The Gateless Gate
ย Awakening to unconditional wellbeing
The Alembic, Berkeley, CA
July 26-27, 2025
In-person
Note from Henry
A note from Henry:
Traditional Buddhism talks about the โpath,โ and โdharma gatesโ โ about a journey we can make, and thresholds we can pass through in practice. But at the same time, it also says there is no journey, no path, and no gates.
On the one hand, we clearly can develop our mindfulness, our access to greater well-being, and we can become more concerned with the relief of suffering in our world. And on the other, there is an unconditional well-being thatโs always here, and an infinite, open, loving awareness that is never absent.
What to expect on a daylong retreat?
Henry will lead you through guided meditations that will invite us to explore the gateless gate, and how it can open us to forms of wellbeing that are independent from material conditions. There will also be periods of silent practice. Henry will offer his unique teachings, combining both ancient wisdom and modern knowledge of meditation.
There will be an extended Q&A with Henry to have your practice questions answered. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, there will be plenty of chances to connect with others on a similar path, sharing personal experiences and insights with each other.
What is the Gateless Gate?
On the one hand it’s a gate, meaning there’s something to go through โ or some kind of shift that can happen to us. We can pass from one state of being, of mind, of consciousness, into another.
But on the other hand, itโs gateless โ no gate, not a gate โ because that other condition of consciousness is already here, and has never not been. It’s just that we haven’t recognized it or noticed it until now.
So it’s a gateless gate, in Zen’s old phrase. The wisdom of these great meditation traditions is that to recognize this is not so easy to do in a deliberate way. It is often better done more by a process of releasing, of letting go, of letting things drop, as we sit.
What youโll learn from Henry
Weโll explore the four main zones of practice โ Mindfulness, Connectedness, Flow, and Awakening โ found in The Way app and Henryโs book, Original Love. These foundational aspects of meditation offer explorations from the heart, of themes and practices that are central to developing and following a wholesome meditation practice.
By immersing ourselves in shared stillness, we open to a deeper sense of rest and ease, allowing a more profound connection with our true nature to emerge. Through practice, reflection, and community, these retreats accelerate our journey toward a more wholehearted and awakened way of being.
About The Alembic
Set in The Alembic, a beautiful retreat space in Berkeley, this weekend retreat is a unique opportunity to reconnect โ with stillness, with a deeper awareness, and with fellow meditators.
Student feedback after Henry’s
recent retreats
I loved listening to Henry, the guided meditation and meditating with this Sangha. I enjoyed the atmosphere with its lightness and depths and still feel it inside.
The way Henry Shukman โlandedโ us into deeper levels of consciousness โ often using poetry as a vehicle for getting us there.ย And allowing us collectively to notice and sit with that shift without saying a word.ย
The immersive nature of the day. The sense of community. Henry’s teaching was real and helpful. The meditation was powerful.
The Gateless Gate
- Guided meditations, talks, and poetry to help deepen your practice
- Live Q&A time with Henry
- Subscribe to The Way app to enjoy a 20% discount on all live events. Book through the appโs Events page to claim your discounted price. Click herefrom your mobile phone to go the Events page. For any questions, email info@thewayapp.com.
Event Details
Cost: $295
When: Saturday July 26, 9amโ4pm PT
Sunday July 27, 9amโ12pm PT
Where: The Alembic, Berkeley, CA
Note, we’ll have an additional optional 9am meditation led by Henry’s teaching assistant on both Saturday and Sunday. We hope to see you there.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this retreat, please contact our Courses & Retreats Manager, Jeremy. Weโre happy to answer any questions and look forward to having you join us!
Scholarships
We have a limited number of partial scholarships available for this retreat. We welcome you to contact our Courses & Retreats Manager Jeremyย for details about how to apply.
Subscribe to The Way app for a 20% discount on this retreat
Subscribe to The Way app to enjoy a 20% discount on all live events. Book through the appโs Events page to claim your discounted price. Click here from your mobile phone to go the Events page.ย
About your teacher
Henry Shukmanย
Henry is an authorized Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage, the co-founder of The Way meditation app, and the Spiritual Director Emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to teaching meditation, Henry is an award-winning author and poet. His struggles and traumatic experiences as a youth, combined with a spontaneous awakening experience at 19, paved the way for Henry to develop a well-rounded approach to healing and awakening through meditation.
