Centuries ago, Ch’an Master Hongzhi articulated a teaching so simple, yet so profound, that it continues to illuminate hearts today. Silent Illumination—just sitting, just being—reveals the boundless nature of awareness itself. Hongzhi’s wisdom seeded the Soto Zen lineage, offering a path of direct encounter with the vast, luminous presence that underlies all of life. These teachings have profoundly shaped my own path, revealing a depth of presence and clarity beyond words.

When the teachings of Silent Illumination land in your hands, you recognize something precious—gold resting in the innermost chamber of your being. A quiet knowing stirs: this path is yours to walk. 

In this retreat, we step directly into these teachings, entering the practice of effortless awareness—a radical intimacy with all things. It is the simplest of practices, yet it asks everything of us. As we sit together in stillness, clarity arises, the heart softens, and life reveals itself…