Our Second Weekend Retreat of 2025!
"It's odd how well I sleep at OG!" I quietly remark to Daiko while laying out our sleeping arrangements. Even funnier—he agrees, replying, "Dude, I get the best rest at OG!" We trade chuckles.
I'm not quite sure whether it's the lack of blue light exposure, the reduced sugar or snack intake throughout the day, or something else entirely—but for some reason, I always get some of the best rest when sleeping at OG during weekend retreats or sesshin. If I had to guess, I'd say it's the schedule. I think the structure of the schedule helps ensure we get enough sleep, move our bodies, eat regular meals, rest, and let go of the constant need to accomplish something—or the energy drain that comes from too much TV or gaming. That's my speculation, anyway. I'm curious to know what other's experiences have been like ...
- Alberto Anzan
Few of us remember Joren’s first visit, years ago at Dharma Bum Temple, when this radiant presence first appeared. As then, it’s easy to love her—for her dedication to practice and her outpouring of love. She had come from Upaya, Shinzan’s last residence before founding our sangha in San Diego. Joren, as it turns out, is his first student. Whether longtime friends or newer members, we all basked in her warmth and joie de vivre.
Dear Joren had returned home, in her words, to grace us with her culinary artistry.
She shared the evolution of her spiritual path. Now ordained in Japan, she entered a military community of soldiers and sailors, many carrying trauma from war. She offered to assist with routine tasks, but her depth and radiance were immediately recognized. There, she was unanimously welcomed as their chaplain. Her mission: to meet each soul with care—perhaps even helping someone pause before pulling a trigger. One by one, lives may be saved.
A weekend retreat offers a glimpse of what sesshin can bring. Some say the full week reveals a taste of the “true self,” or as Thich Nhat Hanh calls it, “interbeing.” Dogen, founder of Japanese Zen, said: “To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things.”
Friday evening we gathered to begin our inward journey. The rooms pulsed with connection and joy—especially for Joren. We filled the zendo with our shared intention to set aside the outside world and enter silence together. Shinzan oriented us, then zazen began—sitting, walking, and returning in a rhythm. Some stayed overnight whle others commuted home.
At dawn Saturday, we resumed. Some joined part-time. We meditated, walked, and shared meals. During samu, our mindful work period, we cleaned and organized our shared space. Joren served as head cook, preparing all meals with a couple of helpers. We ate oryoki-style, chanting gratitude and honoring the food and those who contributed to the conception of its ingredients. Practice continued into the evening, ending with a chant.
Sunday closed with council. One by one, we reflected on the weekend—its challenges, rewards, and the support we gave and received as one body.
Once again, our Sangha became a true Dharma family. In Noble Silence, we connected deeply. We moved, sat, and slept under one roof. In the days that followed, emotions lingered—some raw, some peaceful. Time will show how the experience shapes us. But shape us it will—quietly, profoundly.
The weekend ended with a heartfelt ceremony: the bestowing of the grey rakusu to Jisen Paula Saracen.
- Blair Mushin
