Retreats are a special time to strengthen our practice. There are many different kinds of retreats. Before discussing various retreats, a few notes are in order on Retreat Etiquette.

1. At the beginning of each group retreat, there will be an orientation given by the Head Dharma Teacher who will explain the formal practice for the retreat and also read the Temple Rules, and House Master who makes sure people have bowls, rooms, house jobs and understand other aspects of living together during a retreat. Then a talk is given by the Teacher for the retreat. If the Teacher is not available, the Head Dharma Teacher may designate someone else. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, so they can be registered, have their job assigned, get oriented, and find their sleeping spaces.

2. Use the bathrooms quickly (especially in the mornings) so everyone can have a chance. Always remove your kasa and long robe before entering the bathroom. If you are the last person in a room, turn off the lights as you leave. Everyone is asked to sign up to help with meals and clean-up on the cooking schedule.

3. All meals are formal (except during a Kido). If you're on the grounds and skip a meal, please don't come and eat later. Together-action during the retreat is very important. If you sign out for a meal because you are fasting, please attend the meal anyway, there will be juice served for the Fasters. Both complete fasting and eating too much are discouraged because one can become weak from lack of food or sleepy from too much. A stomach that is one-fourth full helps to keep the mind alert.

4. Observing Silence is of great importance. This is one of the most powerful techniques during a retreat. It allows us to hear ourselves and gives other people space to hear themselves. It is most important not to talk at all. For this reason, during retreats there will be paper and pencil scattered about the Zen Center for emergency communications. Please do not talk in hallways or other public places. Talking in rooms or offices should be kept as soft as possible. Telephone calls are discouraged.

5. Be as silent as possible during the sitting periods. Pay attention to your breathing, beads and movements. Do not move. If you are sleepy or your legs hurt, you may do a sitting bow and stand silently behind your mat with your hands in Hapchang (or clasped as in walking meditation if you wish to use your beads). When your discomfort has passed, do a standing bow and then return to the same or another sitting position. Simply shifting positions while sitting is discouraged.

6. Sitting periods begin when the Head Dharma Teacher hits the chug-pi 3 times. Do not enter or leave the Dharma Room during a formal sitting period. Walking meditation lasts for 10 minutes and is the time to leave to use the bathroom. Wait until the line passes the Dharma Room door, then step out of line, do a standing bow toward the altar and leave the room. When you return, enter the Dharma Room, do a standing bow, wait for the line to pass by and enter at your spot. It is not necessary to hapchang or bow when entering the line. If you return after sitting has started again, sit on the mat outside the Dharma Room until the chug-pi is hit once for the next walking meditation and then enter.

7. If there is a Ji Do Poep Sa present, interviews are held daily. If Dae Soen Sa Nim is present, the frequency of interviews depends on the number of people. Interviews are usually given only to those sitting the entire day. Exceptions may be made for special situations. Please speak to the Head Dharma Teacher. The start of interviews is signaled by 3 rings of a hand bell. Subsequent interviews are signaled by 2 rings. (See section on interviews for more detail).

   When interviews are given, the interview order is as follows:
   Moktak Master* (during morning bell or morning sitting)
   Meal Cook
   Head Dharma Teacher
   Around the room counter-clockwise from HDT
   Moktak Master* (during evening sitting)
   *Note: the Moktak Master must be available for the four regular chants, so the order must reflect this.
   
   

   If you do not want an interview, simply Hapchang so the next person in line knows to go. When it is your turn, you may leave the Dharma Room to go to the interview. The person coming back will close the door behind you. Always return to the Dharma Room after the interview, so the Head Dharma Teacher will know to send someone else.

   If walking meditation is happening when you come back from an interview, make sure the Head Dharma Teacher sees you before disappearing to go to the bathroom. If you missed a walking period and need to go to the bathroom, you may take time to do it, but only after making sure the next person is on the way to the interview.

   If your turn comes during walking meditation, step out of the line and go directly to the door. Do not wait until the line passes the door. When returning, wait for the line to pass you and enter at your spot.

8. You are expected to sit a complete set of 2-3 sitting periods. That is, if you sign up to sit the mid-morning sitting, you are expected to sit from 10 AM until noon.

   If you become sick and must leave, leave a note for the Head Dharma Teacher explaining your situation. This is especially important if you are sick so people can see if you are in need of anything later.

9. Both the beginning and ending of the walking meditation periods are signaled by 1 hit of the chug-pi. When the walking period starts or ends it is not necessary to bow before standing up or sitting down.

   At the end of the last sitting period, the chug-pi is hit 3 times and everyone does a sitting bow before getting up. At this time, brush off, straighten and align your mat and cushion. The Moktak Master and Head Dharma Teacher will correct the alignment at the end of practice.

10. It is permissible to have eye contact with each other, give each other shoulder massages and any other silent encouragement. This is especially helpful for newcomers who may be having a hard time mentally and physically. Remember we are all here to help each other along the path, not to keep each other in line. Keep an atmosphere of compassion, dignity and respect in the Dharma Room.

11. If you are late for chanting, it is appropriate to do a full prostration only if you have missed the Homage to the Buddhas, or during Special Chanting if you have missed the beginning of the 1000 Eyes and Hands Sutra. Do not do a prostration if you enter directly after the Evening Bell Chant.

    Do not enter the Dharma Room:
    When the temple bell is being struck
    During the Evening Bell Chant
    When the Moktak Master is putting out candles at the end of chanting.
    
    

12. If this is a separate retreat within the larger community, contact with residents who are not part of the retreat is not encouraged. This includes eye contact and any other form of communication.

13. If you wish to be hit with the stick on both shoulders, cross your arms and touch each shoulder after the sitting bow. Otherwise, you will be hit on one side only. (You may indicate which side by touching that shoulder).