What is sesshin training?

In the book of the teaching, The Path of Oneness, the founder wrote, “The primary goal of faith lies in an inner journey leading to the discovery of one's true self. Sutra chanting, meditation, and mental concentration form the foundation of this quest for self-discovery. In Shinnyo-en, we have sesshin training to help followers in this pursuit. Sesshin trainees are able to observe the inner workings of their minds through meditative training with a spiritual medium who acts as a 'mirror'. Through sesshin, we can see how negative karma controls our lives, and begin to readjust our behavior, and ways of thinking.” Sesshin enables us to see ourselves more objectively and explore our karmic state, which includes our spiritual and ancestral backgrounds. Kyoshu sama said that an awareness of the non-material, invisible forces of karma influencing our lives is absolutely necessary in working on ourselves. That is why sesshin is important, as a tool for us to become more aware.

There are two types of sesshin training. One is sometimes called “structured”, (Jpn. uso) and is performed with the aid of a spiritual medium who gives specific guidance called “spiritual words”. The other is called “unstructured” (Jpn. muso) and involves applying what one has gained from the structured training and applying it in daily life. It also includes responding to all experiences as things to learn from. Through such efforts, we can focus effectively on purifying ourselves, in body, speech, and mind.