In the Zen tradition, retreats—often called sesshin—are not an optional extra but a vital part of the path. While daily practice lays the foundation, retreat creates the conditions for that practice to deepen and come alive.
Stepping away from ordinary routines and entering a shared rhythm of sitting, walking, chanting, and silence allows the mind to settle and the heart to open in ways that are rarely possible in everyday life.
For newcomers, even a short retreat offers a direct taste of what Zen points to: simplicity, presence, and clarity. For more experienced practitioners, retreats renew and strengthen commitment, cutting through habit and distraction.
In this way, retreat practice supports the whole path—bringing insight from lived experience and helping to integrate awareness into daily life.
Upcoming Retreats
September: Five-day residential sesshin
Online registration now open
Please contact the retreat coordinator: David Edwards davidedwards1811@gmail.com if you are interested in attending this retreat. Due to a stronger than usual response, at this stage it is most likely you will have to go on a wait-list to fill a spot if someone withdraws.
When: Commencing Friday evening, 18 September and concluding mid-morning, Wednesday 23 September (5 nights).
Where: Accommodation at Goolwa Beach (more details will be provided in your confirmation email/letter).
Teachers: The sesshin will be led by Allan Marett, Roshi and Steve Wigg, Roshi.
The Program
Broadly, each day will commence at around 5:00am and conclude at around 9:00pm. It will include zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation, including outdoor walking), dokusan (interviews) and encouragement talks and teishos. There will be three vegetarian meals per day and participants will be assigned tasks associated with meal preparation and clean up. A more detailed program will be provided in your confirmation email/letter.
Basic Daily Schedule (details may vary somewhat on the day but the basic structure remains)
Early Morning
4:45 am Rise
5:00 Exercise / Kinhin
5:25 Tea
5:30 Zazen – Dojo opened
5:50 Kentan
6:00 Zazen / Sosan / Dokusan
7:30 Breakfast
8:00–9:30 Work and/or rest (leaders' meeting)
Morning
9:30 Sutras
10:00 Zazen
10:30 Zazen
11:00 Long Kinhin
11:30 Zazen
12:00 Zazen
12:30 Lunch
1:00–2:30 Work and/or rest
Afternoon
2:30 Zazen (including tea)
2:35 Encouragement Talk
3:00 Zazen / Sosan / Dokusan
4:10 Reading (approx.)
4:35 Zazen
5:00 Supper
5:30–6:30 Work and/or rest
Evening
6:30 Zazen
7:00 Teisho
7:30 Zazen / Sosan / Dokusan
8:30 Dojo closed
8:50 End of day ceremony (approx.)
9:00 Bed
9:15 Lights out
Registration and Fees
Full and part-time registrations are welcome. To assist with our planning please register and pay before Friday 21 August. This will secure your place for the retreat. Once we have received your registration and payment a confirmation email will be sent soon after. If any issues arise the retreat coordinator (David Edwards) will contact you.
In the past we have not requested full payment on or close to registration. This new approach aims to avoid the risk of loosing our deposit for rental accommodation by ensuring there are sufficient registrations to make the retreat viable. It also confirms your place earlier in the process.
For those who require accommodation. The fee for full-time attendance (5 nights) is: $550. The fee for part-time attendance is: $110 per night or $70 per day if not staying overnight.
Offer of off-site accommodation
A sangha member who lives at Goolwa Beach has offered to host one participant at his home free-of-charge for the accommodation. He lives about a 20 minute walk, 4 minute bike-ride (an electric bicycle is available) or just a 2 minute drive from the zendo . If you are interested in taking up the offer please contact David Edwards.
For those who have negotiated with the retreat co-ordinator and do not require use of the shared rental accommodation. The fee for full-time attendance is: $350. The fee for part-time attendance is $70 per day.
Support for retreat fees
Please do not let the cost of retreat be a barrier to attending. Adelaide Zen Group maintain a generous dana account which is intended to support those who might otherwise find it financially challenging to attend retreats. Payment by instalments is also an option. Please do not hesitate to discuss with the retreat coordinator (David Edwards). Any discussions about fees are strictly confidential.
Method of payment
The preferred method of payment is electronic funds transfer (EFT). Details are provided at online registration.
New Cancellation Policy
In order to help cover retreat expenses and make residential retreats sustainable we have developed the following guidelines for the rare occasion you might need to withdraw.
For those who have registered including accommodation:
If you need to withdraw before Friday 21 August we will offer a full refund. If you withdraw after Friday 21 August we will hold 50% of your payment as your contribution towards the retreat costs (rent, food, teacher stipends). There will also be the opportunity to consider donating a greater part of your refund if you wish to support the sustainability of residential retreats.
If you withdraw after Monday 14 September we will hold 100% of your payment.
For those who have registered without requiring accommodation:
If you withdraw before Friday 21 August we will offer a full refund. If you withdraw after Friday 21 August we will retain $50 as your contribution towards the retreat costs. There will also be the opportunity to consider donating more than $50 if you wish to help us cover costs and support the sustainability of residential retreats.
Please complete this application form and pay by Friday 21 August. This is to ensure rental accommodation can be confirmed based on the number of participants.
If you have any questions please contact David Edwards: davidedwards1811@gmail.com
Retreat Program for 2026
Save the dates
More details, including online registration will be provided closer to the dates.
If you would like any further information please contact David Edwards: davidedwards1811@gmail.com
November: Two-day intensive (Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th)
The teachers for this program will be Imelda Carson and Steve Wigg. The venue will be the Sophia Centre in Cumberland Park.
December: Online Rohastu zazenkai (Saturday 12th December)
The teacher for this program will be Allan Marett.