The “Zendo” at Siena Center

From Sunday, June 26, until Tuesday, June 28, Milwaukee Zen Center held a residential sesshin at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. We were graciously hosted by the Racine Dominican Sisters, who had given us Buddhists refuge before. The Spacious Oak Room provided ample space for a zendo and oryoki dining. We even had a private kitchen.

The fifteen of us were coming from different directions: Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, Dylan Toropov, Gerrie Griffin and David Wray from Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago, Chuck Hutchcraft from Mundelein, Il, Taizan Alford from Appleton, Kim Hartman from Oshkosh, Fay Akindes from Kenosha, Wren Deetjen-Priester from Twin Lakes, and Susan Winecki, Frank Fischer, Kellett Koch, Jonathan Elmergreen, Jason Farris and Reirin Gumbel from Milwaukee.

Everyone had a job, either in the kitchen or in the zendo, and each had their own private bedroom with bath. There was plenty of time to enjoy the perfect weather and lovely surroundings.

We were all grateful for having an opportunity to being together in person and enjoying the intimacy of sitting together in silence.