Zendo Meditation Hall at Lambda Zen Temple in Glarus Switzerland

3-DAY ZEN MEDITATION RETREAT SWITZERLAND

Name: Zen Meditation Retreat Switzerland (3 Days)
Start: 2026-12-18T10:00:00Z
End: 2026-12-20T15:00:00Z
Location: Lambda Zen Temple

The monthly Zen meditation retreat at Lambda Zen Temple is a three day meditation retreat, where we reexamine the true self through a very simple hermitagelike life-style.

Located in the serene mountains of Glarus, our temple is a quiet refuge easily accessible by train from anywhere in Switzerland or Germany. The Zen meditation retreat starts monthly every third Friday at 10 am (10:00) and ends Sunday at 3 pm (15:00).

Everyone concentrates her consciousness on the given task while working. To work is to cleanse the mind. Work is an opportunity to meditate and become awakened to the real self. A small event in daily life can become an important moment of awareness for one who is in great darkness. Only through your determined and thorough examination of body and mind, worth and harmony can be formed.

You are welcome to stay the whole retreat or for fewer days. First-time visitors have to absolve the whole three days.

Zendo meditation hall at Lambda Zen Temple prepared for a monthly 3-day Zen retreat

Munen Alain M. Lafon and Monika Bieri practicing Kinhin walking meditation in the snowy Swiss Apls at Klöntalersee

SCHEDULE

What is a day at a Zen retreat like? Our 3-day program follows a traditional monastic rhythm designed to strip away the noise of modern life. Each day we practice mindfulness by alternating between periods of Zazen (seated meditation), Kinhin (walking meditation), and Samu (mindful work). This rigorous structure helps to quiet the mind and provides the stability needed to reexamine the true self. Whether we are sitting in the Zendo or hiking through the Glarus highlands, every moment is an opportunity for awakening.

Friday

10:00 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
12:30 Lunch, then informal tea
13:30 Module
18:00 Dinner
Break
19:15 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
23:00 Lights Out

Saturday

4:00 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
5:45 Breakfast
6:30 Walking Meditation, full-day hike(in any weather)
~18:00 Dinner
1h Break
~19:15 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
22:00 Lights Out

Sunday

6:30 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
8:15 Breakfast
Module
Lunch
Cleanup and Packing
14:00 Sitting Meditation (Zazen)
15:00 End of retreat

Module (not freely selectable): Sitting Meditation (Zazen), Working, Cooking, Hiking, Gardening, IT Projects, Cleaning, etc. The schedule can vary.

STAFF

Munen Alain M. Lafon

Zen Monk and Abbot of Lambda Zen Temple

I have formally trained for 10 years under the guidance of venerable Zen Monks. This training included stringent monastic practice, a strict daily meditation routine, conducting monthly 7-day retreats, ceremonies, pilgrimages, study trips to Korea and Japan, as well as co-financing and co-building two Zen Temples lead by my teachers.

Now, this work is complete. As thanks to my teachers and to pay their kindness forward, I have opened Lambda Zen Temple to the public for daily practice. From the deepest heart I bow and thank all my teachers, free from east and west.

Monika Bieri

Art Therapist

Monika Bieri has a university degree in psychology and an additional degree as an art therapist. In her studio (malatelier-glarus.ch) she offers art therapy as well as painting according to Arno Stern.

Since 2013 she has been living in Zen dojos, respectively, at Lambda Zen Temple. Subsequently, she is co-leading daily meditation and monthly retreats.

INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION

Meditation

Life and death are the great matter. Be watchful of your time. All is impermanent and passes swiftly away. Time waits for no one.

Etiquette

We eat what is served and are grateful. The Zen temple etiquette gives a framework to consciously carry out and process your own words and actions. Learn about the etiquette.

Q&A

Here you will find the most important questions and answers about templestay and Lambda Zen Temple.

Donation

250 CHF for the retreat
(plus 8.80 CHF visitor's tax)

Payment information is on the donation site. Pay before your stay to reserve your guest spot. In case of late arrival or early departure, there are no deductions.

Getting Here

Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, we are easily reached. We are just 1 hour from Zurich. For those coming from Geneva, there is a morning train that arrives comfortably in time. International guests often arrive via Nightjet from Berlin, Hamburg, or Vienna. From Glarus station, it is a short walk or bus ride to the temple.

CALENDAR

The monthly 3-day retreat takes place in the third week of the month. Here are the upcoming dates:

Latest news from Lambda Zen Temple

Vacation from December 17, 2025, to January 4, 2026

3-DAY ZEN MEDITATION RETREAT SWITZERLAND

GALLERY