Hogen Bays, Roshi
Hogen Bays, Roshi began practicing in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi and was part of the residential staff at Zen Center of Rochester in Rochester, New York until 1975.
He lived and trained at Zen Center of Los Angeles under the direction of Taizan Maezumi, Roshi from 1980-1984. In 1990 he took priest’s ordination with Maezumi, Roshi. After advice and consultation with Harada, Roshi and other Zen teachers, in 2000 he received Dharma Transmission from Chozen, Roshi.
Since 1990 Hogen has continued his Zen studies with Rinzai Zen teacher Shodo Harada, Roshi, abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Japan and One Drop Zendo in Tahoma, Washington.
He has been a leader of Zen Community of Oregon since 1985 and worked full-time for the sangha since 1997. He is co-abbot of Great Vow Zen Monastery.
Hogen holds a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Master’s Degree (MS) in Psychology. He worked for the Oregon Department of Corrections for 15 years.
Hogen is a lifelong and devoted student of the Dharma and continues to broaden his practice by studying with teachers outside the Zen tradition.
Events with Hogen Bays, Roshi
December Sesshin - RohatsuDecember 7, 2025
The current option is to sign up for the Waitlist. We will contact you with more information once you have joined the waitlist. 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…
Continuous PracticeFebruary 5, 2026
This silent meditation retreat is an opportunity to dip into the well of the monastic practice container for the weekend. The theme is Zazen. There will be guidance and dharma talks but otherwise, let’s bask in this rarified stillness together, setting down the judgment and opinion making mind and returning home. This retreat will have a similar rhythm to that of our monthly sesshin and is well suited to those with an established practice. Previous retreat experience, especially a retreat at Great Vow, is recommended to attend this retreat. If you have not practiced at Great Vow before, please…
March Sesshin - Deep ListeningMarch 14, 2026
Watch a short Video from Jogen Sensei, detailing the practice of deep listening: The Joys of Sound with Jogen Sensei Zen Master Bassui – “What is this mind? Who is hearing these sounds? Do not mistake any state for Self-realization, but continue to ask yourself even more intensely, what is it that hears?” Awareness meeting sound has been a gate into the depths of the heart-mind for as long as human beings have longed to touch the divine and open beyond the contracted self. During this sesshin we come together in joyous recognition of the power of deep listening, and…