Calendar

Great Vow Zen Monastery Zendo

Current monastery online schedule:

Tuesday – Saturday
5:30AM to 6:50AM – Meditation (No morning meditation on Tuesday)
6:50AM to 7:20AM – Chanting service
7:30PM to 9:20PM – Meditation

Monastery Sunday Public Program, Clatskanie, Oregon
10AM-12:15PM – in person and online.

YouTube link for all events
Zoom link for all events

Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple

Sunday Mornings: 9:30AM to 11:00AM
Led by Zen Teacher Larry Fuho Trussell
Meditation, Dharma talk, and chanting service. During sitting Fuho offers sanzen, private practice meetings for ZCO members.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Sunday Morning (must be logged into Zoom)

Sunday Evenings: 7PM to 8:30PM
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)

Monday Evenings: 6:00PM to 7:30PM.  

Led by Amy Kisei, Sensei
Guided + silent meditation practice that includes the themes of embodiment, compassion and awareness practices. Dharma talk begins at 6:50P, followed by discussion. Drop in anytime! 

Online Only.
Zoom link for Monday Evening

Tuesday Evenings: 7:00PM to 9:00PM
 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: 6PM to 7:30PM
Led by Jogen Sensei
Silent and guided meditation including calm-abiding, emptiness practice and/or loving-kindness followed by dharma talk. Talk begins at 7pm. Drop in whenever!
Online only.
Zoom link for Wednesday Evening

Thursday Evenings: 7:00PM to 8:30P

Led by Shonin Ashton and Gensho Welsh
Guided Meditation that includes embodiment, compassion, absorption and awareness practices. Currently exploring Awakening through the Zen koan technology.
In Person and Online.
Zoom link for Thursday Evening (must be logged in to Zoom)

Friday Mornings: 11:00AM to 12:30PM
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)

Friday Evenings: 7:00PM to 8:00PM
Led by Zen Teacher Patrick Bansho Green
Guided meditations on metta (loving-kindness) as well as compassion, gratitude, and other qualities of the heart.
Online only.
Zoom link for Friday Evening

Other Ongoing Events

Morning Meditation with Trillium House Residents
Monday – Friday, 6:10am – 7am PT 
Online. Zoom link.

LGBTQIA+ Dharma Group
Meets monthly on the 1st Saturday, 7pm-830pm PT.
In Person and Online.
For more information and the Zoom link: Send an email.

EcoSattvas –  Zen practice and action on climate
Meets monthly on the 2nd Monday, 7pm-830pm PT.
Online. Zoom link for meeting.  For more information email.

The Work of Byron Katie – facilitated by Linda Cho-on Frischmeyer
1st & 3rd Monday each Month: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
2nd  and 4th Saturdays each Month: 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Whether you are new to The Work of Byron Katie and want to ‘try it on,’ or are familiar, even experienced, and want to do The Work in a small group setting, this opportunity is for you. We explore a belief common to many (all?!) of us each time we meet.
Online only. Zoom link for The Work.

Meditation Retreats, Sesshin, Workshops

Workshops and sesshin are currently offered in-person and online format unless otherwise noted.
Please do not attend in person if you feel sick or you live with someone who feels ill.

July 2023

7/6 - 8/20Summer Residency Program 2023

October 2023

10/10 - 12/17Autumn Ango – Fall Residency

November 2023

11/18Half-Day Zazen Retreat

Retreat Cabin Application

Open Dates
Great Vow Zen 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 for solo meditation and dharma study. The intention of the retreat hut is to provide practice support for those looking to deepen…

Six-Day Chan Retreat with Guo Gu

With Guo Gu

June 19 - 25, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
This retreat is offered both in person and on Zoom. In the Chan tradition, there are two main approaches to awakening: the method of silent illumination (mòzhào) and investigating a critical phrase (huàtóu). The former is a settling method of serene reflection on the nature of awareness; the latter is an explosive approach that aims to concentrate and shatter all mental states so awakening manifests. Retreat practice is an excellent way to deepen our practice, as it allows practitioners to engage with the meditation method in a sustained, focused way under a protected environment with a retreat teacher. Practitioners receive guidance on issues or experiences that wouldn't…

Summer Residency Program 2023

July 6 - August 20, 2023
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.

Beginner’s Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat

With Myoyu Voekel

July 7 - 9, 2023
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.

July Sesshin – Cultivating the Empty Field

With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei

July 17 - 23, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Summer is bright and alive. The sun hangs high in the sky, illuminating the earth with unflinching clarity. What wisdom does a warm summer day offer? Everything is laid bare before the luminous rays of the sun. In this meditation immersion, we will endeavor to study the self, forget the self and glimpse Buddha Nature, opening in silent communion with this community of human and non- human beings. This is our collective awakening.

Summer Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat

With Larry Fuho Trussell

July 22, 2023
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. We close the day with a ceremony to renewing our intention to live an ethical life.

Seeing Through Obstacles – Inner Critic, Perfectionist and More…

With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei

July 28 - 30, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery
“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” – W. Whitman Transformation of our hearts and minds has never been more vital. The very possibility for future humans to experience Truth, Beauty and Goodness is up in the air! And yet, most of us have significant challenges following through with our aspirations and continuing through the ups and downs that come with committed Dharma work. This retreat will bring together Parts Work modality (i.e. IFS, Voice Dialogue) with Buddhist meditation practices to amplify understanding and dis-identify from ‘voices’ or ‘selves’ that hinder our…

Grasses, Trees, and the Great Earth Sesshin

With Amy Kisei, Sensei and Kodo Conover

August 14 - 20, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Earth body, sky heart. Rooted and flowing. Luminous and open. We are made of earth and sky, of wind breath and rain song, our lives woven from the teachings of the natural world. This retreat is an opportunity to re-connect and relax into the wild, ancient, wisdom of the Grasses, Trees and Great Earth. We will spend time learning from each of the five elements, as they manifest in our experience. Deeply exploring and releasing into our interconnection with the living, breathing body of the Earth, waters, energizing air, bright fiery sun, and vast spacious sky. This retreat is held…

Wilderness Backpacking Sesshin: a weeklong meditation retreat

With Danney Soten Lynch and Kosho Ault

September 10 - 17, 2023
Mt. Hood Wilderness (Wy'east)
This retreat will be held in the Mt. Hood Wilderness, Oregon. Previous meditation retreat and backpacking experience is highly recommended. Immerse yourself in the silent wisdom of the forest, mountains, and sky. Allow these wild places to awaken within you and inform how you experience and embody this life.

Jizo Sesshin

With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi and Laura Jomon Martin

September 12 - 17, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery - In Person Only
This retreat begins on Tuesday!   This retreat will focus on the qualities of Jizo Bodhisattva, guardian of all that comes from the earth, and Jizo’s qualities – benevolence, optimism, fearlessness, determination, and vow. A unique element of this retreat is the inclusion of time devoted to art projects, creative time, and a slide show and talk about Jizo. As part of our practice, we will be making small Jizo-related items. Due to the nature of this retreat schedule, we will be sitting outside and also out of the zendo to make art, there will not be an online option.…

Wilderness Backpacking Sesshin: Resting in Wild Spaces

With Sara Shinei Monial and Kurt Hoelting

September 24 - October 1, 2023
Mt. Hood (Wy'east) Wilderness Oregon
Previous meditation retreat and backpacking experience is highly recommended. Immerse yourself in the silent wisdom of the forest, mountains, and sky. Allow these wild places to awaken within you and inform how you experience and embody this life.

Investigating Zen Practice: a one-day workshop

September 30, 2023
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Experience an Introduction to Zen Practice through the Ten Directions This one-day in-person workshop is for beginners or those who want to dive deeper into Zen practice. Learn how to practice using ancient methods that are applicable in today’s world: Meditation and sitting with stability Mindfulness practice off the cushion Chanting Mindful eating Work practice Stillness Walking meditation Koans Tradition and ritual Dharma teachings Lunch is included. Your RSVP helps us know how much lunch to prepare.

Five Buddhist Precepts for Ethical Living: Online Class Series

October 4 - November 8, 2023
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.

Service to the Temple: A Half-day of Zazen & Volunteering

October 7, 2023
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. There is work available for all skills and abilities. Bring something to share for lunch. Tentative schedule 9:00 to 9:50   Morning meditation 10:00 to 11:50 Work practice 12:00 to 1:00   Lunch & socializing Everyone is invited, please email how@zendust.org or sign up at the work board at Heart of Wisdom. Come for all or part of the day. Projects Include: Gardening               …

Autumn Ango – Fall Residency

With Hogen and Chozen Roshi

October 10 - December 17, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery
This Dharma is abundantly present in each human being, but if we do not practice it, it does not manifest itself, and if we do not experience it, it cannot be realized. - Dogen Zenji In communion with our ancestors who set aside time each year for deep retreat, the Monastery offers this Autumn Ango.  Ango is a celebration of stillness and quiet contemplation, upheld with the support of community and teachers. Ango can be translated to mean peaceful dwelling. During this practice period our daily schedule takes on a tone of a light retreat which includes more zazen (about…

October Sesshin – The Ancient Way

With Hogen Bays, Roshi

October 12 - 22, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
There is something very special about the magic of autumn and the kicking off of the fall practice period that makes this sesshin so powerful. What a great gift it is to be able to sit together in silence. This is our longest sesshin of the year. The extra days enable us drop down into the bare bones essentials of our lives. We have this rare opportunity to turn towards the practice/awakening that is our true nature, and to celebrate quietly together in the container of sesshin. Day after day plunge into the waters of mystery and exploration. Turn off…

Autumn Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat

October 28, 2023
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. We close the day with a ceremony to renewing our intention to live an ethical life.

November Sesshin – Generosity

With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei and Larry Fuho Trussell

November 6 - 12, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
  With gratitude for our beloved sangha near and far, in person and on zoom, 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…

Half-Day Zazen Retreat

November 18, 2023
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple and Online
If you use your mind to study reality, you won’t understand either your mind or reality. If you study reality without using your mind, you’ll understand both. -Bodhidharma This Ango check-in is a half day of Zen practice and an opportunity to share reflections on your Ango (traditional intensive period of practice) experience and ask a teacher questions about it. Join us for a silent half day of meditation (seated and walking), chanting, and interaction with community and teachers. During this half day of practice we’ll sit facing the wall, embodying the spirit of Bodhidharma’s Zazen. This retreat is held…

December Sesshin – Rohatsu

With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi and Hogen Bays, Roshi

December 3 - 10, 2023
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…