Zenkai – daylong zen meditation retreat
Join us for our daylong Zenkai in-person and online Zen-meditation retreats. For those that can’t participate for the whole day, a half-day session is encouraged. The day consists of multiple 25 minutes of silent meditations interspaced by 5 minutes of walking meditation. A Teisho (Dharma talk on a Koan) will be given in the morning.
Newcomers will be given a comprehensive instruction in a separate room in the form of introductory lectures. Lecture 1 is held in the morning and lecture 2 in the afternoon. Newcomers will also be able to apply the meditation instruction, with the sangha, during the sitting periods.
If joining the Zenkai on Zoom, please follow the link below. Note that the lectures will not be available on Zoom.
Time: 9:30am – 3:00pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85029865919?pwd=ZjRCd2V4d2ZTWEVjMWNLRHNKNUhXQT09
Meeting ID: 850 2986 5919
Passcode: 131589
Dates for 2026: Spring Hill – Brisbane
January Sunday 18th 9.30am to 3pm
February Sunday 15th 9.30am to 3pm
March Sunday 15th 9.30am to 3pm
April Sunday 19th 9:30am to 3 pm
May 7-day Sesshin
June Sunday 21th 9.30am to 3pm
July Sunday 19th 9.30am to 3pm
August Sunday 16th 9.30am to 3pm
September Sunday 20th 9:30am to 3pm
October Mini Sesshin
November Sunday 15th 9:30am to 3pm
Dates for 2026: Nerang – Gold Coast
June Saturday 27th 9.30am to 3pm
July Saturday 25th 9.30am to 3pm
August Saturday 22nd 9.30am to 3pm
September Saturday 26th 9:30am to 3pm
October Mini Sesshin
November Saturday 28th 9:30am to 3pm
Online Zoom Zenkai schedule
Preliminary pointers:
- Please log on 5 minutes prior to the start of the Zenkai.
- Make sure your electronic device is switched on to a power source for the duration of the Zenkai.
- Please turn your microphone to mute but please leave your video on.
- Get ready to sit facing your screen for the start of the gongs and chants. It is nice to be able to see each other for this short ritual.
- After the chant, you may want to position yourself away from the screen if you prefer. Please leave your video on so we know that you are there sitting with us. It is ok to position your screen so we can see your back as you sit facing the wall.
- You may leave and enter the virtual zendo during the day. If your mic is on mute, we will not hear you coming or going, nor will we hear any background noise.
- Please note that this is an opportunity for a silent day, so interaction with one another is limited to the end of the schedule.
- To join the zoom Zenkai please send us a request for a Zoom link.
Schedule for Zenkai.
09:30 am Start of sitting and introductory lectures for newcomers.
09:55 am Kinhin
10:00 am Sitting continues
10:25 am Kinhin
10:30 am Teisho (dharma talk about a koan. Copy of koan here)
11:25 am Kinhin
11:30 am Sitting continues (dokusan)
12:00 pm Lunch (silent)
01:00 pm Sitting continues (2nd introductory lecture for newcomers)
01:25 pm Kinhin
01:30 pm Sitting continues (dokusan)
01:55 pm Kinhin
02:00 pm Sitting continues
02:25 pm Kinhin
02:30 pm Sitting continues
02:55 pm Chants and final recitations.
03:00 pm Finish. Please feel free to stay for a tea.
Suggested cost contribution for non-students
$30.00 per day or as one can afford.
Online: $15.oo per day for Zoom participants or as one can afford.
Lunch:
Please bring your own lunch
RSVP:
Please rsvp by e-mailing info@pathwayzen.org.au
What to bring:
Please wear modest, loose fitting and plain dark coloured clothing if possible. Chairs, meditation stools and cushions are provided.
Cancellation:
Please note that any event can be cancelled at short notice. Everyone registered will be notified in advance.
Sutra Sheet for Zenkai:
Offering Respect
We offer respect to the traditional custodians of this land and to the teachings that sustain them.
We offer respect to our lineage of teachers and to the teachings that sustain us.
Sangemon
All the wrong ever created by me since of old
On account of my beginingless greed, ill will and ignorance
Born of my conduct, speech and thought
I now confess and repent of it all
Gatha on opening the Dharma
The Dharma, incomparably profound and infinitely subtle, is rarely encountered, even in hundreds of thousands of millions of ages,
Now we can see it, hear it, receive and maintain it;
May we completely realise the Tathagata’s true meaning…
Four Great Vows
Living beings are numberless
I vow to free them
Delusions are inexhaustible
I vow to end them
The teachings are boundless
I vow to master them
The Awakened way is unsurpassable
I vow to embody it fully…
The Great Prajna Paramita Sutra
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, practicing deep Prajna Paramita
Clearly saw that all five skandhas are completely empty,
Thus transcending all suff’ring and distress.
Shariputra, form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness no other than form;
Form is exactly emptiness, emptiness exactly form;
Perception, representation, volition, consciousness, are also like this.
Shariputra, all things are essentially empty-
Not born, not destroyed:
Not stained, not pure; without loss, without gain.
Therefore in emptiness, there is no form,
No perception, representation, volition, consciousness;
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind,
No colour, sound, smell, taste, touch, object of thought;
No seeing and so on to no thinking;
No ignorance and also no ending of ignorance
And so on to no old age and death;
And also no ending of old age and death;
No suff’ring, no accumulation of delusions
No cessation of delusions,
No path to that cessation;
No wisdom and no attainment.
Since there is nothing to attain
The bodhisattva lives by Prajna Paramita
Has no hindrance in the mind;
No hindrance and therefore no fear;
Far beyond delusive thoughts,
The bodhisattva attains Nirvana.
All buddhas of past, present, and future
living by Prajna Paramita
Attain the Supreme Way
Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is
The great mantra, the vivid mantra,
The best mantra, the unsurpassable mantra,
Which completely removes all suff’ring.
This is truth not a lie.
Therefore set forth the Prajna Paramita mantra,
Set forth this mantra and proclaim:
Gate’ Gate’ Paragate’ Parasamgate’
Bodhi svaha! Han-nya shingo…
