Fall Retreat: September 26-27, 2026
Zen Koans and Poetry
with Sensei Dean Williams
Both koans and poetry invite us to go beyond our usual limited conceptual ways of seeing ourselves and the world around us. This makes them powerful tools to use in our spiritual journey. We will spend two days deeply immersed in working with these forms of spiritual practice. Koans and poetry we will look at come from over 1,000 years ago and also from contemporary works so we can see more clearly how they retain their relevance for our situation here and now.
Saturday September 26th, 9AM-5PM
Sunday September 27th, 9AM-4PM
Reserve Your Spot
Retreat Format: alternating periods of quiet sitting and walking meditation, engaging pre-sentations, interactive discussions, and activities. This retreat is appropriate for less experienced meditators and seasoned practitioners. Meditation cushions, benches, and chairs are provided.
Register Early: Space is limited to 13 retreatants and 6 overnight accommodations.
Registration Fee: $180; some financial assistance available.
Accommodations (Shared Room): $110 for two nights in shared rooms; includes two continental breakfasts.
Some local Airbnb accommodations are also available
The retreat fee includes 2 vegetarian lunches. Saturday’s retreat dinner at a local restaurant is “self-pay.”
Reserve Your Spot
Featured Presenter
Sensei Dean Williams
Sensei Dean Williams is the guiding teacher of the Crooked River Zen Center in Cleveland, Ohio. His interest in Zen Buddhism began in the early 70s when he was working on his BA in philosophy. He began formal zen practice in 1997. He was lay ordained in 2000, ordained as a Buddhist chaplain in 2001, and as a priest in 2003, all while studying with Sojun Diane Martin, the resident teacher at Udumbara Zen Center in Evanston, IL. In 2006 he served as shuso during the fall practice period at Udumbara. Dean received dharma transmission in 2014 from Shoho Michael Newhall, the abbot of Jikoji Zen Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, making him a dharma holder in the Kobun Chino lineage.
Dean's recent past Dharma talks can be accessed on Crooked River Zen Center's YouTube channel.