2010 Sesshins

Spring Sesshin

Nine Expressions of interest have been received, just enough to confirm that the Summer Sesshin 2010 will take place from Sunday 12th to Saturday 18th of Septemberl at Stroud Monastery. Thank you to everyone who filled out an Expression of Interest.

Limited Number of Part Time Places available

There will be a LIMITED number of Part Time places available. Part time students must attend for an unbroken period of at least two full days commencing on Sunday 12th September. The part time option is available for those who cannot attend for the whole week due to time constraints, health reasons, parental or carer responsibilities etc. It may also a preferable option for those who are yet to attend a week long Sesshin, and who are looking for an introduction to Sesshin practice.

Applications

Closing date for applications is Friday September 3. Please get your applications and payments in by the closing date. The Sesshin fee is $450. The fee is payable on application. Unemployed and Pensioners pay $250 or whatever they can afford - financial difficulties will not preclude anyone from attending. Part Timers pay $75 per day.

You can fill out an application form on line by clicking on the link below:

Click here to open the application form for the Easter 2010 Sesshin


About Stroud Monastery

About the Stroud Monastery
Sesshin takes place at the Stroud Monastery, located 0.5 kilometres north of the historic township of Stroud on the eastern side of The Buckett Way. The mud brick monastery was built for the Sisters of Saint Clare in the 1970s. A grassy verge and gardens surround the monastery, chapel and living quarters. The sisters no longer share community life there and the monastery is maintained by the Franciscan Association. A small Franciscan community lives adjacent to the monastery on the same property.

In 1997, a mud brick and timber building was erected for larger gatherings, and named the Gunya Chiara, meaning House of Healing of Saint Clare. The Gunya Chiara serves as the Dojo during Sesshin. Gunya Chiara has a large and modern kitchen well suited to breakfast and lunch preparation. The floors of the Dojo are well lacquered boards of knotted pine. There is also a small collection of other much buildings on the property, including a single room tree house and a tiny mud brick cabin for personal retreats.

Much of the property is natural bushland. There are a many bush tracks and picturesque dams. Wallabies and all kinds of birdlife can be seen and heard. The dams abound with frogs, butterflies and dragonflies. Early morning Kinhin takes in mountain views and damside stops along the way. On a clear night, the Milky Way lights up the sky. In the evening, Possums sometimes stare inquisitively through the Dojo windows at the humans sitting quietly together.

Facilities
Accommodation is basic in single rooms - formerly bedrooms of resident nuns. You will need to bring your own linen and pillow. Quilt and blankets are provided. You may wish to bring a sleeping bag. There are laundry facilities and clothes lines. The monastery has ample bathing and showering facilities.


What to Bring
It can get cold and wet at times, so warm clothing and wet weather jackets are advisable. A set of work clothes is also needed as work periods can involve tasks such as collecting and chopping firewood, weeding, gardening and fallen timber and leaves from the scrub, roofs and guttering. Gloves will be supplied. Bring a small torch for early morning walk to the dojo and moving around at night.

Check list:


Travel
Cars leave the North Sydney Dojo for Stroud around 10 am on the first (Sunday) morning of Sesshin. Interstate attendees are requested to book flights that arrive at Mascot by 9 am. Interstate travelers are usually picked up at Mascot Airport on the Sunday morning around 9.30am. Cars usually arrive between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. This allows a few hours to settle into the accommodation, assign roles, prepare evening supper, set up the kitchen, Dojo and Oryoki bowls. Formal Sesshin starts on Sunday evening after supper.

Sesshin ends about midday on the next Saturday. Cars start leaving Stroud around two or three in the afternoon. Interstate and regional visitors should allow a good 4 to 4.5 hours to get back to Mascot Airport in your travel plans. It is advisable to book flights leaving Mascot after 8pm.



View Larger Map

The Monastery is about 3 hours drive from North Sydney. It will take 3.5 - 4 hours to get to Mascot Airport at the end of Sesshin.

1. Get onto the Sydney - Newcastle Freeway at Wahroongah. Both the Pacific Highway and the Cumberland Highway connect directly to the Freeway. If you are driving from the OMZS North Sydney Dojo, simply follow the Pacific Highway and turn right onto the Freeway. Stay on the Freeway for 127 Kilometres.

2. There is a roundabout at the end of the Freeway, at the John Renshaw Drive. Take the third exit onto John Renshaw Drive (Route 15). Head along John Renshaw Drive for 0.6 Km until you reach the new England Highway

3. Turn Right, taking the ramp onto the New England Highway (4.6 km) until you reach the Pacific Highway

4. Turn Left at the Pacific Highway, cross the river and head north 27.2 Km passing through Raymond Terrace until you come to start of The Bucketts Way on your left. If you get to the Karuah Bypass, you have gone too far!

5. Turn Left into The Bucketts Way and travel for 33.4 Km till you come to the township of Stroud.

6. Continue on The Bucketts Way after passing through Stroud for another 0.4 Kilometres. You will pass a country club to your right. Turn Right into Saint Claires Road. This is a signposted track that leads to Stroud Monastery.

7. Pass by Gunya Chiara ( the Dojo) at the top of the hill on your left hand side and proceed down to the parking bay on a flat on th eother side of the hill next to the monastery, kitchen, chapel and sleeping quarters. The Franciscan living quarters and Chapel to your right is off limits.