Explore the heart of wisdom and compassion in two back-to back summer sesshins—July 18th through August 2nd 2026 at Wisdom House in Litchfield , Connecticut.
You may join us for a whole week or both weeks.
In-person practice at our location in Tribeca will be closed during this period, however our online zendo will remain open for those that wish to continue practicing together remotely. For those not able to attend the retreat, please remember that our Ango (peaceful dwelling) period can be a time of intensifying our practice in the midst of our ordinary daily lives of coming and going to work, our families and relations. This is a time when we personally commit to more zazen, study, and other practices, such as clear awareness of our interaction with others and attentiveness to the precepts.
Set Up: July 17
Returning to Silence Sesshin: July 18 – 24
A refreshingly quiet week of sitting and walking meditation, without dharma talks, but including daily work practice, body practice, liturgy and private interview with Roshi Shinryu Thomson and Village Zendo teachers.
The week will conclude with a Precepts Ceremony (Jukai), in which several VZ students will receive the Buddhist Precepts from Shinryu Roshi. The ceremony provides an opportunity for all of us to renew our vow to manifest the mind of wisdom and compassion by embodying the Buddhist ethical teachings.
Voice of Wisdom Sesshin: July 25 – August 2
A “classic sesshin” including dharma talks around the theme of our ango study text and private interview with Roshi Shinryu Thomson and Village Zendo teachers. We will be returning to family style Oryoki (a traditional Zen way of taking a meal together). The week will conclude with a Shuso Hossen ceremony in which our Shuso (ango practice leader) will give voice to their wisdom by giving their first dharma talk and the sangha will respond with wisdom of its own by challenging them in “Dharma Dialogue”.
Important Note for First-Time Retreatants
If this is your first time attending a retreat with the Village Zendo, we kindly ask that you speak with one of our teachers before registering. Sesshin can be a rigorous and intense experience, and this conversation is meant to help ensure that it is an appropriate and supportive step for you at this time. Before beginning your registration, please get touch with a teacher by contacting registrar@villagezendo.org.
Note to All Retreatants
Please be advised that not all rooms have air conditioning; all rooms do have fans. We give much care and thought to room assignments, with AC allocation based upon retreat responsibilities, health, and time of registration.
To be notified prior to the beginning of the retreat should you be allocated a room without air conditioning and to have the opportunity to cancel your registration, please register before July 5th. Otherwise registration will be open until July 11th.
Service Positions
If you would like to be considered for a service position for sesshin, you must register by July 5th and plan to stay for the entire week. In addition, if you come for only a few days of sesshin we cannot guarantee that you will receive private interview with a teacher.
Questions? Please contact registrar@villagezendo.org.
Additional Retreat Details:
Safety Protocols for COVID-19 for Summer Ango 2026
During Summer Sesshin, we will be following CDC guidance and Wisdom House’s COVID-19 safety protocols. We highly recommend that all participants be up-to-date with the latest COVID, influenza, and RSV vaccines to maintain a safer environment for ourselves and others in this contained setting. We ask that participants bring one or two Covid tests along with them in case they should feel unwell after arrival at the retreat.
As an added precaution, we suggest participants perform a home COVID test on the day of travel to the retreat.
Arrival and Departure Times
Arrival time for those coming to help set-up 7/17 is 3pm.
For those arriving on 7/18 or 7/25, check-in time is between 2:00 – 4:00pm.
Departures on 07/24 will be after lunch and 8/02 will be around 11-12pm.
Schedule
Friday 7/17: Early arrival, setup.
Saturday 07/18: Arrival, Ango Entry that evening.
Sunday 7/19– Friday 7/24: Jukai study groups and quiet retreat for others.
Friday 7/24: Jukai Ceremony in the AM, followed by celebratory lunch.
Saturday 7/25: HOSAN, arrivals for 2nd week, begin the retreat that evening. This week will follow a classic sesshin schedule with Oryoki and talks.
Saturday 8/1: Shuso Hossen in the evening.
Sunday 8/2: Morning sit, packing and departing in the AM.
SAMPLE Daily Schedule:
5:00 Wake Up
5:20 Be in Zendo, Jundo, Zazen
5:50 Kinhin
6:00 Zazen
6:30 Kinhin
6:40 Zazen
7:00 Verse of the Kesa – Service
7:25 Oryoki
8:05 Breakfast Crew/Zendo Set
8:50 Cardio
9:50 Wash Up
10:00 Samu
11:10 Clean Up
11:20 Zazen
11:25 Dharma Talk
12:10 Kinhin
12:20 Zazen
12:30 Mid-day Service
12:50 Oryoki
1:30 Lunch Crew
2:15 Rest/ Body Practice
3:15 Clean Up
3:30 Zazen
4:00 Kinhin
4:10 Zazen
4:45 Evening Service
4:55 Oryoki
5:35 Dinner Crew/Zendo Set
7:00 Zazen
7:30 Kinhin
7:45 Zazen
8:15 Kinhin
8:25 Zazen
8:55 Four Vows, Three Bows
9:30 Lights Out; Optional Zazen
Directions to Wisdom House
Take Metro North to Waterbury CT and then take a car to Wisdom House.
It’s the NEW HAVEN line, with a transfer at Bridgeport.
Here is the schedule https://new.mta.info/schedules
Best to select stations from the dropdown menu: From Grand Central to Waterbury
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Village Zendo Fees:
Cancelling more than 1 week ahead of the retreat: 100% refund.
Cancelling within 1 week prior to the start of the retreat: non-refundable.
Registration
Fees
Returning to Silence Sesshin
Jul 18 – Jul 24
Members:
Shared room: $1,020
Single room: $1,200
Non-Members:
Shared room: $1,200
Single room: $1,380
Voice of Wisdom Sesshin
Jul 25 – Aug 2
Members:
Shared room: $1,360
Single room: $1,600
Non-Members:
Shared room: $1,600
Single room: $1,840
Both Retreats
Jul 18 – Aug 2
Members:
Shared room: $2,450
Single room: $2,900
Non-Members:
Shared room: $2,900
Single room: $3,350