From Barbara O'Brien,
Your Guide to Buddhism.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Definition: A sesshin (Japanese for "collecting the heart-mind") is an intensive meditation retreat held in a Zen center or monastery. A sesshin typically lasts from one to seven days, although they can be longer. During sesshin, most of the participants' time is devoted to meditation (zazen). There are only short breaks for chanting, rest, and caretaking work. Participants keep silence throughout the sesshin and maintain meditative focus even during breaks.