About Treetop Zen Center

Treetop Zen Center provides a place to practice Zen meditation in central Maine, close to both Waterville and Augusta. There are meditation sessions twice weekly (Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings), weekend retreats, and two annual week-long retreats. We welcome you to attend any event at any time. If you've not had any background or experience in sitting (meditation), someone from Treetop will show you how. Plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to any scheduled sit to allow time for instruction. The practice at Treetop is relaxed. Dharma talks are given most Saturdays, and private interviews are available to all.

Margaret Barragato is currently dealing with a health issue and is taking a sabbatical until further notice. Peter Wohl has returned to Treetop to maintain its regular practice schedule during Margaret’s recuperation.

The residency program has been temporarily suspended. Further updates will be posted as they become available.

Meditation Schedule

The sitting schedule at Treetop is:

Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM

Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM

A brief introduction to Zen meditation is available 30 minutes prior to any scheduled sitting. For more information regarding our meditation schedule, please see our meditation schedule.

If you're coming from the Lewiston or Augusta area, contact Jaime for available ride sharing to Oakland on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If you're coming from the Bangor area, contact Deborah for available ride sharing to Oakland on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Upcoming Events

Study Group
February 20–May 29, 2013
Based on the book Crazy Clouds: Zen Radicals, Rebels & Reformers. The group will meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 6:00 p.m., an hour before our regular sitting schedule.
E-mail us for more information and/or to register.

Spring Sesshin
June 1–7, 2013
Begins 7:00 PM on Saturday and runs through lunch the following Friday. An extended silent practice including service, meditation, daisan, formal meals, work practice, and dharma talks.
E-mail us for more information and/or to register.

Fall Weekend Retreat
Dates TBD
An extended silent practice including service, meditation, daisan, formal meals, work practice, and dharma talks.
E-mail us for more information and/or to register.

Rohatsu
Dates TBD
An extended silent practice — including service, meditation, daisan, formal meals, work practice, and dharma talks — honoring Buddha’s day of enlightenment.
E-mail us for more information and/or to register.

The Zen of Nature, the Nature of Zen

Treetop student and priest Peter Joryu Harris gave this seven-minute presentation on Zen as part of the Waterville PechaKucha in January: