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Sesshin, It is one of the most important practices on the path of Zen, It has a deep meaning that goes far beyond what we commonly understand as a retreat.. The word "sesshin"Combine Japanese characters for" contact " (catch) and "mind/heart" (Heart), that we can translate as "touching the essential" or "unifying the mind-corazón". In our tradition, sesshin It is not just a time of intensive meditation or a withdrawal of silence; es, above all, An intimate encounter with our authentic nature, an immersion in the silence and depth of the present experience. This way, a sesshin It is an opportunity to explore who we are really, stripping us of the identity and conditioning layers with which we automatically identify and that are direct cause of unnecessary suffering.
The practice of sesshin dates back to the origins of Buddhism in India, where intensive retreats served as a time for contemplation and deep meditation. Over time, These practices went to China and consolidated in Japan, where Zen temples and monasteries adopted the sesshin as an intensive practice period, allowing monks and practitioners to go beyond daily practice to penetrate the deep sense of zazen.
Touch the essential, It is an integration practice where the heart and mind are unified. During these days of retirement, Participants immerse themselves in a structured meditation routine, silence and teachings, in which the rhythm of the different activities of the day is key. This practice invites you to return to the present moment and directly experiment our original nature, No distractions or expectations. One day in a sesshin Follow a rigorous and careful structure. From dawn to dusk, Participants alternate between periods of sitting meditation (zazen) And walking (kinhin), With specific moments for meals, generally manual work (find) and formal teaching of experienced teaching (teisho). Each of these activities has a specific purpose and impact on practice, allowing the practitioner to experience a total immersion in itself. Each action during retirement charges value. Comer, clean, Walk ... Each activity becomes an opportunity to practice full attention. He find, or conscious work, For example, It allows to integrate the practice into daily activities and understand that Zen is not limited to sedentant meditation. He find reminds us that each act, however, becomes a practice of awakening and full presence.
The silence that permeates the practice during the sesshin It is not simply an absence of noise, but a space of deep introspection. No day -to -day distractions, without having to appear anything, Practitioners can observe their own thought patterns, Emotions and reactions, becoming clear aware of their way of being and being in the world. This silence allows aspects of personality and emotions that have been ignored or repressed emerge, facilitating a natural transformation process, genuine and deep. By immersing ourselves in practice without distractions, We have the opportunity to meet face to face with ourselves. This meeting is an act of courage and honesty, where the fragility of the ego is exposed and the true face of consciousness is glimpsed. In this sense, a sesshin It becomes a space where the barriers of the self and mine fall apart, which is the deep cause of suffering.
An important element of the sesshin It is the dokusan, The private encounter with the teacher or an experience with experience. In these moments of personal dialogue, The practitioner can receive direct guidance, Clarify doubts, share your experiences and receive teachings adapted to your current situation. These meetings are key, because they provide a personalized guide and allow to deepen the experience of the sesshin. In the silence of the sesshin, The word acquires a special weight. Each teaching is received with a spirit of openness and humility, knowing that it is an opportunity to advance. The teacher can indicate blockages, guide the practitioner in his introspection process and offer tools to overcome obstacles on the road.
Therefore, a sesshin It is a space where the practitioner has the opportunity to transcend his own limitations. It is a laboratory in which we explore the depths of our mind and open ourselves to the experience of emptiness. Every moment, From the first zazen Until the last kinhin, It is an opportunity to release clicks and allow the presence of consciousness to manifest. This intensive practice allows you to experiment more clearly what "awakening" means, Not as a distant state, but as something intimate. The purpose of the periods of practice during the sesshin It is learning to live fully, To be present with a calm and receptive mind, In a deep intimacy with life itself.
At the end of one sesshin and return to day to day, We are not the same. Something in us has changed, And we carry that transformation as a seed that, With everyday practice, It blooms in our heart. The practice of Buddhism Soto Zen leads us to a radical transformation. Like a fire that burns inside us, Deep and no distraction practice of these days is still on, illuminating our path and helping us more clearly. But it must be fed with everyday practice. If we feel that the fire goes out, We get back to immerse ourselves in a new sesshin, That is our way, Persevering practice.
For those who want to deepen the Zen path, a sesshin It is an opportunity to explore who they are deep. If you want to discover who you are deep in your being, Maybe it's time to sit in the cushion and start your own path. You have an excellent opportunity to get in touch with your true nature and live more clearly, compassion and presence. For anyone who wishes to experience Soto Zen Buddhism in all its depth, practice during sesshin It is living life in its maximum expression.
