3-Day In-Person Sesshin, March 17-19


Event Details

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Location: Christ Church Cobble Hill, located at 326 Clinton Street, Brooklyn (enter by the Clinton Street driveway gate, pass the scaffolding, and through the double doors)

Friday and Saturday: 9am to 6pm
Sunday: 9am to 1pm

Join this practice opportunity with dharma teachers Sarah Dōjin Emerson and Charlie Korin Pokorny.

In this in-person sesshin, the schedule will include periods of zazen (sitting meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation), along guided meditation practices, soji, service and dharma talks.

The students who are preparing to receive the precepts in a jukai ceremony in June will also be sewing their rakusus during part of the retreat–so this will be a wonderful way to support them in their vows. The retreat is open to all.

Partial attendance will be permitted; a minimum of two days’ attendance is required.

Lunch will not be served. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch or go out for lunch (there will be an ample break in the middle of the day.)

The Saturday dharma talk at 11 am will be livestreamed. For security reasons, we do not post zoom links publicly. If you are subscribed to the BZC Community List and receive the weekly announcements, please find the log in information in your inbox. Otherwise, please contact Flo Lunn here in advance.


We are currently at risk level GREEN (low risk): we ask that all participants be fully vaccinated and boosted, masks are optional.  Please see the BZC Covid Protocol for additional information.


Equitable Pricing Model (read more here):

If you’re unable to pay at the lowest rate, please use this form to apply for an exemption at least a week before the registration deadline. Registration closes March 14.

Refund policy: you may request a full refund for this program by emailing info@brooklynzen.org at least 7 days before the beginning of the program. Please see our complete cancellation policy here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.


About Sarah Dōjin Emerson

Sarah Dōjin Emerson’s formal practice in Soto Zen began in 1996. She lived and trained at Tassajara Zen Mountain center and other sites of the San Francisco Zen Center from 1997-2007. She received Dharma Transmission from Abbott Konjin Gaelyn Godwin of the Houston Zen Center in 2015. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, and has worked in the fields of mental health and pastoral care with children and adults. She experiences Bodhisattva Zen practice as deeply supportive to inquiring into, challenging and transforming systems of oppression, particularly racial inequities and the harm they cause within convert Buddhist sanghas, and in U.S. society generally. Sarah has also worked for many years in grief support- clinically, ritually and in community- specializing in child loss. She lives with her partner, Charlie Pokorny (who is also a Soto Zen Buddhist priest), their children (who are her most profound and constant teachers) and numerous pets in Brooklyn, NY.

About Charlie Korin Pokorny

Charlie Korin Pokorny grew up in Hyde Park on the South Side of Chicago. He was ordained as a priest by Reb Anderson in 1999 and received dharma transmission in 2018. He practiced as a resident at Tassajara and Green Gulch Farm and studied koans with Daniel Terragno. Charlie and Sarah served as head priests at Stone Creek Zen Center 2014-2022. He teaches at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley (including courses on Buddhist philosophy, history, meditation and ritual practice). Charlie, Sarah and their children moved to Brooklyn in 2022.


Access Notes: We are in an historical building which is not wheelchair accessible. There are two flights of stairs leading to the center, located on the second floor. Chairs, benches, and extra support cushions are available. If you have any additional questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.

Our Location: Boundless Mind Temple is located at Christ Church Cobble Hill, at 326 Clinton Street, at the corner of Kane Street, in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. The closest subway is the Bergen Street stop on the F line. To reach the center, please enter by the Clinton Street driveway gate, pass the scaffolding, and through the double doors. There are two flights of stairs leading to the center, located on the second floor.