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Fall 2012 Practice Period at City Center

Related Information
City Center Abiding Abbess Kiku Christina Lehnherr
Living in Harmony with All Beings –
Taking Refuge in Sangha


September 22 - December 8
led by Abbess Kiku Christina Lehnherr

In all Buddhist traditions practitioners take refuge in the three treasures, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

During this 11-week practice period we will explore what it means to take refuge in Sangha - not as a fixed place but as a process of creating refuge. How do we create refuge in the communities in which we live, work, and study; in our households, families, and among our friends?

How do we bring harmony to everyone, free from hindrance, when we are faced with all the differences in our communities and even within ourselves? Differences in culture, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, preferences, etc. We will explore teachings and practices that enable us to engage these differences as opportunities for learning about ourselves and others, as opportunities to wake up.

Practice period offers an excellent opportunity for beginning and more experienced students to join together in an intense period of practice, including zazen (see the daily schedule), lectures, classes, work, and close contact with teachers. These activities provide an opportunity to engage in traditional Zen training and experience the practices that are fundamental to the Zen Way.

Dharma inquiry through study classes, interviews with teachers, and attention to whatever arises helps participants to integrate the experiential and didactic teachings into their lives and relationships.

Residential practice period participants join the full practice period schedule or a limited schedule that includes everything except the daily work practice.

Non-resident participants join the practice period at a level of commitment that is appropriate to their circumstances.

The practice period begins with an orientation on the evening of Friday, September 21. The first one-day sitting is on Saturday, September 22. The practice period includes three One-day Sittings and concludes with the seven-day Rohatsu Sesshin, December 2-8.

Residential participants should plan to arrive by the early afternoon of September 21.

Residential options:

  • Full: Includes full-time work practice at City Center
    $1,747 shared room
    $2,127 private room, if available
  • Limited: Not working at City Center
    $2,507 shared room
    $2,886 private room, if available
Deadline for residential applications is August 14, 2012.

*Non-residential participation: $75 plus additional fees for sittings, classes, sesshins, workshops, and events, as indicated. NOTE: Applications for non-residential participation will be accepted through September 19.

Applications: Practice period applications can be obtained by downloading a PDF version of the appropriate application below. You may also email the office to request one or call 415.863.3136. Please also review the City Center Training Program and Practice Guidelines.

To process residential applications, a non-refundable fee of $30 is required. Use the Ticket Table below, include payment with your application, or call our toll free number 888.743.9362 or our local number 415.475.9362.

If you have any questions, please call the City Center director at 415.354.0383 or contact the director via email.



Related Bio(s):

City Center Abiding Abbess Kiku Christina Lehnherr
Kiku Christina Lehnherr became City Center Abbess in February 2012. She has degrees in physical therapy and Clinical Psychology and practiced both in Switzerland. Ordained as a priest by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1993, she received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2005. From 2003 to 2006 she served as Head of Practice (Tanto) at City Center. Between 2006 and 2012, Christina lived in Marin where she continued to support sitting groups and students as a non-residential teacher.