Between the months of December and March, and at various points throughout the summer, the Center is open to visitors who rent a room in the guesthouse. As a guest, you will receive access to our natural hot springs, and while there is no obligation to participate in any of the Zen Center’s activities, guests are welcome and encouraged to join in practice.

Daily practice revolves around meditation–in sitting, walking and working. It is a rigorous lifestyle. Monks and Nuns, staff and students rise early and engage themselves fully in these activities throughout the day. The daily life is meant to be calm yet engaged. Everyone practices together harmoniously as a group, yet everyone is recognized as a distinct individual. A typical daily schedule is as follows:

• 4:00 a.m. Rise
• 4:15 Chanting, Zazen (meditation)
• 6:30 Breakfast
• 8:15 Samu (work practice)
• 12:00 pm Lunch
• 2:00 Samu
• 4:30 Hot Pools or Showers
• 5:15 Dinner
• 6:30 Zazen
• 8:30 pm Kaichin (end of day)

On most Sunday mornings the Center holds a Visitor’s Day program from 9:00 am to noon. The morning includes several periods of zazen (sitting meditation), a Dharma talk, and lunch with the Bodhi staff. Sitting instruction is available for newcomers. There is no fee, though donations are always welcome. Please call ahead to let us know you’ll be coming.

Periodically, weekend zazen meditation retreats are held starting 6:00 pm on a Friday and continuing until lunch on Sunday at noon. Suggested donation is $50 ($40 for members). Please call ahead for more information and to reserve a space.

Kessei is a special time for putting aside the concerns of the everyday world to enter pure Zen Buddhist practices. The daily activities during kessei are designed for deep contemplation and manifestation, especially weeklong sesshins.

A kessei training period is a two-month program given at Bodhi Manda twice a year, during the spring (April – May) and fall (mid October – early December). Bodhi Manda also offers an abbreviated one-month winter program (“Winterim”) focusing on monastic practices.

A typical schedule introduces participants to early rising, 6 hours of zazen (sitting meditation) per day, as well as chanting, samu (work practice), and silent formal meals. Sesshins include around 12 hours of zazen per day.

For student prices or other information please contact the Center. Please note that in order to reserve a space for any Sesshin or Kessei, a non-refundable deposit will be required. In cases of limited seating, priority will be given to full-time Kessei students.

Hoshiki Bombai: Ceremonies

Hoshiki: “Dharma Ceremony”; Bom: “Chanting”; Bai: “Beating [the drum]“

Equality is manifested through Buddhist ceremonies as both lay and ordained persons come together and manifest Perfect Buddha Nature. Bodhi Manda holds various ceremonies throughout the year (listed below) which are open to the public and are followed by an informal lunch. Donations are welcome. Please call for more information.

January 1: New Year’s Day Ceremony

January 10: Rinzai-ki (Rinzai’s Deathday)

February 15: Nirvana Day (Buddha’s Deathday)

April 8: Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s Birthday)

October 5: Daruma-ki (Bodhidharma’s Deathday)

Summer Seminar on Buddhism (early June)

For many decades Bodhi Manda has conducted the annual “Summer Seminar on Buddhism” conceived in 1977 by Zen Master Joshu Roshi, where scholars from around the world are invited to lecture and present Buddhism from an academic perspective, immersing participants in both Buddhist philosophy and Zen practice. Open to the general public, the University of New Mexico also offers college credit for students involved in the two-week program.

Guesthouse (Seasonal)

Guests receive a private room with a king or queen size bed, bathroom and shower, and access to our natural hot springs. Vegetarian meals are available for $5/meal.

The cost for a room is $50 per person, per night. Our guesthouse is open on a seasonal basis, so please call ahead to check availability and make a reservation.