Calendar

Great Vow Zen Monastery Zendo

Current monastery online schedule:

Tuesday – Saturday
6:00AM to 6:50AM – Meditation (No morning meditation on Tuesday)
6:50AM to 7:20AM – Chanting service

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

YouTube link for Sunday Program
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
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: 11:00AM 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.

October 2023

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

November 2023

11/18Half-Day Zazen Retreat

December 2023

12/2Half-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…

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.

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 and Laura Jomon Martin

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.

Love + Spaciousness: An Online Weekend Retreat Exploring the Six Mahayana Paramitas

With Amy Kisei, Sensei

November 17 - 19, 2023
Online
The teachings of the Six Mahayana Paramitas are invitations to live love from the depths and to recognize our spacious freedom. The play of spaciousness and love is a dynamic part of the Buddhist path of Awakening. Spaciousness grounds love in wisdom, embodied love is the expression of spacious freedom–the paramitas are practices to deepen and cultivate spaciousness and love in our minds, hearts and in our lives. During this on-line weekend retreat we will explore the teachings of the Six Mahayana Paramitas: generosity, embodied ethics, patience, joyful effort, meditative concentration and wisdom beyond wisdom as ways of embodying love…

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…

Thanksgiving Day Potluck Celebration

November 23, 2023
Great Vow Zen Monastery
Come celebrate Thanksgiving and the spirit of autumnal release at Great Vow. Vegetarian potluck dinner begins at 4pm. Main courses (nut loaf, mashed potatoes, stuffing) will be provided by our kitchen. Side dishes, desserts, salads, and other magical accompaniments are welcome! Potluck Dinner will be followed by games, dancing, and spontaneous conviviality.    The Covid situation is changing fast. We are currently asking folks to take a rapid covid test directly before arrival. Thanks!  Please register here, and write to registrar(at)zendust.org with any questions.

Half-Day Zazen Retreat

December 2, 2023
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple and Online
This retreat is a half day of Zen meditation practice to settle into deeper stillness as we move into our final week of Ango and closing ceremonies. It will be an opportunity to come together with community, celebrate what we have cultivated, and reflect on the lessons learned, insights explored, and intentions we'll set moving forward. Join us for a half day of meditation (seated and walking), chanting, and Dharma words. This retreat is held in silence. Please arrive by 7:45 8:00 am Zazen 9:00 am Service 9:30 am Break 9:50 am Zazen 11:20 am Dharma Talk, Zazen, and Closing chant

December Sesshin – Rohatsu

With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi, Hogen Bays, Roshi and Larry Fuho Trussell

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…

Beginner’s Mind Weekend Meditation Retreat

With Senior Lay Practitioner and/or Ordained Priest

December 15 - 17, 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. 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…

Vow Sesshin

With Hogen Bays, Roshi, Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi and Patrick Bansho Green

January 15 - 21, 2024
Great Vow Zen Monastery
  From emptiness springs forth our deepest potential. When we are able to drop our ideas about who and what we are, we can recognize the infinite realm of possibility that has always been our playground. Reality before interpretation, before we start applying labels and identities, is vast and unbounded. From this space, we access the wisdom and compassion that is the source material of our life. With wisdom and compassion as our foundation, we recognize that we are the totality. Nothing separate and always in relationship. We come to see our personality and our personal particularities as part of the…

Pari-Nirvana Sesshin: A Meditation Retreat exploring Life, Death & the Unknown

With Laura Jomon Martin and Larry Fuho Trussell

February 12 - 18, 2024
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
Zen meditation is an invitation to the unknown. 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…

March Sesshin – Deep Listening

With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei

March 15 - 24, 2024
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.