Membership in ZCO
Declaring membership with ZCO is a commitment to pay $35 in monthly dues as a way to align yourself with our purpose to support the community and the Dharma.
If you have further questions about membership after reading this page please email Jomon.
Become a ZCO member |
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Current members: Pay membership dues online
Benefits for Members
- Discounted fees for sesshin, workshops, and retreats at Great Vow Zen Monastery (GVZM).
- May attend sesshin part-time.
- Sanzen (private interviews) with the teachers at GVZM or the Portland Dharma Center (PDC).
- Voting rights at the annual Sangha meeting after one year of membership Eligibility to serve as a board member after three years of membership.
Dues Payments
- Members make dues payments of at least $35 per month.
- Dues payments are used to cover monthly expenses, such as rent for the Portland Dharma Center, insurance, stipends for the teachers, and printing of the Community Bulletin and other publications.
- For members living too far away to frequently participate in the offerings at the PDC and the monastery we ask for $20 in monthly dues.
- Dues in arrears of 4 months will be considered a request to drop Membership.
Some Common Questions:
If I declare membership, am I a Buddhist?
- No. People become Buddhists when they take Jukai, during which one vows to live a life in accord with the Buddhist precepts before the whole sangha (community).
If I can't afford $35 per-month, can I still be a member?
- Yes. We believe that lack of funds should never stand in the way of joining this community. If you can't afford $35 per-month, please pay what you can afford. You might consider declaring one hour of work each week to the Dharma. For example, if you are paid $6.00 per-hour, you might pay dues of $24.00 per-month, if you are paid $10.00 per-hour, you might pay dues of $40.00 per-month.
How can I meet with Chozen or Hogen?
- The most powerful way to meet with a teacher is in sanzen (private interview). Sanzen is available at 10am on most Sundays at Great Vow and at 7:30pm most Sundays at the Portland Dharma Center, and most days during sesshin (meditation retreat). Active members can also meet informally with the teachers at GVZM Tuesday - Saturday, teacher's time permitting. To arrange an informal meeting at the monastery please call (503) 728-0654.
