a zen sesshin (which literally means "touching the heart-mind") is an extended period of intensive zazen (or zen meditation).
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the last sesshin i attended lasted for 5 days and it was a different experience for me because we took our meals in the form of a japanese ritual called oryoki. oryoki is japanese word for "just enough." in this ritual, we would eat from 3 laquered bowls and fill them up with "just enough" food to avoid left-overs. the meals were eaten mindfully and with an attitude of gratitude for all forms of life which contributed to making the meal possible. after each meal, we would pour hot water into the bowls, swirl the hot water to clean the bowls, then finish off by drinking the water from the bowl. the bowls were then wiped dry and wrapped in a kerchief-sized cloth, ready for use for the next meal. oryoki proved to be an eco-friendly , no wastage manner of eating..
for me, the zen sesshin was a welcome experience. it offered me the chance to be more aware, more "in-touch," more grounded from within. it is always difficult to describe a felt experience, and so the closest i can liken my zen experience to is "a peaceful homecoming to a state of 'just being.'".