Saturday, April 13
9 am–4 pm
Rev. Koji Acquaviva
Recognizing our Wholeness: A Day of Easeful Zen Meditation
The heart of meditation in the zen tradition is the recognition of our truest nature, the ever-present abiding awareness that underlies every possible experience. Recognition of our true nature, even briefly, is like discovering that there’s a river of ease and satisfaction moving through us in each moment.
In this retreat we will take up the practice of stepping into this river together through guided meditation, teachings, discussion, and deep relaxation. Every student has permission throughout the day to rest or change postures as needed. Some members of the community have taken to calling these retreats the “Cozy Koji” retreats because they’re so accessible and restful without sacrificing the deepest intention of Zen practice.
A simple vegetarian lunch will be served.
Koji Acquaviva is a Soto Zen priest and teacher. He began practicing Zen at the age of twenty at the San Francisco Zen Center where he was a resident student for ten years. He co-founded the Mid City Zen Center of New Orleans, Louisiana and served regularly as visiting teacher at the Austin Zen Center in Texas. In addition to Soto Zen, he’s studied Vedanta, Hatha Yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism in residential practice centers. Koji encourages meditators to feel empowered to develop their own syncretic practice paths, availing themselves to the most supportive methods for their temperaments and needs. Koji is a member of the teacher ryo at Clouds in Water and is a staff member of Tergar International, a community of Tibetan meditation teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. As a queer and neurodivergent person, Koji makes his best effort to identify and confront spiritual teachings which re-inscribe harm for members of marginalized communities.