The Huayan Study Sesshin at Green Gulch Farm with Guo Gu offers a unique, intensive opportunity to study and explore through embodied practice the powerful and transformative teachings of Huayan Buddhism.
At the very center of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism lies the luminous philosophical tradition of Huayan—a treasure trove of profound wisdom that has shaped the whole development of East Asian Buddhism, especially Chan/Zen. Yet Western Buddhism has evolved in virtual isolation from the transformative teachings of Huayan.
For instance, while concepts like “interconnection” and “interbeing” are widely adopted in Western Buddhist discourse and popular culture, their origins in Chinese Huayan philosophy remain largely unacknowledged and unexplored. In this four-day retreat-workshop, Chan teacher Guo Gu will provide a newly translated Huayan source text for an exploratory dive into the rich teaching of interdependence.
Please review the tentative daily schedule below. Meals will be informal silent meals in the dining room, with no oryoki meals.
Study Sesshin Schedule
- 5:00–7:00 am zazen & service (optional)
- 9:00 am–12:00 pm Workshop, studying the Huayan contemplations
- 2:00–6:00 pm Sitting, practicing the Huayan contemplations
- 7:00–8:30pm Q&A and discussion of the Huayan contemplations
The study sesshin will begin with an orientation on Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 pm and conclude with dinner at 6:00 pm on Monday February 22. Guests are welcome to select the option to extend their stay through morning zazen and breakfast on Tuesday, February 23.
If you have questions about your participation in this sitting, please contact the ino, (head of the meditation hall) at ggfino@sfzc.org.
To register for this study sesshin, begin by completing the application form. Once you have been approved for the sesshin, you will be sent an email that will include a link through which you can process your payment and complete your registration.
The registration deadline is February 15.
Guest House, Single Room:
- Benefactor: $910 — supports others’ participation
- Standard: $728 — covers full program costs
- Member: $655 — for current SFZC members
Guest House, Shared Room:
- Benefactor: $717 — supports others’ participation
- Standard: $573 — covers full program costs
- Member: $516 — for current SFZC members
Single student housing (as available):
- Benefactor: $801 — supports others’ participation
- Standard: $641 — covers full program costs
- Member: $576 — for current SFZC members
- Supported: $416 — community-supported rate
Shared student housing (as available):
- Benefactor: $604 — supports others’ participation
- Standard: $483 — covers full program costs
- Member: $435 — for current SFZC members
- Supported: $314 — community-supported rate
Or call 415-354-0360.
