Shortcuts to Having a Strong Sesshin

by Ven. Sunyana Graef

Every now and again something happens that brings home to me with great clarity my shortcomings as a Zen teacher. One of these head-in-the-hands, "oy vay" moments occurred the morning the April sesshin in Toronto was to start: two sesshin participants casually remarked that the night before they had gone out to a movie together. A movie?! The night before sesshin?! What were they thinking?

Now, I don't have anything against movies-I rather enjoy them provided they aren't violent-but watching a movie the day before sesshin is not a good idea. Yet, as I reflected on the incident, I realized that probably the people weren't aware of this. And why? Because probably I never told them. Oy vay! How could I be so negligent! Could it be that I've never talked about what to do and what not to do before sesshin?

As it happens, this year we will have the longest stretch between sesshins that we've had in many years. The last one was in May and the next one is in September. So there's plenty of time to get ready for sesshin.

Going to sesshin is a bit like preparing oneself prior to taking a journey to a distant land. You need appropriate clothes, you need to know a few survival phrases, and you need to have passing familiarity with the culture. In the same way, when you come to sesshin, you need to dress correctly, you need to know a few terms, and you need to know what is expected of you.

No two ways about it, the best preparation for sesshin is to do as much extra zazen and chanting as possible. This enables you to enter sesshin with a mind already receptive, concentrated and attentive. On the other hand, there are some things which, done prior to sesshin, will make it far more difficult for you to enter into sesshin mind. And, to be certain, these things will also adversely affect others in sesshin. Our Minds are One!

Here, then, is what you should avoid at all costs in the week or two prior to a sesshin of any length. If it is the day before sesshin begins or-even worse-the day of sesshin, multiply these don'ts by many orders of magnitude. You could say that doing the following is rather like going through customs with contraband. Avoiding these things will guarantee that your sesshin will be a more rewarding experience.

MOVIES.
Watching any movie, even one with a Buddhist theme is probably the single worst thing you can do prior to sesshin. The imagery of movies is implanted in the mind in such a way that it readily comes to consciousness during zazen. Between our rampant thoughts, unstable emotions, and physical discomfort, we have enough to contend with during sesshin. Why add to the burden?

TELEVISION.
See above. Exactly the same, perhaps worse (those pesky commercial ditties).

EXTRANEOUS READING.
Specifically novels, books about Zen, books with violent themes (even if they are non-fiction), and magazines. It should be obvious why it is inadvisable to read novels or books containing violence. You'll be setting yourself up for fantasies or particularly distressing makyo. As for magazines, you will end up spending extra time trying to let go of the mental clutter created by what you have read.

But why not Buddhist books? It is because the phrases in Zen texts will haunt you during sesshin. You'll find yourself comparing your mind states to those that were described in the book you read. Instead of concentrating on your practice, you'll be concentrating on ideas concerning the practices you read about. It's a no-win situation. Give yourself a break-don't read prior to sesshin.

MUSIC.
If you start to quiet down your environment before sesshin begins, likewise, your mind will begin to quiet. For many people, music sticks in the mind like super glue. Catchy tunes, romantic melodies, bits and pieces of classical music can become a broken record during sesshin-most annoying!

MAIL.
When I was on staff at the Rochester Zen Center and attending sesshin every month, Roshi used to advise us not open our personal mail for the three or four days before sesshin began. He told us the story of a young woman who came from a strict religious background and whose family greatly disapproved of her Zen practice. Nonetheless, she was a dedicated Zen student. The day before one of her first sesshins, she came to Roshi in tears with a letter in hand. It was written by her mother, and said that everyone in her family was praying for her soul so that she would be able to free herself from the demonic clutches of the cult into which she had fallen prey. She was so upset by the letter that she couldn't attend the sesshin. I suppose in this day and age it might be appropriate to add a warning about reading e-mail in place of the letter advisory. I'll leave this one up to you.

Now here are a couple of things you should do, in addition to the essential extra sitting and chanting:

PREPARE YOUR BODY.
Cut down on caffeine; stretch; get some extra sleep. Coffee isn't served during sesshin, so if you're addicted, cut back to avoid headaches. With respect to sleep, if you are exhausted when you come to sesshin, you'll fall asleep during zazen. Get some extra rest before-and after-sesshin.

PREPARE YOUR FAMILY.
Family members need to know a bit about what you will be doing (even if you're not too sure yourself). At the very least, explain that you will be incommunicado during sesshin, but that you can be reached in case of emergency.

When my children were young, they looked forward to sesshins because Jed let them get away with things I wouldn't have and because I always left a letter and tiny present for them every day I was away. Each morning they awoke to the letter, and each evening they looked forward to opening their "sesshin present." It was a little thing, really, but it made a huge difference in their attitude toward my absences.

After more than 30 years of practice I find these guidelines every bit as valid as they were when I was just starting on the path. The only concession I've made is that I now find I must read my mail before most sesshins, otherwise there would be no hope of keeping on top of correspondence. (Also I no longer need to prepare sesshin letters and presents for my kids!) All the other advice I have religiously adhered to for my life in Zen. If you wish to make the most of your sesshin training, I urge you to do the same.

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