US Pacific Time (Daylight saving time, UTC-07:00)		UK (UTC+1:00)		Taiwan) (UTC+08:00)
May 29 Saturday 6am – 6:30am	Wake up and freshen up	May 29 Saturday 2pm – 2:30pm	Break (30 minutes)	May 29 Saturday 9pm – 9:30pm	Break (30 minutes)
6:30am – 8am	Session 1.1	2:30pm – 4pm	Session	9:30pm – 11pm	Session
8am – 9am	Breakfast (1 hour)	4pm – 5pm	Dinner/High tea break (1 hour)	11pm –	Light out
9am – 10:30am	Session 1.2	5pm – 7pm	Session	12am – 1:30am
10:30am – 11am	Break (30 minutes)	6:30pm – 7pm	Break (30 minutes)	1:30am – 2am
11am – 12:30pm	Session 1.3	7pm – 8:30pm	Session	2am – 3:30am
12:30pm – 1:30pm	Lunch (1 hour)	8:30pm – 9:30pm	Shower break (1 hour)	3:30am – 4:30am
1:30pm – 3pm	Session 1.4	9:30pm – 11pm	Session	4:30am – 6am
3pm – 3:30pm	Break (30 minutes)	11pm-	Light out	May 30 Sunday 6am – 6:30am	Wake up and freshen up
3:30pm – 5pm	Session 1.5	11:30pm – 1am		6:30am – 8am	Session
5pm – 6:30pm	Dinner (1.5 hours)	1am – 2:30am		8am – 9:30am	Breakfast (1.5 hours)
6:30pm – 8pm	Session 1.6	2:30am – 4am		9:30am – 11am	Session
8pm – 8:30pm	break	4am – 4:30am		11am – 11:30am	break
8:30pm – 10pm	Session 1.7	4:30am – 6am		11:30am – 1pm	Session
10pm – 11pm	Shower break and light out	May 30 Sunday 6am – 7am	Wake up, freshen up, and breakfast	1pm – 2pm	Lunch
11pm – 12:30am		7am – 8:30am	Session	2pm – 3:30pm	Session 1.8
12:30am – 1am		8:30am – 9am	Break (30 minutes)	3:30pm – 4pm	Break (30 minutes)
1am – 3am		9am – 11am	Session	4pm – 6pm	Session 1.9
3am – 4:30am		11am – 12:30pm	Lunch (1.5 hours)	6pm – 7:30pm	Dinner and shower break (1.5 hours)
4:30am – 6am		12:30pm – 2pm	Session	7:30pm – 9pm	Session 1.10

Day 2
California, US Pacific Time (Daylight saving time)		UK		Taiwan
May 30 Sunday 6am – 6:30am	Get up and freshen up	May 30 Sunday 2pm – 2:30pm	Break (30 minutes)	May 30 Sunday 9pm – 9:30pm	Break (30 minutes)
6:30am – 8am	Session 2.1	2:30pm – 4pm	Session	9:30pm – 11pm	Session
8am – 9am	Breakfast (1 hour)	4pm – 5pm	Dinner/High tea break (1 hour)	11pm –	Light out
9am – 10:30am	Session 2.2	5pm – 6:30pm	Session	12am – 1:30am
10:30am – 11am	Break (30 minutes)	6:30pm – 7pm	Break (30 minutes)	1:30am – 2am
11am – 12:30pm	Session 2.3	7pm – 8:30pm	Session	2am – 3:30am
12:30pm – 1:30pm	Lunch (1 hour)	8:30pm – 9:30pm	Shower break (1 hour)	3:30am – 4:30am
1:30pm – 3pm	Session 2.4	9:30pm – 11pm	Session	4:30am – 6am
3pm – 3:30pm	Break (30 minutes)	11pm-	Light out	May 31 Monday 6am – 6:30am	Wake up and freshen up
3:30pm – 5pm	Session 2.5	11:30pm – 1am		6:30am – 8am	Session
5pm – 6:30pm	Dinner (1.5 hours)	1am – 2:30am		8am – 9:30am	Breakfast (1.5 hours)
6:30pm – 8pm	Session 2.6	2:30am – 4am		9:30am – 11am	Session
8pm – 8:30pm	break	4am – 4:30am		11am – 11:30am	break
8:30pm – 10pm	Session 2.7	4:30am – 6am		11:30am – 1pm	Session
10pm – 11pm	Shower break and light out	May 30 Sunday 6am – 7am	Wake up, freshen up, and breakfast	1pm – 2pm	Lunch
11pm – 12:30am		7am – 8:30am	Session	2pm – 3:30pm	Session 2.8
12:30am – 1am		8:30am – 9am	Break (30 minutes)	3:30pm – 4pm	Break (30 minutes)
1am – 3am		9am – 11am	Session	4pm – 6pm	Session 2.9
3am – 4:30am		11am – 12:30pm	Lunch (1.5 hours)	6pm – 7:30pm	Dinner and shower break (1.5 hours)
4:30am – 6am		12:30pm – 2pm	Session	7:30pm – 9pm	Session 2.10

Day 3
Pacific Time (Daylight saving time)		UK		Taiwan
May 31 Monday 6am – 6:30am	Get up and freshen up	May 31 Monday 2pm – 2:30pm	Break (30 minutes)	May 31 Monday 9pm – 9:30pm	Break (30 minutes)
6:30am – 9am	Session 3.1 Retreat conclusion	2:30pm – 5pm	Session	9:30pm – 12am	Session