In this opening session of Upaya’s 2025 Fall Pratice Period Sesshin, four teachers—Sensei Kathie Fischer, Sensei Shinzan (joining remotely from San Diego), Sensei Monshin, and Hoshi Senko—welcome participants into the stillness and rhythm of this week-long meditation retreat. They offer encouragement and practical guidance for entering sesshin as a space of deep care and transformation. Sensei Kathie likens sesshin to a chrysalis, a protected container where we can safely dissolve old forms and allow something new to emerge. She reminds us of the quiet intimacy of silence, the tenderness of shared vulnerability, and the simple act of following the bell. Sensei Shinzan speaks of letting go of control—of plans, decisions, and self-concern—to rediscover the freedom of simply being present. Together, the teachers invite us to trust the process of sesshin: to meet our emotions with gentleness, care for one another as we would a fragile wing, and allow transformation to unfold naturally in its own time.
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