Zen: The Vital Way – Explore Timeless Practices for a Modern World

March 13th- 15th, 2026

Register Now

Arrival: March 13th, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: March 15th, 1:30 PM

Tuition:
$300 + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tuition:
$300 + 2 nights lodging
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

What is Zen? As with any powerful question, asking wholeheartedly is itself a pathway to liberation.

“Zen” is a word that has been co-opted and integrated into our everyday vocabulary, taking on multiple meanings such as minimal, elegant, and calm.

But what is Zen, really? And, just as important, why Zen?

Zen is both a training and a full inhabitation of our humanity. By directly experiencing the life force and liberation always here now, we naturally respond with unconditioned compassion toward this moment, as it is.

In his essay Genjokoan, Eihei Dogen Zenji writes: “To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be verified by all things.”

During this weekend program, we will focus on studying the self in order to recover who we truly are and have always been. We will practice zazen (just sitting) as a way of learning, recognizing, and trusting in our true nature.

What You Will Gain From This Retreat:

  • A grounding in authentic Zen practice — direct instruction and experience in zazen.
  • Practical tools for daily life — ways to carry the clarity and compassion of Zen beyond the cushion.
  • An introduction to Zen teachings — timeless guidance that cuts through confusion and reconnects us with presence.
  • A deeper sense of belonging — to yourself, to community, and to the natural world.
  • A felt experience of simplicity and peace — the heart of Zen as a lived reality.

Who is This Retreat For?

This retreat is open and welcoming to anyone drawn to explore Zen, regardless of experience. It will be especially supportive for:

  • Beginners curious about meditation and Zen’s unique approach.
  • Practitioners from other traditions seeking a fresh perspective.
  • Long-time meditators who want to reconnect with the heart of practice.
  • Those experiencing stress, restlessness, or disconnection who wish to find ease and grounding.
  • Anyone inspired to live more fully, compassionately, and authentically in each moment.

Program Schedule

Day 1

Friday, March 13th – Welcome to the Land

2:00 – 5:00 pm Registration

5:30 – 6:00 pm Orientation

6:00 – 7:00 pm Dinner

7:00 – 9:00 pm Why/What is Zen? and Zazen Practice

Day 2

Saturday, March 14th – Welcome to the Retreat

5:30 – 7:00 am – Zazen

7:30 – 9:00 am Breakfast

9:30 – 12:30 pm The Three Perspectives & Six Senses

12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch 1

1:30 – 2:00pm Free Time

2:00 Movement/Embodiment

3:30 – 6:00 pm Emotions/Zazen

6:00 – 7:00 pm Dinner

Day 3

Sunday, March 15th

5:30 – 7:00 am – Zazen

7:30 – 9:00 am Breakfast

9:30 – 11:30 pm Zazen refinement

11:30- 12:35 pm Integration, Close & DMC Moment of Appreciation

12:45 – 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure

Retreat Faculty

Brian Butsudō Turner Sensei

Brian Butsudo Sensei has been practicing Zen in the White Plum branch of the Soto lineage for nearly twenty years. The story of his entering into the Zen path is documented in Michael Pollan’s New YorkTimes best seller “How to Change your Mind.” He received monk ordination in 2012 and Dharma Transmission in 2023 from [...]

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Off Land
Participants who wish to commute from home or arrange their own accommodations off-campus (for example, a bed and breakfast, camping nearby)  pay tuition, plus $54/night for meals (3 meals per day) and use of our facilities.

Car Camping
We have 5 primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot, for simply parking and sleeping. This includes food and access our bathhouses in Rigden Lodge
Note: We don’t have any water or electric hook ups for RV’s.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

Register Now
Maitri Space Awareness Meditation RetreatRENTAL – Naropa Maitri V