Zen Practice
Student Stays
Flexible Dates
Crestone Mountain Zen Center
To be a student at CMZC means to join the resident monks and lay practitioners in following the schedule completely. This includes meditation and work periods, talks and discussions, and community meals.
Residency
Flexible Dates
Residents join the daily life of the monks and teachers at CMZC. Our daily schedule includes meditation, time for self-guided study, communal meals and work periods. There are also Dharma talks and Question and Answer sessions.
Guest Season Volunteer
Flexible Dates
Our Summer Volunteer Program runs from mid-May until the end of September. Throughout the Summer we will open our facilities to welcome external retreat leaders and their groups. The volunteer program offers room and board in exchange for helping with our Summer Guest Season.
Rohatsu Sesshin 2025
With Zentatsu Baker Roshi
November 30 - December 8, 2025
Rohatsu Sesshin' ('Shakyamuni Enlightenment Day, Heart/Mind Practice') is the traditional December, 'Seven-day Meditation Intensive' of sitting and walking meditation, three-bowl (oryoki) meals, daily Dharma talks, and personal interviews (dokusan) with the teacher.
New Year's Seminar 2026
With Zentatsu Baker Roshi
December 28, 2025 - January 1, 2026
Crestone Mountain Zen Center
Join us for our annual New Year’s Seminar at CMZC. The seminar consists of sitting, exploring practice themes, working together, and sharing meals.
February Sesshin 2026
With Tatsudo Nicole Baden Roshi
February 7 - 13, 2026
Sesshin means to gather the heart-mind: A profound willingness to become intimate with our experience. For five days, we live within the forms of practice-sitting, walking, sharing meals, working with our hands, listening to the Dharma.