This will be a 2.5 day sesshin in Sheringham, Norfolk!

The sesshin will include a precepts ceremony for specific sangha members who have for some time been preparing for ordination

Sesshin Leader:

Guy Mokuho Mercier began practising zazen with Master Taisen Deshimaru in 1973, becoming his disciple in March of 1976 after receiving ordination as a monk.

After Master Deshimaru’s death in 1982, he remained active in the Paris sangha. From 1986 to 1991, he was again the tenzo at La Gendronnière, and became the head of the temple from 1991 to 1997.  In September, 2008, he received Dharma transmission from Sojun Matsuno Roshi in Takefu, Japan.

Today, he is active in the AZI spiritual council, is the head of the Zen Centre of Lanau near Saint Flour in the Auvergne, in France and leads the Tenborin Zen Association.  He leads sesshins in France, Spain, Switzerland and England.

Dates:

Arrival: Friday 4th February from 16:00.

Departure: Monday 7th February from 15:00.

It is possible to stay on Monday night and leave instead on Tuesday morning before 10:00am at no extra cost.

Location:

Sheringham Youth Hostel,  Cremer’s Drift, Sheringham, Norfolk  NR26 8HX

The Youth Hostel is situated off the A149 Coast Road in Sheringham, behind St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.

The Sheringham Youth Hostel is only a 5 minute walk from the Sheringham Train Station.

Bring:

• Dark, loose-fitting clothes for zazen, and clothes for samu (work in the kitchen, cleaning or gardening);
• A zafu and zafuton if you have one. There will be some spares to borrow;
• Bowls, cutlery and cloths to wrap them in. (If possible, a set of three bowls or one bowl and a small pickle dish). Your own mug please.
• Covid masks, hand sanitiser, Lateral Flow Tests.

Cost (Pre-discount) (subject to confirmation):

Recommended: Friends of IZAUK – £170,   Non-members – £185

Low Wage: Friends of IZAUK – £140,  Non-members – £160

Unwaged: Friends of IZAUK – £120,  Non-members – £130

A £20 discount will be deducted from these prices if you book before midnight on 21st January.

Please note:

It is important to book early because we have to arrange equipment and food, and Covid restrictions will mean that fewer people can attend, so please book quickly to increase your chance of assuring a place.

Although we would like you to book early for the sesshin, unfortunately, the bookings are not selected on a first-come, first-served basis. All registrations are provisional and no payment will be requested until your booking has been confirmed by the organisers. This is due to the limited space that will be available, owing to Covid restrictions.

Payment of your deposit or full amount will be requested on your confirmation letter.

Covid Safety:

• All participants are required to take a Lateral Flow Test 7 days before the sesshin and another immediately prior to making their journey
• In the event of a positive result, please do not make the journey, and inform the sesshin organiser, John Brown, by email: johnb@izauk.net
• Attendees will take another test on the second day of sesshin
• If you have not been fully vaccinated you will need to show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before your arrival at sesshin
• All participants will be required to wear masks throughout the sesshin, except during zazen and eating. There will be no exemptions
• Rooms will be well ventilated at all times, so be sure to bring suitable warm clothing
• To keep contact to a minimum, please come prepared to pay your balance on arrival at the sesshin

Bursary Fund:

Don’t let finances stop you attending.  Members of the Friends of IZAUK are entitled to financial assistance from the Bursary Fund. This includes help towards the cost of a PCR test as well as for the sesshin itself. To apply to the fund please contact John Callaghan john.cal@outlook.com before the sesshin.

All money in the Bursary Fund has been donated by other members at times when they were able. Sometimes we are able to give, and at other times we may need to receive. Please don’t be afraid to ask.

[You can become a Friend of IZAUK via the IZAUK website or at the sesshin]

Enquiries:

For any other enquiries, please contact John Brown: johnb@izauk.net

Registration – PLEASE go to the IZAUK website to register https://www.izauk.org/event-items/izauk-sesshin-4-7-february-2022/