OPENING OURSELVES TO THE HEALING POWER OF THE ABHIDHARMA
Led by Anne Johnson, Head Student, and Suzanne Kilkus, Resident Teacher
Sunday, January 25, 2026
1p-6:30p
On the slopes of Mt. Kugami, holed up for the winter,
day after day, the snow goes on falling,
until trails show no signs of a soul passing by
and no word comes from home.
So I shut my gate on the drifting world.
And here, with this one thread of clear water from the crags,
straight as the string plucked by the carpenter of Heda,
I keep myself alive through another year, another today,
I go on living.
Ryōkan
Please consider joining us for the ODZC one-day winter retreat, where we will “shut the gates on the drifting world” and practice together in heightened awareness of what it means to be a human being living in this complex world. By exploring and experiencing the teachings of the Abhidharma (sometimes called the original Buddhist psychology) may we discover profound, yet profoundly simple ways of going deeper with our practice in order to liberate ourselves and others from the unnecessary suffering we create with our own minds. Thich Nhat Hanh’s Understanding Our Mind will be the foundational text of our learning together.
The Abhidharma catches the very essence of the Dharma,
which means that its sound can operate almost as a charm or spell.
Rupert Gethem, Emeritus Professor of Buddhist Studies
University of Bristol
We’ll enter and hold our half-day of practice in Noble Silence.
The retreat will include zazen, kinhin, dharma talks, reflection, and sharing.
Warm soup and bread will be offered around 4:20.
The retreat will continue with Sunday sit at 4:55p.
Everyone is invited to linger afterward for social connection.
Join us in person at the Tai Chi Center of Madison
1304 South Midvale Boulevard, Madison, WI 53711
or online.
Registration is open through Friday, January 16, at 5p.
If you’d like to contribute toward room rental, you can donate on the day of the retreat, or
online with ODZC’s donate button (Please note Winter Retreat donation).
Please carefully review the Covid and Respiratory Illness Policy for in-person participation.
The retreat will be recorded.
For more information about Open Door Zen Community, visit opendoorzencommunity.org
