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Your Great Road Opens Up: Dōgen’s Approach to Continuous Practice (NF1D25)

Norman Fischer

August 16, 2025

Date and Time Details:
Saturday, August 16, 2025
10:00am - 4:00pm US Pacific Time

On-Land in our Community Meditation Center, or
Online via Zoom

Contact: Spirit Rock Registration
Registration@spiritrock.org

  • Benefactor. – $235.00
  • Sustainer. – $235.00
  • Basic. – $235.00
  • Mudita/Karuna Scholarship Rate. – $235.00
  • BIPOC Scholarship Rate. – $235.00

Cancellation Policy for On-Land Day Programs:

  • NO REFUNDS.
  • Open Credit or Donation to Spirit Rock = if you cancel 2 business days or more prior to program start (Pacific Time)
  • No Open Credit = if cancel less than 2 business days prior
To request a credit or donate your fees, please email us by the deadline above so we have a record of your cancellation. Credits must be used within one year of their date of issue. Credits cannot be accessed at the door or online.

Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online.

Registration closes at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on August 16, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program.


Program to be held on the land and online!

Description:
In this daylong retreat we’ll explore the art, practice, and cosmic significance of “just sitting,” or shikantaza, as described by Dōgen, the 13th Century Japanese founder of Soto Zen Buddhism, in his seminal essay “Continuous Practice.” During our time together we’ll engage in sitting and walking meditation and interactive discussion as we dive deep into this soaring, poetic text. Together, we’ll contemplate how insight and mindfulness can infuse all of our daily activities, including our relationships, transforming our lives into Dharma.

This day of practice is appropriate for beginners in meditation and mindfulness as well as those with all levels of experience in Zen. Spirit Rock is delighted to welcome our friend Norman Fischer—former abbot of San Francisco Zen Center and renowned poet and Zen teacher—to Spirit Rock for this special day of teaching and practice.

Sliding Scale: Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports teachers as well as Spirit Rock and your fellow practitioners who need to pay less.

On-Land Sliding Scale: (NF1D25)**
Benefactor – $310
Sustainer – $235
Basic – $140
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, M/K) – $70
**Volunteer/Work Exchange opportunities, which include full or partial Scholarships, may be available for the in-person program. For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@spiritrock.org.

Online Sliding Scale: (NF1Z25)***
Benefactor – $200
Sustainer – $120
Basic – $95
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, M/K) – $45
***Online Program: All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

*Important Notes:

Access to Recording

  • A recording will be available for all participants (on-land & online) following the program in approximately 10 days. You will have ~90 days from the original program date to view the recording.

On-Land Attendees

  • The on-land program will take place in the Community Meditation Center (CMC) in the Great Hall.
  • Bring a lunch and a water bottle. Lunch is not provided.
  • This is NOT a residential retreat. Overnight accommodations are not provided.

COVID Safety Protocols for non-residential programs: details here.

Cancellation Policy for On-Land: Daylongs, Multiday Programs (1-3 days), Family Programs, CEC fees:

  • NO REFUNDS.
  • Open Credit or Donation to Spirit Rock = cancel 2 or more business days prior to program (Pacific Time)
  • No Open Credit = cancel less than 2 business days prior

About the Teacher

Norman Fischer

Norman Fischer is a poet, author, and Zen Buddhist priest. A former abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, he is founder and teacher of the Everyday Zen Foundation (www.everydayzen.org), a network of Zen communities and programs. His latest Buddhist title is When You Greet Me I Bow: Reflections from a Life in Zen. His […]

Learn more about Norman Fischer

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