Led by Jokai Blackwell Roshi
At Yokoji Zen Mountain Center
Thursday, April 17th - Sunday, April 20th
Description
Please join us this spring as we return to Yokoji-Zen Mountain Center for a 3-night silent retreat. Set within the heart of the beautiful, rugged grandeur of the San Jacinto Mountains, and supported by our learned dharma teachers, representing the traditions of Vipassana, Theravada, Tibetan, and Zen, we will follow a time-honored schedule of seated meditation, walking meditation, and dharma talks. There will be time for rest and reflection, supported by nutritious vegetarian meals. Wake up in the morning to the sights and sounds of the forest wilderness and share each day in the company of dharma friends, as we practice mindful awareness at an authentic Buddhist Retreat Center. Please join us this spring as we return to our mountain refuge.
The retreat includes guidance in meditation techniques as well as dharma talks from the LBM teachers. You are welcome to join us regardless of your level of experience in meditation. We will break our silence Sunday morning with a council circle, followed by lunch.
Directions from Los Angeles: 60 East to Hemet/San Jacinto Exit (Gilman Springs Rd.) Right on Sanderson. Left on Ramona Expressway to Florida Ave. (Hwy 74). Left onto 74 to Apple Canyon Rd. Left onto Apple Canyon Rd.
Directions from San Diego: I-15 North to 79 South. 371 East through Anza to 74. Left onto 74 to Apple Canyon Rd. Right onto Apple Canyon Road.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is NO phone available for use by guests except in the case of emergencies. Cell service is nearly non-existent and there is no public Wi-Fi.
Retreat Details
Please read through before filling out the registration form.
Long Beach Meditation is proud to present the Way of Clouds 2025 Spring Retreat at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center located at 58900 Apple Canyon Road, Mountain Center, CA 92561.
Check-in: 3:30PM - 5:00PM on Thursday, April 17th
Check-out: 2:00PM on Sunday, April 20th
Facilities: We will enjoy exclusive use of a spacious purpose-built meditation hall stocked with cushions and mats to sit on. Please bring your own equipment if you prefer.
Hiking: There are local hiking trails nearby.
Food: The retreat includes three well-balanced meals per day. All the food served at Yokoji is vegetarian. Fresh, often local and organic ingredients create the simple, nutritious and delicious menu served here. They balance vegetables, grains and plant-based proteins, served in your choice of cozy dining hall or pleasantly shaded outdoor picnic tables for warmer weather. There is a supply of coffee and hot water in the dining hall from early in the morning until supper time. The kitchen is a place of practice, where the cook mindfully prepares meals according to the ingredients available, the weather and the specific requirements of the guests. The residents and staff do their best to ensure the food is healthy, appropriate for the needs of the group, and enjoyed by all.
If you have food allergies, please let us know on your registration form.
Refunds, Rooms and Waiting List: Registration and room availability are on a first come, first served basis. If you cancel at least 3 days before the start of the retreat, your payment will be returned, less a $25 administrative fee. For cancellations with less than 3 days notice, your payment will be refunded minus an administrative fee of $85.
Shared Room Reservation: There are multiple rooms for retreat participants. They are some distance from the meditation hall and dining hall, so please expect to walk outside on uneven ground. There may be steep hills or steps, so please let us know if you have any injuries. You will have at least one roommate. Roommates will be assigned by gender identity or you can request a specific person.
PLEASE BRING
OPTIONAL: Your preferred sitting gear (benches, mats, cushions, etc.)
Bedding: Sheets, pillows, blankets, etc. Yokoji will provide a bottom sheet.
Towels and personal wash stuff
Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and socks
Blanket and/or shawl for sitting
Shoes which are easy to slip on and off
Necessary clothing and personal items for a three-night stay
An alarm clock
Flashlight and batteries
Pack for the high-desert mountains: it is warm in the summer and can be cold in the winter
Sunscreen and sunglasses are useful year-round
Medication, if required
PLEASE DO NOT BRING
Hairdryers or other heat-producing electrical items, such as space heaters. If you need to use electrical equipment during your stay, please let us know in the comments field on the registration form.
Scented perfumes, oils or lotions.
Alcohol or recreational drugs.
Pricing
If you cannot afford the full fee, choose “Partial Scholarship” on the registration form and please let us know what you can afford.
Shared Room (4 days/3 nights)
$395 Sustaining Members Price (those that donate $40 or more monthly)
$470 Regular Price
Contribute to the Retreat Fund
If you would like to join us in the practice of dana or generosity, please consider contributing to help defray the cost of supporting those who cannot otherwise afford to attend.
Jokai Blackwell Roshi
Jokai Blackwell Roshi relocated to California from the UK in 2000 to study with Tenshin Fletcher Roshi at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center. After completing formal study, encompassing over a decade of residential training, he received Dharma Transmission in the White Plum Lineage of Zen in 2014. As a newly minted teacher, Jokai felt moved to bring the heart of realization into the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Having previously visited as a guest teacher on several occasions, he accepted the role of Guiding Teacher at Long Beach Meditation in the summer of 2018. He received Inka, the final seal of certification in Zen, in 2022. Jokai emphasizes the direct experience of awakening using contemporary language and time-honored methods. He continues to live, work, and teach in Southern California.