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Seven Thunders is an organization formed to support growth towards a deepening spiritual awareness and appreciation of life. We believe each of us has a unique path and we benefit from teachers and companions along the Way. Membership is open to all people interested in the practice of contemplative prayer or meditation.
Retreats Seven Thunders organizes Contemplative Intensive Retreats and Zen Sesshin. Although these practices have certain outward similarities, we do not attempt to merge these two traditions.
Contemplative Intensive Retreats include approximately 8 hours of sitting contemplation each day. Our Contemplative program is modeled after the format established by Fr. Willigis Jaeger, Roshi, a Benedictine monk, who studied Zen in Japan for 6 years with Yamada Koun Roshi. Fr. Jaeger is one of the pioneers in adapting Zen techniques to contemplative Christian practice. Zen Sesshin consist of 12 hours of zazen daily. The word sesshin means “to touch the mind.” Our sesshin ritual was developed at the Diamond Sangha, which was founded in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1959 by Robert Aitken Roshi and Anne Aitken. Our Zen comes from the Rinzai and Soto schools in Japan. You can take a look at our current retreat and sesshin offerings. |
Formed
in 1992, Seven Thunders is incorporated in Oregon as a non-profit
ecumenical religious organization. For guidance we look to teachers
from the Christian contemplative tradition as interpreted by Fr.
Willigis Jaeger, OSB, and from the Zen Buddhist tradition of the
Diamond Sangha. 
Retreats
consist of a series of 25 minute sitting meditation periods (zazen)
and 5 minutes of walking contemplation (kinhin). There are opportunities
for interviews (dokusan) with the teacher (Roshi), a daily work
period (samu), Eucharist (Buddhist sutra service at sesshin), conference
(Teisho), and vegetarian meals. Silence is observed throughout the
retreat with the exception of group recitations and private interviews
with the teacher. 