2025-2026 Winter Kyol Che (Retreat)

“Kyol Che” literally means “Tight Dharma” in East Asia (“結制”). It is a time when monastics have intensive Zen practice for three months, twice a year (in summer and winter). Every day during the Kyol Che, there’s sitting Zen that lasts seven to eight hours. Total silence is kept throughout retreats: no speaking. In traditional Korean temples, bikkhus, bikkhunis, laymen and laywomen each use separate Zen halls to sit. At Musangsa, however, we all practice together in the same Zen hall, as is the international tradition at Kwan Um School of Zen, established by Zen Master Seung Sahn. Only the living quarters are separated from each other.