Calendar

Great Vow Zen Monastery Zendo

Online Zendo Schedule: 

Wednesday – Saturday (Connect via Zoom link below)

4:30 – 6:20 AM – Zazen

6:20 – 7:00 AM – Service

Sunday Morning:

7:00 – 7:50 AM – 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.
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.
 

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.
All Events
Sesshin
Weekend Retreats
Workshops
Practice Periods

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…

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.

Council Circle: Indigenous Peoples and This Land

November 30, 2026
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
In a Council Circle process*, we come together in a small group in a profound way. We create a shared liminal space that is supportive, confidential, and sacred. We each listen and speak from the heart, encountering and experiencing one another gently and with awareness. We are not solving problems, debating issues or making plans. We are making a healing space for each of us to hear and be heard, see and be seen (adapted from the Zen Peacemakers). You’re invited to join us for a council circle centered on the topic of Indigenous peoples and this land. What is…

Why the Diamond Sutra? With Ken McLeod (Online)

December 3, 2026
This Ango, we are studying the long venerated text, The Diamond Sutra, in a new translation with practice guidance and commentary by Ken McLeod: This Unexpected Jewel. We are fortunate to have Ken join us to offer a special talk and class on the sutra on Thursday, December 3rd from 7 - 9 pm. This event will be online via Zoom. You can also join our regular Thursday evening program to tune in together from Heart of Wisdom Temple. Please RSVP so we can manage the A/V accordingly! We will use our Heart of Wisdom zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84016661759 "Ken McLeod…

December Sesshin – Rohatsu – Waitlist/Online only available

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.

Jizo’s Vow Workshop at Heart of Wisdom

With Kodo Conover, Shonin Darah Ashton and Kosho Ault

January 8 - 9, 2027
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
  As we pass the Winter Solstice and turn to the new year, the time is ripe for contemplating vow. When you think about life’s purpose, what comes up? Zazen and inquiry offer a framework to become grounded and transform the energy of the unknown into possibilities. Zazen teaches us to turn down the volume on the planning, worrying mind and make space for deeper kinds of knowing.   Infused with the Great Determination, Optimism, and Fearlessness of Jizo Bodhisattva, vow offers a path to inspire and support our lives. Whether you would like to renew your vow, revise your…

Five Buddhist Precepts for Ethical Living – In Person

With Kodo Conover

January 12 - February 16, 2027
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
These one hour 5 Precepts classes will happen every Tuesday 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.

Winter Zazenkai: A One Day Meditation Retreat

With Fuho Larry Trussell

January 23, 2027
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.

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 2nd.    …

Seeing Through Obstacles – Inner Critic Weekend Retreat

With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei

February 4 - 7, 2027
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 inner critic work with Buddhist meditation practices to amplify understanding and dis-identify from ‘voices’ or ‘selves’ that hinder our unfolding. We will also…

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…

Longing and Belonging Workshop

With Kodo Conover and Linda Chōon Frischmeyer

February 20, 2027
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Have you ever felt that you don't belong? Dharma teachings assure us of interconnection, and still we feel separate. What is belonging and what is the longing we experience? In this workshop, we explore this longing to belong through meditation, listening, information (research findings), inquiry and collaborative investigation. Suggested donation includes a vegetarian/vegan lunch. No one turned away for lack of funds. In-person only.

Investigating Zen Practice: A One-Day Workshop

With Shonin Darah Ashton and Gensho Ed Welsh

February 27, 2027
Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple
Experience an Introduction to Zen Practice through the Ten Directions. This one-day in-person workshop at Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple 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 These workshops fill with waitlists. If you are not coming, please let us know ASAP so we can give your spot to someone else. Suggested donation includes a vegetarian/vegan lunch.…

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.