Welcome to the Zen Community of Oregon
The primary purpose of ZCO is to express and make accessible the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha’s teachings, as transmitted through an authentic, historical lineage and to support and maintain Zen Buddhist practice in order to realize our true nature and actualize the Buddha nature in everyday life.
Great Vow Zen Monastery
A residential Zen community of lay and ordained people practicing and evolving spiritual community in response to our times. Grounded in our lineage inheritance, with an eye open to perspectives and methods that serve our vow for Awakening, we aspire to create and uphold a dynamic and connected community and practice life.
We are accepting applications for residency. Email the director of training, training@zendust.org for an application.
The Zen Community of Oregon welcomes everyone. We study together and practice for the benefit of all beings and this living earth. We recognize the suffering caused by biases, prejudices, systems of power, privilege, and oppression based on race, sex, class, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. We aspire to do no harm and to dismantle barriers that cause separation and suffering, recognizing that our liberation is interconnected with the liberation of all.
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Located in northeast Portland, Heart of Wisdom is a sanctuary of serenity and community where a spectrum of Buddhist teachings are offered ranging from daily meditation to social action initiatives.
Silver Dragons Monthly Gathering – Practicing Impermanence (Online)
With Kodo Conover
May 28, 2025
Online Only
Zoom Only In her Dharma Talk “Diving into Impermanence,”Chozen Roshi taught: Impermanence is not just a teaching, it is also a practice. (You can view her Dharma talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuHczgCFWaY) These monthly gatherings are offered for Silver Dragons that is, people 60 and older, to provide an opportunity to co-create an open conversation about dying, death, grief and related topics. In short to face, contemplate, and practice impermanence. These gatherings will be facilitated by Temple Priest Nancy Kodo Conover and ZCO member David Seikan Snyder. Each gathering will open with a short period of Zazen. We will then introduce ourselves…
Great Vow Work Party
May 30, 2025
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Working together is part of our spiritual practice, and allows us to honor and care for the sacred space that Heart of Wisdom provides in our city. Please join with community for this morning of practice and work together.
Drop of Stillness – 1/2 day retreat
With Kosho Ault, Linda Chōon Frischmeyer and Onkatsu Doug Kagel
May 31, 2025
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Touch into the still point at the center amidst our busy schedules. This silent retreat will include seated and walking meditation, chanting service, and movement practice. Join us for a half-day of simply sitting. ~ Tentative Schedule 8 - 8:50 am Zazen meditation 8:50 am Kinhin walking meditation 9:00 am Zazen 9:50 am Chanting service 10:00 am Break 10:15 am Movement practice 10:45 am Zazen 11:20 am Kinhin 11:30 am Zazen 12 pm end Please consider the option to bring a bag lunch and stay after to eat together. Led by Community Zen Leaders Onkatsu, Chōon, and Kosho
Jizo Ceremony for those Who Have Died
With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi
May 31, 2025
Great Vow Zen Monastery
The loss of a child often opens a well of profound grief. No matter how the child dies, suddenly or slowly, whether through illness, accident, miscarriage, abortion, or suicide, our sorrow is deep and may be long-lasting.
Silver Dragons Monthly Gathering – Practicing Impermanence (Online)
With Kodo Conover
June 25, 2025
Online Only
Zoom Only In her Dharma Talk “Diving into Impermanence,”Chozen Roshi taught: Impermanence is not just a teaching, it is also a practice. (You can view her Dharma talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuHczgCFWaY) These monthly gatherings are offered for Silver Dragons that is, people 60 and older, to provide an opportunity to co-create an open conversation about dying, death, grief and related topics. In short to face, contemplate, and practice impermanence. These gatherings will be facilitated by Temple Priest Nancy Kodo Conover and ZCO member David Seikan Snyder. Each gathering will open with a short period of Zazen. We will then introduce ourselves…
Mindful Eating Weekend Retreat
With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi
June 27 - 29, 2025
Great Vow Zen Monastery
It can be so easy to lose touch with the basic joys of our life. With eating, the simple exploration of texture, smell, taste and touch, can bring us into deep presence and ease. What is it like to truly taste a raisin? How often do we just eat, without a cellphone or radio, without distraction? Chozen Bays Roshi has been teaching mindful eating for decades. We eat to be nourished, body, heart and mind. With mindfulness practices and community support, we can learn together - the art of eating, and the joys of being nourished. In this workshop we…
Summer Residency Program 2025
July 8 - August 17, 2025
Great Vow Zen Monastery
The Summer Program at Great Vow Zen Monastery is an opportunity to plunge into Zen practice with the support of community and teachers, and to taste the benefits of calming the mind and opening the heart. Our Summer Program is a special part of our on-going residential program at the monastery. It is designed to give you a genuine immersion in Zen practice, through the practices of meditation, mindful eating. ritual/liturgy, movement practices (yoga/qi gong), and temple work.
Five Buddhist Precepts for Ethical Living: Online Class Series
With Darah Shonin Ashton
July 9 - August 13, 2025
Online
These one hour online 5 Precepts classes will happen every Wednesday for six weeks. We all want to live a compassionate life. The precepts give us a framework for what it means to live an ethical life. More then a set of rules to follow, the precepts are deep inquiries into the actual living of our lives with attention and love. The format is an introductory talk followed by class discussion. Participants will be encouraged to do a short writing on each precept and practice with the precept during the week. There are also some supplemental readings.
Chant for Peace at Heart of Wisdom
August 30, 2025
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
INTERFAITH CHANT FOR PEACE AT HEART OF WISDOM ZEN TEMPLE, PORTLAND OREGON TIME: 9:00am - 9:00pm LOCATION: Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple ADDRESS: 6401 NE 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97211, USA To join via Zoom, click here Awake with a passion for inner and global transformation, this 12-hour chanting vigil is a celebration of our spiritual aspirations to see the Sacred in every person, and to live Unconditional Love. This is an InterFaith event. Each hour of the Chant for Peace is led by a different spiritual tradition. We form one community and join our voices together. Chanting is spiritually potent medicine.…