​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Meditation Retreats


The Louisville Zen Center offers sesshin and other extended sitting opportunities. Anyone who has completed our Introduction to Zen Meditation—or a similar program—is welcome to join. For in-person retreat information at Heart of Perfect Wisdom Zendo, click here.  For joining us online (if online participation is offered), click here.

​Zazenkai: Extended Sitting

Sunday, February 8, 2026 (In-Person)

You're invited to join us at Heart of Perfect Wisdom Zendo for this zazenkai (extended sitting). Breakfast and a tea break will be provided; please bring your own lunch. During Block 3, Jissai-sensei will offer dokusan (one-to-one instruction) to all participants at HPWZ, whether or not you're a Center member. Part-time attendance is ok, too. Here's the schedule:


  •  6:15 AM – Block 1: Two 35-minute rounds of zazen with a 7-minute kinhin in between
  •  7:30 AM – Breakfast: Provided
  •  8:30 AM – Block 2: One 50-minute round of zazen (with a bell at the halfway point for a posture change), followed by kinhin, chanting, and a teisho by Sensei Dhara Kowal
  • 10:30 AM – Tea break: Provided
  • 11:00 AM – Block 3: Three 30-minute rounds of zazen with 7-minute kinhin in between; includes dokusan with Sensei Jissai Prince-Cherry
  • 12:45 PM – Lunch: Bring your own (no flesh foods, please)
  •  1:30 PM – Block 4: Three 25-minute rounds of zazen with 5-minute kinhin in between
  •  3:00 PM – Closing: The Four Vows


This event is free for members. Suggested donation for non-members is $7 per block (cash, check, or PayPal). If you'd like to participate, click here to sign up and let us know your attendance schedule.

Commuter ​​​​​​​​​Sesshin: Intensive Zen Meditation Retreat

August 14-16, 2026 (In-Person & Online)

You're invited to a commuter sesshin (no overnight stays) at Heart of Perfect Wisdom Zendo. We will be tuning in to the live sesshin broadcast from the Rochester Zen Center, and Jissai-sensei will offer dokusan (one-to-one instruction) to LZC sesshin participants. ​Breakfast will be provided—please bring your own lunch. Suggested donation for members is $5 per block; non-members is $10 per block. Contributions may be made by cash, check, or PayPal. Below is the schedule (Note: each round of zazen is ~ 35 minutes and kinhin is ~ 7 minutes). Part-time attendance is ok. To participate, click here to sign up and let us know your attendance schedule.


Opening Night: In-Person (Friday, August 14)

  • 5:45 PM - Check In
  • 6:30 PM - Sesshin Guidelines
  • 6:55 PM - Warning bell
  • 7:00 PM - Zazen; Tea Ceremony, kinhin, zazen, kinhin, zazen
  • 9:30 PM - Four Vows


Middle Days: In-Person & Online (Saturday, August 15)

  •  4:45 AM - Block 1 (In-Person): Zazen, chanting, kinhin, zazen & dokusan, kinhin, zazen
  •  7:00 AM - Breakfast: provided
  •  7:30 AM - Work period
  •  8:25 AM - Bell ending work period; rest period and/or posture clinic
  •  9:25 AM - Zazen warning bell
  •  9:30 AM - Block 2 (In-Person): Zazen, kinhin
  • 10:15 AM - Dharma Talk
  • 11:25 AM - Zazen, kinhin, zazen
  • 12:30 PM - Lunch: bring your own (no flesh foods please), followed by rest period
  •   1:55 PM - Zazen warning bell
  •  2:00 PM - Block 3 (In-Person): Zazen, kinhin, zazen & dokusan, kinhin, zazen
  •   4:00 PM - Chanting
  •   4:15 PM - Four Vows
  •   4:20 PM - Depart
  •  7:00 PM - Block 4 (Online): Zazen, kinhin, zazen & dokusan, kinhin, zazen, kinhin, zazen
  •   9:25 PM - Evening Ritual & Four Vows


Final Day: In-Person (Sunday, August 16)

  •  4:45 AM - Block 1 (In-Person): Zazen, chanting, kinhin, zazen & dokusan, kinhin, zazen
  •  7:00 AM - Breakfast: provided
  •  7:30 AM - Work period
  •  8:25 AM - Bell ending work period; rest period and/or posture clinic
  •  9:25 AM - Zazen warning bell
  •  9:30 AM - Block 2 (In-Person): Zazen, kinhin
  • 10:15 AM - Dharma Talk
  • After talk - Final dokusan
  • ~1:00 PM - Closing: Final words, followed by chanting and Four Vows

Want more? Attend a ​​​​​​​​​Rochester Zen Center Sesshin!​

Louisville Zen Center Sangha are welcome to join sesshin hosted by our mother ship, the Rochester Zen Center, either in-person or online. Upcoming RZC sesshin dates are here. Note: Louisville Zen Center members receive priority and deeply discounted rates.