Dear Friends,

We are pleased to announce our 2025 Spring Retreat! 

Flint Sparks, Open Door Zen Community’s (ODZC) guiding teacher will be here in person, along with Suzanne Kilkus, our resident teacher, to lead The Energy of Wakefulness: Overcoming Obstacles Along the Path, April 23-27.

The retreat begins on Wednesday evening and is the essential dharma gate for the teachings of the entire retreat. It creates the container that our shared practice ensures. 

There will be two ceremonies during the retreat, Chris Eckerman’s Head Student exit ceremony and a teacher entrustment ceremony for Kim Neuschel. There will also be a Jukai ceremony on Sunday following the retreat. Any special accommodations for the ceremonies will be included in the final details email.

For registration details go to the ODZC Retreat page. 

Residential fees are additional, and arrangements are made directly with Holy Wisdom Monastery. 

Please see the flier for how to make your room reservation. Rooms are reserved for ODZC participants until March 23 at 5p. Any remaining rooms will be released to the general public after that.

Our current Covid and Respiratory Illness Policy and Cancellation Policy are on the ODZC website. Registrants will be notified if there are any changes to the Covid and Respiratory Illness Policy. 

We look forward to being together,

Open Door Zen Community Retreat Committee
Bonnie S, Cathy S, Julie, Kathleen, Mary Grace, and Zenshin Suzanne, Resident Teacher

Important dates:
March 23 - guest rooms are released to the general public 
April 8  - in person registration closes at 5p
April 20 - online registration closes at 5p