Nyoho-e Sewing Sesshin - Day 3 ONLY (ON SITE / No Overnight Stay)

Buddha’s Robe According to Dharma in Preparation for Nyoze's Shinsanshiki (Mountain Seat Ceremony)

Sewing Buddha’s Robe.......stitch by stitch. Learn the traditional way of sewing Buddha’s robe in the lineage of Eishun Yoshida-roshi, Tomoe Katagiri-sensei’s teacher. In 1994, Katagiri-sensei led a sewing sesshin, transmitting the lineage of sewing to Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. We will learn to hand-sew panels of cloth together stitch by stitch to create the Buddhist Okesa in support of Nyoze Kwong who will become the 2nd abbot of SMZC on September 2, 2023.

About Nyoho-e Practice: This sesshin explores the Self through the traditional practice of sewing called nyoho-e. Taking the backwards step with each stitch, we manifest the mind-to-mind transmission of our ancestors going back to Shakyamuni Buddha. The sewing tradition of nyoho-e has been passed down from Kodo Sawaki-roshi’s and Eko Hashimoto’s lineage. Both teachers strongly emphasized returning to the simple ancient ways of practice. Under the same lineage and spirit, Tomoe Katagiri (Katagiri-roshi’s wife) has been a close friend of Kwong-roshi and the Kwong family since the early 60’s and has taught okesa sewing at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center.

Schedule: Retreatants will learn and participate in the group sewing of okesa, or assisting sewing garments. Two periods of instructions from the sewing teacher and hands-on sewing will be scheduled in morning and afternoon blocks. Materials and sewing instructions will be provided along with overnight lodging and meals. People can participate in this sewing sesshin in various ways: come for morning zazen, sign up for morning or afternoon sewing practice throughout the week, join us for 1-4 full days, or however this sesshin fits your daily schedule.

Instructor: Kashin Kwong has been leading SMZC’s sewing practice for many years and will be giving instructions and guiding us throughout this retreat.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity. No sewing experience is necessary.

Download Sesshin Schedule