counts the cheapest realistic way in — scholarships and sliding scales included
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full (waitlist open)
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
$280–380 · + dana
$50 deposit to hold space; fully booked, waitlist available.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Rigorous silent meditation sesshin focused on Jizo Bodhisattva, with sitting meditation, art projects, and a talk on Jizo. Full-time attendance required.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,296–4,940 · + dana
Member/non-member base price; +$2500 (double) or +$3500 (single) room upgrade.
10-night residential retreat blending daily zazen, work practice, councils, and dharma talks with two embedded weekend trainings — G.R.A.C.E. and Love and Death — for healthcare and end-of-life professionals.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
$300–400 · + dana · scholarships
General $400, practicing member $365, MRO training student $300; financial assistance available
A residential study-practice retreat on the Bodhisattva vow, exploring bodhicitta and the six Paramitas (including meditation) as a path to compassionate action, alongside the monastery's daily zazen schedule.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Southern Dharma Retreat Center — Hot Springs, NC
$300–780 · + dana · scholarships · sliding scale
Sliding scale $309-$803.40; 25%/50% lodge scholarships; free work-exchange volunteer slots (prior retreat experience required); teacher dana separate.
for LGBTQIA+
Blends Zen and Vipassana practice for the LGBTQIA+ community — meditation, teachings, and community connection to meet life's challenges with dignity and resilience. All experience levels welcome.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
$300–350 · + dana · scholarships · sliding scale
Tiered by arrival day and membership: General $300-350, Practicing Members $265-295, MRO Students $200-250; sliding scale available
Six-day intensive sesshin with 7-10 hours of daily zazen, chanting, silent meals, work practice, teacher talks and private interviews. First-time attendees must complete a pre-sesshin interview.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center — Carmel Valley, CA
$1,700–4,000 · + dana
$4,000 for full 3-month period; $1,700 for first-month-only option (limited spots); both include room, board, tuition.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
90-day intensive Zen monastic training on the traditional Soto Zen schedule: zazen, kinhin, work practice, study. Remote wilderness monastery. Full period requires a prior residential practice period; 1-month option open to those with sesshin experience.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Bell's Mountain Dharma Center — Battle Ground, WA
$280–380 · + dana
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Full Zen sesshin combining intensive silent meditation with backpacking: ~8 hours seated meditation, chanting, meditative movement, and guided hiking to a mountain base camp.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Bells Mountain Dharma Center — Battle Ground, WA
$280–380 · + dana
Member $280 / Non-member $380; $50 deposit option to hold spot; optional $430 tier includes a scholarship fund contribution.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Full Zen sesshin: hike 2-5 miles uphill to base camp, then ~8 hours daily seated meditation, chanting, meditative movement, guided hiking, a night hike, and solo meditation. For experienced practitioners; beginners should contact teachers first.
verified Sep 7, 2026
San Francisco Zen Center — San Francisco, CA
$3,089–5,604 · + dana · scholarships
Full Resident Standard $3,089 / Benefactor $3,861; Limited Schedule Standard $4,484 / Benefactor $5,604. Online/commuter option also available. General Support and BIPOC Support Funds available for financial assistance.
A 6-12 week residential practice period at City Center's urban Zen temple, combining daily zazen, work practice, and dharma study under the temple's full schedule. Application deadline September 4, 2026.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Dharma Sangha — Crestone Mountain Zen Center — Crestone, CO
$410 · + dana
Single price point ($410) listed for the retreat.
Three-day Zen meditation intensive combining zazen, walking meditation (kinhin), oryoki meals, and work practice in a structured monastic schedule. Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners; dharma talks and guidance from Seishin Laurie Nusbaum Sensei.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,863–3,220 · + dana
Member/non-member base (shared triple room); +$575 (double) or +$1150 (single) upgrade.
Month-long intensive practice period on Zen Master Zhao Zhou's teachings: daily zazen, dharma talks, seminars, work practice, and private interviews on a traditional monastic schedule, culminating in a six-day sesshin.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
$300 · + dana · scholarships
Program price $300; financial assistance available
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews. A prerequisite for attending sesshin or becoming an MRO student.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
$1,400 · + dana
Full ten-week residential program.
Ten-week residential Zen practice period with ~5.5 hours daily zazen, body practices (yoga, qigong, forest walking), and three sesshins, following a monastic schedule.
verified Sep 7, 2026
free / by donation · via Dharma Gates
Free/dana-based (per source registry; all Dharma Gates offerings are dana)
for young adults (35 or under)
In Chan Buddhism, the practice of wonderment unravels the entanglement of selfing and othering, separateness and alienation, opening us to transforming the routinized habits that structure our lives.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
$75–480 · + dana
Also offered online; price shown is for in-person tiers.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Silent meditation sesshin, not recommended for beginners.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
$200–300 · + dana · scholarships
General $300, Practicing Members $265, MRO Students $200; financial assistance available
Weekend zazen retreat exploring meditation as wakeful, spacious relaxation, with structured morning/evening sits, self-directed afternoon practice, oryoki meals, and face-to-face teaching.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center — Muir Beach, CA
$1,208–3,019 · + dana · scholarships · sliding scale
Tiered pricing: Supported $1208, Member $2174, Standard $2415, Benefactor $3019. $30 non-refundable application fee. Financial aid via General Support and BIPOC Support Funds.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Nine-week residential practice period: daily zazen, work practice, study, and one-on-one teacher meetings. Includes lectures, ceremonies, and formal meals. Prior Zen experience (all-day sit, sesshin, or guest student stay) recommended.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long silent sesshin at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Korinji Monastery — Reedsburg, WI
cost: check site
verified Sep 7, 2026
Southern Dharma Retreat Center — Hot Springs, NC
$500–1,300 · + dana · scholarships · sliding scale
Sliding scale $515-$1339; 25%/50% lodge scholarships; free work-exchange volunteer slots.
Integrates Zen meditation with Alexander Technique, drawing on Dogen's teaching of body-mind harmony — dharma talks, meditation instruction, and hands-on guidance during sitting and work periods.
verified Sep 7, 2026
San Francisco Zen Center — San Francisco, CA
$300–410 · + dana
Benefactor $410, Standard $330, SFZC Member $300 (fees include meals; housing separate). Registration deadline October 30, 2026.
A three-day silent sesshin at City Center's urban Zen temple, following the traditional zazen schedule.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Residential ango intensive at Zen Mountain Monastery centered on the theme of Buddha Nature.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
free / by donation · scholarships · sliding scale
Donation-based, no set price; all welcome regardless of ability to pay. Suggested donation range $25-$380.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Donation-based silent sesshin. Full-time attendance expected; participants asked to bring food donations for the retreat.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
for BIPOC-identifying
Residential community retreat for Black, Indigenous, Asian, and People of Color at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin marking the culmination of Ango, including the Shuso's dharma combat ceremony.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
$240–280 · + dana
Silent retreat exploring loving-kindness through zazen, chanting, formal meals, and brief work practice, cultivating compassion through sustained presence.
verified Sep 7, 2026
San Francisco Zen Center — San Francisco, CA
$661–950 · + dana
Benefactor $950, Standard $735, Member $661; current SFZC residents attend free. Registration deadline November 13, 2026.
The traditional seven-day Rohatsu sesshin at City Center commemorating the Buddha's enlightenment, held at the temple's urban Zen center.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Korinji Monastery — Reedsburg, WI
cost: check site
verified Sep 7, 2026
full (waitlist open)
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,008–2,170 · + dana
Member/non-member base; +$525 (double) or +$1050 (single) room upgrade. Currently full, waitlist offered.
Intensive retreat celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha's awakening through sitting and walking meditation, formal communal meals (oryoki), daily dharma talks, private interviews with teachers, liturgy, and work practice.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews.
verified Sep 7, 2026
full (waitlist open)
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
$75–380 · + dana
$50 deposit; fully booked, waitlist available. Also offered online.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Intensive Rohatsu sesshin celebrating Buddha's awakening, concluding the fall practice period. Rigorous schedule beginning 3:50am; part-time attendance not an option.
verified Sep 7, 2026
full (waitlist open)
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies — Barre, MA
$695–1,495 · + dana
Residential seats waitlisted (range $695–$1,495); Commuter $425 open; an Online-only option ($189–$299) is also available for those not attending in person.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
A Chan meditation retreat covering silent illumination and critical-phrase investigation, with extended sitting, walking meditation, and yoga; noble silence observed during much of the program.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Residential vigil sesshin at Zen Mountain Monastery observing the Buddha's enlightenment.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin commemorating the Buddha's enlightenment, running through New Year's Eve.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,782–2,980 · + dana
Member/non-member base; +$500 (double) or +$1000 (single) room upgrade.
Month-long intensive on Dōgen's Moon in a Dewdrop, centered on Genjōkōan. Daily zazen, study seminars, and work practice, concluding with a week-long silent sesshin: "zazen itself is the actualization of awakening."
verified Sep 7, 2026
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center — Muir Beach, CA
$717–3,125 · + dana · scholarships · sliding scale
Fee varies by room type: Shared Student Room $717–$1791, Single Student Room $992–$2481, Shared Guest House $855–$2136, Single Guest House $1875–$3125. $30 non-refundable application fee. Financial aid via General and BIPOC Support Funds.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Three-week residential intensive with zazen, work practice, Dharma talks, and study of Lojong compassion teachings, concluding with a five-day sesshin. Prior Zen experience recommended.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center — Carmel Valley, CA
$1,700–4,000 · + dana
$4,000 for full 3-month period; $1,700 for first-month-only option (limited spots); both include room, board, tuition.
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
90-day intensive Zen monastic training on the traditional Soto Zen schedule: zazen, kinhin, work practice, study. Remote wilderness monastery with no winter road access. Full period requires a prior residential practice period; 1-month option needs sesshin experience.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews.
verified Sep 7, 2026
free / by donation · via Dharma Gates
Free/dana-based (per source registry; all Dharma Gates offerings are dana)
for young adults (35 or under)
Zen is a practice of discovering our natural inner clarity and learning how to bring this into everyday life, using skillful means developed over fifteen hundred years to help us wake up to reality right where we are.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Multi-day residential program on living a Zen path at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Centro Zen de Puerto Rico — San Juan, PR
cost: check site
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Residential weekend retreat continuing practice along the path of Zen.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,116–3,240 · + dana
Member/non-member base; +$1500 (double) or +$2000 (single) room upgrade.
Ten-night residential program combining zazen three times daily with work practice, councils, ensos, seminars, and interviews, plus two embedded weekend intensives: Calligraphy: Heart of the Brush and The Way of Haiku.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Dharma Treasure Retreat Center — Pearce, AZ
$600–1,250 · + dana
Earlybird pricing across camping, glamping, kuti/cabin, and private-room tiers.
A 7-day Open Awareness retreat drawing on Zen, Dzogchen, and Mahamudra practices, aiming to rest in and deepen confidence in intrinsic, intimate awakeness.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Weekend sesshin marking the opening of Spring Ango at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin commemorating the founding of Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,863–3,220 · + dana
Member/non-member base (shared triple room); +$575 (double) or +$1150 (single) upgrade.
Intensive Ango-style practice period: daily zazen, dharma talks, seminars, book study, private interviews, and council practice, plus two day-long sessions and a week-long silent sesshin. Participants remain on campus throughout.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Immersive introductory weekend covering zazen instruction, liturgy, work practice, art and body practice, and private teacher interviews.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
cost: check site
Week-long sesshin at Zen Mountain Monastery.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Santa Fe, NM
$1,116–3,240 · + dana
Member/non-member base; +$1500 (double) or +$2000 (single) room upgrade.
Ten-day residential retreat combining daily meditation practice with work practice, councils, seminars, and interviews, plus two optional weekend intensives on calligraphy and Dogen studies with visiting faculty.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Dharma Sangha — Crestone Mountain Zen Center — Crestone, CO
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Self-directed practice within the center's daily rhythm. Seven curated formats, from a Dark Sky stay to silent contemplative weeks — pick a length and focus, build a stay that fits. All levels welcome.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Dharma Sangha — Crestone Mountain Zen Center — Crestone, CO
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Extended live-in monastic practice for committed practitioners, minimum one-year commitment. Daily schedule begins 5am with zazen, work, and meals. Multi-step application: form, Zoom interview, in-person retreat visit, then residency discussion.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery — Clatskanie, OR
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Solo retreat cabin on Great Vow's 23-acre forest property with running water, electricity, kitchenette, and compost toilet. Arrivals Tuesday or Friday afternoons only.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center — Muir Beach, CA
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Open-date residential stay living and practicing alongside residents: two daily meditation periods, services, work assignments (kitchen, cleaning, occasional farm work), and meals. Standard stay is two weeks (Wed–Wed); online application required.
verified Aug 24, 2026
San Francisco Zen Center — San Francisco, CA
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Stay 1-4 weeks at City Center joining the temple's daily meditation schedule, work practice, meals, and dharma study alongside resident practitioners. Arrival Mondays at 9:45am.
verified Aug 24, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Guest Practitioner Program — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Guest stay following the full resident schedule, including afternoon work practice, zazen, and dharma talks. Minimum 3 days, arriving Wed/Thu/Fri. Meals included Wed–Sun; self-catered Mon–Tue.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Guest Practitioner Program — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Guest stay joining morning work practice (samu), three daily sitting periods, Wednesday dharma talks, and dokusan with a teacher. Minimum 3 days, maximum 30 days. Meals included Wed–Sun.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Guest Practitioner Program — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Self-directed residential retreat at Upaya with optional participation in resident meditation and work practice. Minimum 2-day stay. Meals included Wed–Sun; self-catered Mon–Tue.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Upaya Zen Center — Guest Practitioner Program — Santa Fe, NM
cost: check site
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Long-term residential Zen training: three daily zazen periods, work practice (samu), liturgy, and Buddhist studies. Minimum 3-month commitment (6 recommended). Requires criminal background check and precept commitment.
verified Sep 7, 2026
Zen Mountain Monastery — Mount Tremper, NY
$300–850 · + dana · scholarships · sliding scale
Weekly residency $300/week; monthly residency $850 (includes meals, lodging, all training); $100 deposit on acceptance; reduced rate discussed if unaffordable
for experienced practitioners / has prereqs
Arranged residential training combining daily zazen, liturgy, work practice, communal meals, and Buddhist studies, for one week or one month. Requires written application and phone interview with the training office.
verified Sep 7, 2026
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