Practice at Pepperwood Preserve
Pepperwood Preserve Sesshin
September 4-6, 2026
Half Day Sit and Bodhisattva Jukai Precept Ceremony
September 6, 10:00am-4:00pm
Pepperwood has invited us to bring our practice to the sacred land of the preserve. We are honored to be able to enter and align our bodies and breath with the vast quiet and wild nature of the preserve and the Mayacamas Mountains.
Registration is currently full for the Pepperwood Sesshin, but please register here if you would like to be on the waitlist. Contact Rachel or Cherie (8/1-8/17) for more information.
There will be a half day sit on Sunday, September 6 from 10:00am-12:30pm, followed by the Bodhisattva Jukai Precept Ceremony at 2:30pm in the Oak Grove adjacent to Dwight Center, with reception to follow. Currently, the half-day sit is full but there is a waitlist.
If you would like to attend the Jukai Ceremony only, please register with that option below. The Jukai Ceremony is offered in-person only and will not be recorded.
Registration links, suggested dana, schedule, information and photos of Pepperwood Preserve and directions are provided below. More information about the Bodhissatva Jukai Precept Ceremony can be found here.
REGISTER FOR HALF DAY SIT - HYBRID
Sunday September 6, 10:00am - 12:30pm
REGISTRATION FORM waitlist
Suggested Dana: $35 - $65
REGISTER FOR JUKAI CEREMONY ONLY
Sunday September 6, 2:30 - 4:00pm
REGISTRATION FORM
Suggested Dana: $15 - $65
Contact Susan Husari at susari58@gmail.com for assistance with the registration forms
times may need to be adjusted for transport for meals
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - ARRIVAL DAY
4:00pm Arrival, Zendo and room/tent set up
6:00pm Buffet Dinner
7:00pm Orientation in Zendo
7:30pm Zazen
8:00pm Kinhin
8:10pm Zazen
8:40pm Refuges
9:00pm End of Day
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
6:00am Zazen
6:40am Kinhin
6:50am Zazen
7:20am Kinhin
7:30am Morning Service
8:00am Breakfast/break
9:30am Zazen
10:00am Kinhin
10:10am Zazen
10:40am Dharma Talk
11:40am Outdoor Walking
12:10pm Noon Service
12:30pm Lunch/break
1:30pm Solo retreat time on the land
4:10pm Zazen
4:40pm Tea
5:00pm Kinhin
5:15pm Zazen
5:45pm Evening Service
6:00pm Dinner/break
7:15pm Zazen
7:45pm Kinhin
7:55pm Zazen
8:25pm Kinhin
8:35pm Zazen
9:00pm Refuges & end of day
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
6:00am Zazen
6:40am Kinhin
6:50am Zazen
7:20am Kinhin
7:30am Morning Service
8:00am Breakfast
packing and arranging zendo for arrival of one day retreatants
9:30am Half Day Sit participants arrive to Dwight Center for shuttle to Bechtel House
10:00am Zazen
10:30am Kinhin
10:40am Zazen
11:00am Dharma Talk
11:40am Outside Walking
12:10pm Service
12:30pm Lunch (prepared by Tenzo and DHZ Kitchen team)
set up for Jukai
2:30pm Bodhisattva Jukai Precept Ceremony
4:00pm Reception
MAY 2026 DAY LONG RETREAT
MAY 2026 BECHTEL HOUSE RETREAT
BECHTEL HOUSE RETREAT SPACE
BECHTEL HOUSE RETREAT SPACE
ROAD BELOW BECHTEL HOUSE
VIEW TO THE WEST
PRESERVE ROAD AND OAK TREES
TURTLE POND - RARE NATURAL FRESHWATER POND
PACIFIC POND TURTLE - SPECIAL CONCERN SPECIES IN CALIFORNIA
VIEW TO THE EAST OF MT. ST. HELENA, KANAMOTA - WAPPO NAME
SCHOLAR CENTER
SCHOLAR CENTER
BIRDS EYE GILIA
CHECKERBLOOM
ABOUT PEPPERWOOD PRESERVE
Located in northeastern Santa Rosa in the Mayacama Mountains, Pepperwood Preserve functions as a sentinel site research station, dedicated to the collection of long-term ecological data, hosting researchers from around the world. Activities also include art exhibitions, educational programming for all ages, regenerative agriculture practices that utilize cattle, and land stewardship informed by both Western science and Indigenous ecological knowledge.
"Pepperwood's reserve lies within the traditional homeland of the Wappo people. We respect and honor past, present, and future generations of Wappo and their continued connection to this land. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather in this beautiful place and we give our respect to its first inhabitants."
Authored by Clint McKay (Pomo, Wappo, Wintun)
DIRECTIONS
Pepperwood Preserve is located at 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road in Santa Rosa, CA
Driving Directions from Highway 101:
Take the River Road/Guerneville exit.
Turn east onto Mark West Springs Road and head towards Calistoga.
Turn left onto Porter Creek Road at the Mark West Lodge.
Continue for 1.6 miles to the Franz Valley Road turnoff.
Turn onto Franz Valley Road, just past Safari West.
Proceed approximately one mile up Franz Valley Road.
Look for the Pepperwood sign and the turnoff for Pepperwood Preserve Road on your left, just before the final crest of the hill.
Follow signs to the Dwight Center
Park at the Dwight Center, more parking available beyond first lot