With Roshis Jan Chozen Bays and Hogen Bays

Dates: February 4 - 8
Registration Deadline:  January 7
Suitability

This retreat is suitable for practitioners who have attended one of our silent weekend or longer retreats or a four-to-seven day silent retreat at another Buddhist Center. The retreat is open to both members of FCM and non-members. Please note that registration does NOT guarantee acceptance into the retreat. Participants will be notified of acceptance by January 11.

The Buddha taught that the truths of annica (impermanence) and annata (no fixed self) are deeply intertwined. The purpose of meditative practice is to directly awaken to these truths of Dharma within ourselves. When we open the gate to awakening in this very personal and intimate way, we can now walk freely and openly through the world. 

In this four-day silent retreat, drawing upon their many decades of Zen practice and teaching, Roshis Chozen and Hogen Bays will share practical and effective methods for quieting our busy minds. With this alert, clear and concentrated mind, participants will be guided to  experience these transformative Dharma truths of impermanence and non-self.

A silent Zen meditation retreat can be rigorous and, at times, challenging for some, and is not recommended for most beginners. In order to attend in person, it is recommended that you have first attended one of our silent weekend or longer retreats or a four-to-seven day silent retreat at another Buddhist Center.

Retreat Leaders

Roshi Chozen Bays has been the teacher for Zen Community of Oregon since 1985. In 2002 she helped to found Great Vow Zen Monastery and is co-abbot. In 2011 she also helped found Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple in Portland, Oregon. She has written books on mindfulness and mindful eating, and written articles published in Buddhadharma and Shambhala Sun.

Roshi Hogen Bays began practicing Zen in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi doing residential training at Zen Center of Rochester and eventually at Zen Center of Los Angeles with Taizan Maezumi Roshi. He continued his Zen studies with Shodo Harada Roshi in Japan and on Whidbey Island from 1990 – 2015. He’s a psychologist and Naturopathic Doctor (ND). He is co-abbot of Great Vow Zen Monastery.

Fees

The fee for in-person participation is $360 for overnighters and $280 for commuters. A $50 fee is required to register, with the balance due for those accepted by January 16. The $50 registration fee will be fully refunded to those not admitted to the retreat.

Retreat Scholarships are available; please click here to see FCM’s Retreat Scholarship Policy and for an Application, which needs to be submitted prior to the registration deadline for this retreat.

Retreat Logistics

This retreat is in-person only (either staying overnight or as a commuter) participation at FCM’s Tampa Center. The retreat will begin with orientation at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, February 4 and ends Sunday, February 8 at 1:00 pm. Participation is open to both FCM members and non-members.

Please note: 

• The deadline for registration for this retreat is January 7. 
• We will send a retreat acceptance letter by January 11 with additional information to help you prepare for retreat.
• The full fee will then be due by January 16, otherwise the spot will be given to another applicant. Please note that the required deposit will be fully refunded to any applicants not accepted into the retreat.
• Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.
• If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.
  
• New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

The Bays' teachings will be offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they've received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. As their teachings are offered freely, the student's response should also be based on Dana, i.e. generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage. All Dana collected at the end of retreat will go towards supporting the retreat teachers.. 

Questions?
Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

With Monastics from Blue Cliff Monastery

Dates: February 27 - March 1
Registration Deadline:  January 15

Please note that, due to limited space, registration does NOT guarantee acceptance into the retreat. Participants will be notified of acceptance shortly after the Registration Deadline.

Who Can Attend

All are welcome to attend this retreat, including both members and non-members:

• Parents and caregivers with children ages 6 and above
• Single parents, couples, and families of all backgrounds
• Individuals attending as caregivers or guardians

Please note:

For this retreat, children must be at least 6 years old to participate in the program. Children under age 6 may attend but must be with their parent(s) at all times as there are no group programs or child care for children under 6.

Description

We warmly invite families to join us for a Weekend Family Mindfulness Retreat led by monastics from Blue Cliff Monastery, part of the Plum Village tradition founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

This retreat offers families an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and cultivate mindfulness together through daily practices, community activities, and age-appropriate programs. Parents and children will practice both together and separately, learning skills that support harmony, presence, and compassionate communication at home and in daily life.

Retreat Highlights

• Sitting and walking meditation
• Mindful eating and silent meals
• Family mindfulness practices
• Children’s and teen programs with mindful games and activities
• Dharma talks and guided practices by Blue Cliff monastics
• Community sharing, deep listening, and loving speech
• Time for rest, reflection, and joyful connection

What to Expect

• A supportive and welcoming environment for families
• A balance of structured practice and community time
• Guidance from experienced monastics and facilitators
• Practices suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike
• Participants are encouraged to attend the full retreat schedule to receive the greatest benefit from the collective practice energy.

Retreat Leaders

Monastics (monks and nuns) from Blue Cliff Monastery

Fees

The fees are as follows:

Overnighters (Lodging at FCM)
$180 per adult
$90 per child/teen ages 6-19
$60 per child under 6*

Commuters (No lodging at FCM)

$140 per adult

$70 per child/teen ages 6-19

No charge for children under 6*

*Important: We want to emphasize again that for this retreat, children must be at least 6 years old to participate in the program. Children under age 6 may attend but must be with their parent(s) at all times as there are no group programs or child care for children under 6.

Retreat Scholarships are available; please click to see FCM’s Retreat Scholarship Policy and for an Application, which needs to be submitted prior to the registration deadline for this retreat.

Retreat Logistics

This retreat is in-person only (either staying overnight or as a commuter) participation at FCM’s Tampa Center. The retreat will begin with orientation at 5:00 pm on Friday, February 27 and ends on Sunday at 9:00 am, March 1. Participation is open to both FCM members and non-members.

Please note: 

• The deadline for registration for this retreat is January 15. 
• We will send a retreat acceptance letter by January 19 with additional information to help you prepare for retreat.
• The full fee will then be due by February 1, otherwise the spot will be given to another applicant.
• Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.
• If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.
  
• New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they’ve received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. The student’s response is also based on Dana, i.e. generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage. All retreat dana for this retreat will go towards supporting future programs at the FCM center. 

Questions?
For more information about the content and flow of the retreat, please contact Rosy at rosysharma5@gmail.com. Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.