Dragon Bell Temple practices within the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition. These retreats will follow a sesshin (intensive meditation retreat) schedule, typical of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC), to which Dragon Bell belongs. The majority of our time will be spent focused on seated meditation (zazen).
Places will be allocated on a first come-first served basis. The May/June retreat will be limited to 13 people, 11 total for the December retreat. The deadline for booking is one month before the start date. If you need to cancel your place, please let Willard know as soon as possible.
It will only possible to join for the whole of a retreat. You must be aged 18 or over to attend.
We welcome people new to our practice and, as these retreats won’t be of an introductory nature, please read the following carefully:
You will at least need to have had some guidance with ‘just sitting practice’, (aka, zazen / shikantaza). Ideally (though not essential to your attendance), you will also have had some retreat experience, residential or day only, preferably in the Soto Zen tradition, and at least be a little familiar with the typical forms of practice.
If you think that an intensive meditation retreat like ours may be appropriate for you, then the most important thing is to have the willingness to participate, the rest should take care of itself. Please get in touch if you have any questions about attending your first sesshin.
If you haven’t been to Dragon Bell or any other OBC place of practice, please contact Willard at Dragon Bell Temple, details below.
Once you’ve requested booking, you will be put on either the confirmed list or on the waiting list. A questionnaire and booking form will be sent to you by email, it will include further details about the venue and the retreat. The questionnaire is to help support your attendance.
We will be preparing, cooking and cleaning up after our meals, this will be our only working meditation. We’ll share the duties between us. There will be periods scheduled each day for unstructured individual time. To help maintain a reflective focus, the retreat will be held in silence.
Rev. Willard Lee will be leading and offering teaching.
The charity, Dragon Bell Temple (reg. Charity number 1142973) is covering the costs of running these retreats (paying for the hire of Eden Rise and buying in the food). There is no charge for attending. If you wish to make a voluntary donation to help cover the costs of your stay and to support Dragon Bell and its future, there will be an alms bowl for cash as well bank details for electronic payments at the retreat.
To book
Contact Willard by phone or email:
Mob no. 07342 200 782
Email: dragonbelltemple@protonmail.com
If you have any questions, please get in touch.