Online Zen Meditation Retreats
Practice from anywhere. Connect with a global sangha. Train in a living Zen lineage.
Retreat is when we pause the noise of daily life and look directly at who we are. It’s a chance to cut through habitual thinking and return to our natural clarity, compassion, and direction. KUZO’s online retreats make this timeless training available wherever you can connect to the internet.
Why Join Online Zen Meditation Retreats?
Strengthen Your Zen Practice
Our online retreats run in multiple regions, drawing participants from time zones around the world. The schedule follows a traditional Zen rhythm:
sitting meditation
walking meditation
structured breaks for meals and rest
Every retreat includes private kong-an interviews with an experienced Zen teacher, a defining element of our lineage.
Most retreats also feature a dharma talk offering insight and direction.
Whether you are beginning your practice journey or deepening long-term training, the retreat program meets you where you are. Prior meditation experience is helpful but not required—we will guide you.
Train According to Your Life
Modern life makes long, uninterrupted practice difficult. Our retreat model supports this reality.
You may join for a full day, a single block, or anything in between. You can step away and return later. We simply ask that you enter and exit between sitting periods to maintain steadiness for the group.
Retreat practice continues around the clock; you join as your life allows.
Practice with the World
Because our retreats are online, practitioners from Europe, the Americas, and Asia practice together in a continuous cycle of day and night. You may be sitting in your living room, but you are training shoulder-to-shoulder with a global sangha.
Wherever you are, the retreat is there.
Why Retreat Practice Matters
Retreat is where Zen stops being an idea and becomes a lived experience. Daily life scatters our attention—work, responsibilities, notifications, assumptions. Over time, clarity gets buried. Retreat cuts through that. It gives you a defined container where the only priority is paying attention. Supported by teachers and the community, you begin to see your patterns clearly. You see what helps your life and what undermines it.
Retreat isn’t escape. It’s training.
When the retreat ends, your life is still there—but you’re different. More grounded. More responsive. More aligned with your values and direction.
Generations of Zen practitioners have relied on retreat practice for this reason. KUZO brings that tradition online so anyone can do this work without needing to travel or step away from their responsibilities for long periods.
Retreat balances ancient wisdom with modern reality.
It gives you the structure to do the work that matters.
What to Expect
A traditional Zen retreat, adapted for accessibility, includes:
sitting meditation, the foundational Zen practice
walking meditation, to experience awareness in motion
private kong-an interviews with a Zen teacher
a dharma talk
regular breaks for meals and rest
The retreat may also include additional forms of practice:
bowing practice to ground the body
chanting to align breath, sound, and intention
You’ll receive the full schedule in advance, and you don’t need to memorize anything—simply join the Zoom room and follow the flow.
How to Prepare
Set yourself up for steady practice:
Choose a quiet, comfortable space — nothing elaborate; simplicity is fine.
Test your Zoom setup — stable connection, charged device.
Prepare simple meals in advance — support practice, not distraction.
Let housemates know you’re on retreat — small communication creates spaciousness.
Have essentials nearby — water, tissues, a blanket.
Bring a beginner’s mind — start fresh, whether it’s your first retreat or your fiftieth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zen Meditation Retreats
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You’re welcome to attend any portion of the retreat. You may join for a single block, leave when needed, and return later. We only ask that you transition quietly between sitting periods so the group rhythm remains steady.
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The retreat leader will schedule regular breaks, generally about an hour long. Use these times for meals, rest, or anything you need.
You may also step away during walking meditation to use the bathroom or get water.
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We meet and practice together on Zoom. After you register, you’ll receive an email with the link.
If you don’t have Zoom installed, you can download it here: https://zoom.us/download.
If the schedule feels unfamiliar, just show up, enter the Zoom room, and follow along. Everything is guided. -
The retreat follows a traditional Zen training rhythm: bowing, chanting, sitting meditation, walking meditation, and structured rest periods for meals or breaks.
The retreat includes kong-an teaching interviews with a Zen teacher and often includes a dharma talk. When you enter the retreat, simply follow the schedule.
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The teacher will call you into a private “virtual interview room” when it is your turn. This is a chance to ask questions about practice and to work directly with kong-ans.
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Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. You may set up a small table or bench with anything that supports your practice—such as a statue, picture, candle, or incense—but this is optional.
Sit on a meditation cushion, pillow, or chair.
If you have it, bring The Whole World Is a Single Flower.
Keep your speakers on so you can hear cues for sitting, walking meditation, breaks, and interviews. -
Yes, you can join with a phone or tablet, but we strongly recommend using a laptop for stability and ease of practice.
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Retreats are open to all, but we recommend that you have previous meditation experience or attend a meditation instruction class beforehand.
If you are new, don’t worry—the structure and group practice will guide you.
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Retreat is where this practice becomes real.
If you’re ready to deepen your meditation or reconnect with clarity and purpose, join us for an upcoming online retreat.
