Chapin Mill Retreat Center

Wow! The Dharma is alive and well at this bespoke Zen retreat center created by the Rochester Zen Center (In the lineage of Roshi Phillip Kapleau the author of The Three Pillars of Zen). Designed from the ground up to be optimized for Sesshin (Zen retreats) and situated on a picturesque landscape of rolling forested hills, a pond, and flowing stream, there is no better place to make your stand (or rather seat) for your quest for enlightenment. Roshi Kjolhede and his Dharma heirs masterfully run 2, 4, and 7 day sesshins in an integrated zen style, bringing together the best aspects of the Soto and Rinzai Zen Schools. The approach is adapted to be friendly to westerners, as well as non-westerners, while retaining the striking vigor of its Japanese origins. I just finished my first 7 day sesshin and I know I will be back. I cannot recommend this location enough for your first, or next sesshin. I am so moved by my experience that I am shamelessly promoting this to my utmost (I was not asked to review nor am I being compensated). BTW, the center is also available for other groups to run meditation based retreats in between sesshins.

Very good atmosphere for a spiritual retreat. The rooms are comfortable.

the lovely, well-kept retreat center for the Rochester Zen Center