Calendar
Great Vow Zen Monastery Zendo
Online Zendo Schedule:
Wednesday – Saturday (Connect via Zoom link below)
5:30 – 6:50 AM – Zazen
6:50-7:30 AM – Service
Sunday Morning:
6:30-7:50AM – Zazen
Monastery Sunday Public Program, Clatskanie, Oregon
10 AM-12:15 PM – in person and online.
Zoom link for all events
YouTube link for Sunday Program (Our Youtube is currently down as of 2026, In Progress.)
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Sunday Mornings: 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Led by Zen Teacher Larry Fuho Trussell
Meditation, Dharma talk, and chanting service. During sitting, Fuho offers sanzen, one-on-one meetings about Zen practice.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Sunday Morning (must be logged into Zoom)
Sunday Evenings: 7 PM to 9:00 PM
Led by Hogen Bays, Roshi
Meditation and teachings on Buddhist sutras and spiritual practice.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Sunday Evening (must be logged in to Zoom)
Tuesday Evenings: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Led by Zen Teacher Nancy Kodo Conover
Meditation, a short talk and group discussion about how Buddhist teachings apply to our life today.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Tuesday Evening (must be logged into Zoom)
Wednesday Evenings: 7 PM to 9:00 PM
Led by Jogen Sensei
Silent and guided meditation including calm-abiding, emptiness practice and/or loving-kindness followed by dharma talk. In person and Online.
Zoom link for Wednesday Evening (must be logged into Zoom)
Thursday Evenings: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Led by Shonin Ashton and Gensho Welsh
Meditation and Dharma talk with a focus on foundational Buddhist teachings and practices.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Thursday Evening (must be logged in to Zoom)
Friday Mornings: 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM 
Led by Doug Onkatsu Kagel
Begins with chanting service, seated and walking meditation, and meditation instruction in the zendo. Open zendo – drop in.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Friday Morning (you must be logged into your Zoom account)
Plum Blossom Zendo and Online
Monday Evenings: 6 PM to 7:30 PM. 
Led by Amy Kisei, Sensei
Guided + silent meditation practice that includes the themes of embodiment, compassion and awareness practices. Dharma talk begins at 6:45P, followed by discussion. Drop in anytime! Online Only. Zoom link for Monday Evening
Tuesday Evenings: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 
Led by Laura Jomon Martin, Zen Teacher
Plum Blossom Zendo Vancouver United Church of Christ, Bradford Hall, First Floor 1220 NE 68th St. Vancouver, WA 98686
In Person and Online. Zoom link for Tuesday Evening
Friday Evenings: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Led by Zen Teacher Patrick Bansho Green
Guided meditations on metta (loving-kindness).
Online Only. Zoom link for Friday Evening
Affinity Groups and Other Ongoing Events
Morning Meditation with Trillium House Residents Learn More Here
Monday – Friday, 6:00 AM to 7 AM PT
Online. In Person at Heart of Wisdom on Fridays. Zoom link.
LGBTQIA+ Dharma Group Learn More Here
1st Saturday each month: 7 PM to 8:30 PM PT.
For more information and Zoom link: Send an email.
In Person at Heart of Wisdom and Online.
Silver Dragons Online Monthly Gathering Learn More Here
4th Wednesday each month: 1 PM to 2:30 PM PT.
Online Only. Zoom Link.
Dharma Jews Learn More Here
4th Saturday each month: 7 PM to 8:30 PM PT.
4th Saturday each month: 7 PM to 8:30 PM PT.
For more information: send an email.
In Person at Heart of Wisdom.
The Work of Byron Katie Learn More Here
In Person at Heart of Wisdom:
4th Sunday each Month: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Online: 3rd Monday each month: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Zoom link.
Mindful Men’s Meditation for Recovery Learn More Here
1st & 3rd Mondays each month: 7 PM to 9 PM PT.
In Person at Heart of Wisdom.
1st & 3rd Mondays each month: 7 PM to 9 PM PT.
In Person at Heart of Wisdom.
Meditation Retreats, Sesshin, Workshops
Please do not attend in person if you feel sick or you live with someone who feels ill.
November 2026 | |
| 11/9 - 11/15 | November Sesshin – Gratitude |
December 2026 | |
| 12/6 - 12/13 | December Sesshin – Rohatsu |
February 2027 | |
| 2/15 - 2/21 | Pari-Nirvana Sesshin: A Meditation Retreat exploring Life, Death & the Unknown |
March 2027 | |
| 3/12 - 3/21 | March Sesshin – Deep Listening |
April 2027 | |
| 4/12 - 4/18 | April Sesshin |
May 2027 | |
| 5/10 - 5/16 | May Sesshin – The Light of our Ancestors |
June 2027 | |
| 6/14 - 6/20 | Chan Practice of Silent Illumination with Rebecca Li |
October 2026 | |
| 10/31 | Half Day Zazen Retreat & Ango Check-in |
November 2026 | |
| 11/5 - 11/7 | City Refuge Retreat |
| 11/19 - 11/22 | Love & Spaciousness: A Loving Kindness Weekend Retreat |
December 2026 | |
| 12/18 - 12/20 | Beginner’s Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat |
March 2027 | |
| 3/5 - 3/7 | Beginner’s Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat |
November 2026 | |
| 11/13 - 11/14 | Doing The Work of Byron Katie |
October 2026 | |
| 10/31 | Half Day Zazen Retreat & Ango Check-in |
February 2027 | |
| 2/2 - 3/28 | Monastery Winter Practice Period |
April 2027 | |
| 4/6 - 5/30 | Spring Practice Period: Awakening with the Earth |
July 2027 | |
| 7/8 - 8/22 | Summer Residency Program 2027 |
Retreat Cabin Application
Open Dates
Great Vow Zen Monastery
The retreat hut is available only to those who have already participated in a weekend retreat or longer here at the monastery. The monastery retreat cabin rests on the edge of our 23 acres of forest. Though, just a short walk to the monastery buildings, it has a feeling of a forest hermitage. Equipped with running water, electricity, a small kitchenette with electric stovetop and small refrigerator and a compost toilet it is an ideal location for doing short solo retreat practice. You will have access to our forest trail system, beautiful meadows and gardens, as well as the privacy…
Ango Opening Ceremonies and Hearthstones 2026
October 4 - 9, 2026
Autumn Ango is a time of deep engagement with our vow to awaken for the sake of all beings. Intensified training in meditation, contemplation and inquiry clarifies the heart and mind, allowing for deep and sustaining transformation. We begin with Opening Ceremonies, which will take place at all of our regular public programs at Heart of Wisdom temple, Plum Blossom Zendo, and online during the week of October 4. Participants are encouraged to make Ango practice commitments and will have the opportunity to present their commitment form at the altar, as desired. We will supply printed forms. Great Vow Monastery…
Service to the Temple – Heart of Wisdom Portland, OR
October 10, 2026
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
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.
16 Bodhisattva Precepts Class Series- In Person and Online
With Kodo Conover
October 16 - November 20, 2026
Heart of Wisdom (in person) and Online (Zoom)
The beginning and end of our practice is ethical living; acting, speaking and thinking in ways that support the greatest wellbeing and awakening for all beings. Anyone who has taken the 5 Precepts Class can take this class, whether you have already formally taken the precepts, are considering taking the precepts, or you are simply curious about the ethical guidelines that rest at the foundation of Zen practice.
Plum Blossom Zendo – Zoom Town Hall Meeting
With Jomon Laura Martin
October 18, 2026
Take a moment to reflect on the almost 2 years we have been meeting together at Plum Blossom Zendo in Vancouver, WA! What has been the most important aspect for you? Our agenda will include reflection as well as looking forward to continued practice together -- How might you find your place here? Everyone is welcome. Online only. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86977405138
Autumn Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat
With Jomon Laura Martin
October 24, 2026
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
A Zazenkai is a day of Zen practice in the city. Join us for a silent day of meditation (seated and walking), chanting, mindful eating, temple care-taking, and a dharma talk.
Half Day Zazen Retreat & Ango Check-in
With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei
October 31, 2026
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Half Day Zazen Retreat & Ango Check-in Saturday October 31, 2026 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM This Ango check-in is a half day of Zen practice including a full group recitation of the Diamond Sutra and Ango practice discussion with Jogen Sensei. Join us for a silent half day of meditation (seated and walking), chanting, and interaction with community and teachers. Please bring a sack lunch if you'd like to stay to eat together afterward.
City Refuge Retreat
With Fuho Larry Trussell
November 5 - 7, 2026
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple will be offering an extended opportunity for retreat practice in the city. This three-day non-residential retreat will include many of the elements you’ll find in sesshin.
November Sesshin – Gratitude
With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei, Bansho Patrick Green, Sensei and Enryu Anusha Fernando
November 9 - 15, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery
With gratitude for our beloved sangha near and far, the Monastery joyfully offers another sesshin. This sesshin has no set price. All are welcome to attend, and donations from the heart are welcome. During this week of practice, we will eat only the offerings brought to us specifically for this retreat. So food donations, while always welcome, are particularly helpful! Bring food that you like to eat, bring food that will challenge our kitchen team and cook. The head cook (tenzo) will need to dive into creativity and allow the surprises of each donation manifest our meals. We will otherwise…
Doing The Work of Byron Katie
With Linda Chōon Frischmeyer
November 13 - 14, 2026
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
“Of all the diseases, all the ailments that afflict humanity, there is one common denominator: the conditioned mind. Our unconditioned minds are deeply interconnected." --Chakung Jigme Wangdrak "The Work is about internal cause and effect. It is not about the external world.” – Byron Katie Please attend Friday evening and Saturday. This in-person workshop at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple provides newcomers and those familiar with this form of meditation opportunities for: Learning about The Work of Byron Katie Identifying our beliefs Doing The Work (meditation) Learning to facilitate another; listening and being present Q & A Guest facilitating will…
Love & Spaciousness: A Loving Kindness Weekend Retreat
With Bansho Patrick Green, Sensei and Kosho Ault
November 19 - 22, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery
With wonderment on our side, and in relationship with all that is, we recognize the inherent compassion that naturally arises from deep and sustained presence. Held in a container of zen forms and the vibrant dance of a monastery in Autumn, we will explore the nature of being anything at all! During this silent retreat our day will unfold within the practices of zazen, chanting, formal meals and a short work practice. Much of the day will be spent in the meditation hall practicing seated and silent meditation together. Please see our website Attending a Retreat at Great…
ZCO Board Meeting at Great Vow
November 22, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery (in person) and Online (Zoom)
Board meetings are open and members of the community are invited to attend. Board meetings are a place to find out what’s happening and how ZCO functions. Typical topics include finances, reports on goings on at the monastery and temple, committee reports, and the community's strategic plans.
Thanksgiving Day Potluck Celebration at Great Vow
November 26, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Come celebrate Thanksgiving and the spirit of the Autumn harvest at Great Vow. Vegetarian potluck dinner begins at 4 pm. Main courses (nut loaf, mashed potatoes, stuffing) will be provided by our kitchen. Side dishes, desserts, salads, and other magical accompaniments are brought by guests. Potluck Dinner will be followed by games, dancing, and spontaneous conviviality. Please let us know you're coming by registering. And contact registrar@zendust.org with any questions.
December Sesshin – Rohatsu
With Hogen Bays, Roshi, Fuho Larry Trussell and Shonin Darah Ashton
December 6 - 13, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
The light of the Buddha's awakening has not dimmed. This very moment, alive, awake and luminous. Each year people from all over the world gather to celebrate, to sit in stillness and to be nourished by this truth. All over the world people join in the ritual of Rohatsu sesshin. This sesshin is the culmination of a year of practice and is also the culmination of our fall Ango practice period. At many centers and monasteries, this is the most valued sesshin of the year, and may be the only one that many people are able to attend. We…
Beginner’s Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat
December 18 - 20, 2026
Great Vow Zen Monastery
The teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism empower us to live our lives wholeheartedly with openness, insight and compassion. During this weekend retreat we follow a silent retreat schedule, which allows us to temporarily put aside outside concerns and go deeply into inner work. The silent retreat schedule includes about seven hours of sitting meditation (with breaks), Buddhist chanting services, formal oriyoki meals, and a period of community work practice. On the first evening the retreat leaders will give thorough instruction on the foundations and methods of Zen meditation. Opportunities to meet with a teacher or senior practitioner to discuss…
New Year’s Eve Ceremony and Celebration
December 31, 2026 - January 1, 2027
Heart of Wisdom
Time swiftly passes by and opportunities are ever present! Let's celebrate our passage through a challenging and eye-opening year and envision how we'd like to step in to the new year. The evening will include guided meditations to help you reflect on what you want to let go of and welcome in, for the new year. As well as, a fire-ceremony of letting-go, atonement and renewal, which we call Fusatsu. We will end the evening with silent zazen meditation and 108 bells to welcome in the New Year.
Monastery Winter Practice Period
February 2 - March 28, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery
In the stillness and quiet of the monastic container, when we allow the dust to settle and the thinking mind to open and relax, spontaneous wonderment and delight naturally appear. Attention is love. How do we attend to our life? During this practice period we will lean into the natural expression of love and creativity in the day to day activities of Monastery life. The schedule will be much the same as the rest of the year and will include Zazen, work practice, classes and retreats, formal meals and community sharing. Please plan on arriving on February 2rd. …
Pari-Nirvana Sesshin: A Meditation Retreat exploring Life, Death & the Unknown
With Bansho Patrick Green, Sensei and Amy Kisei, Sensei
February 15 - 21, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
During this sesshin we take up the Buddha’s Parinirvana–the Buddha’s death--as the essential inquiry into our own relationship with death, dying and the uncertainties of this life. How often in your daily life do you allow yourself to reflect on your own mortality, your own death? This sesshin provides the structure and support needed to look into the fears and anxieties surrounding death, dying and the unknown. Supported by the stillness and quiet of winter, we allow the body, heart and mind to deeply settle and rest - as we feel into the fundamental koans - Who is it that's…
Beginner’s Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat
March 5 - 7, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery
The teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism empower us to live our lives wholeheartedly with openness, insight and compassion. During this weekend retreat we follow a silent retreat schedule, which allows us to temporarily put aside outside concerns and go deeply into inner work. The silent retreat schedule includes about seven hours of sitting meditation (with breaks), Buddhist chanting services, formal oriyoki meals, and a period of community work practice. On the first evening the retreat leaders will give thorough instruction on the foundations and methods of Zen meditation. Opportunities to meet with a teacher or senior practitioner to discuss…
March Sesshin – Deep Listening
With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei and Hogen Bays, Roshi
March 12 - 21, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
Awareness meeting sound has been a gate into the depths of the heart-mind for as long as human beings hve longed to open. During this sesshin we come together in joyous recognition of the power of deep listening, and sink into the rhythms of our wild, wonderful and mysterious life.
Spring Practice Period: Awakening with the Earth
April 6 - May 30, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Spring at Great Vow Zen Monastery is beautiful. The fruit tree blossoms open towards the heavens, the forest is abuzz with new life as birds, insects and tree frogs are wake up from their winter slumber. Early spring flowers emerge in abundant color, offering fresh perspectives and encouragements. With the natural world springing to life with such exubrance and force, residency at the monastery inclines towards the out of doors. We dedicate more of our daily practice to the care and maintenance of our garden and grounds. This includes maintaining our trails and caring for native trees in our…
April Sesshin
With Fuho Larry Trussell
April 12 - 18, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Our meditation practice can be one of relaxed openness and vivid presence, with wisdom into our nature naturally revealing. This is the practice of serene-illumination, a form of meditation where calm-abiding (shamatha) and insight (vipassana) are practiced as one. Sesshin is a rigorous and, at times, challenging silent meditation retreat that is not recommended for beginners. In order to attend in person, we require that you attend one of our silent weekend retreats or a five-seven day silent retreat at another Zen Center before registering for our longer zen retreats. For more information about what to expect when attending…
May Sesshin – The Light of our Ancestors
With Bansho Patrick Green, Sensei and Hogen Bays, Roshi
May 10 - 16, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
Zen is a direct Mind to Mind transmission--a transmission of light. We study with teachers who help us recognize and embody our awakened wisdom and compassion. During this sesshin, we will connect with our roots and draw strength from the stories of those who have come before us. Our ancestors are real people, walking the path of their lives and opening the Dharma truths - just as we aspire to do. Join us for this intimate week of practice. Sesshin is a rigorous and, at times, challenging silent meditation retreat that is not recommended for beginners. In order to attend…
Chan Practice of Silent Illumination with Rebecca Li
With Rebecca Li
June 14 - 20, 2027
Great Vow Zen Monastery
“Silently and serenely, one forgets all words. Clearly and vividly, it appears before you.” These are the opening lines of the poem Silent Illumination composed by Chan master Hongzhi in the twelfth century China, a poem often used by the late Chan master Sheng Yen in his silent illumination retreats. Silent illumination is a practice where stillness and clarity are cultivated simultaneously through the process of recognizing and releasing layers of ever more subtle habitual reactivities that cause suffering. This practice allows us to live more in accordance with wisdom and compassion, as we suffer less and become more present,…
Summer Residency Program 2027
July 8 - August 22, 2027
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.