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…
Grasses, Trees, and the Great Earth Sesshin
With Amy Kisei, Sensei and Kodo Conover
August 15 - 21, 2022
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…
Blueprint for Freedom: Finding Joy and Stability in Chaotic Times
With Lama Lekshe and Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi
September 1 - 4, 2022
Great Vow Zen Monastery or Online
In this weekend retreat, we’ll explore meditations drawn from the words and spirit of two beloved sutras* and advice from the great Nyingma master, Longchenpa. We’ll work at the intersection of shamatha and mind/heart training to familiarize ourselves with view, meditation and actions that will help us recognize the spiritual opportunity inherent in moments of chaos and fear.
Oceans of Compassion: A Retreat In Service To The Earth
With Kodo Conover, Laura Jomon Martin and Patrick Bansho Green
September 16 - 18, 2022
Offsite: Beverly Beach State Park
In conjunction with SOLVE’s Oregon Beach Cleanup activities, you’re invited to join the Zen Community of Oregon for a weekend CAMPING/MEDITATION retreat at BEVERLY BEACH STATE PARK. Take a weekend on the coast to connect with the Sangha. With a relaxed schedule and opportunity for socializing, there will be sitting times, Dharma talks, and practices to take with you into the clean-up.
Jizo Sesshin
With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi and Laura Jomon Martin
September 20 - 25, 2022
Great Vow Zen Monastery
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.…
Investigating Zen Practice
With Ed Gensho Welsh and Darah Shonin Ashton
September 24, 2022
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.
Jizo Ceremony for Children Who Have Died
With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi
October 1, 2022
Great Vow Zen Monastery
The loss of a child often opens a well of profound grief. No matter how the child dies, suddenly or slowly, whether through illness, accident, miscarriage, abortion, or suicide, our sorrow is deep and may be long-lasting.
Mindful Eating Weekend Retreat
With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi
October 7 - 9, 2022
Great Vow Zen Monastery
It can be so easy to loose touch with the basic joys of our life. With eating, the simple exploration of texture, smell, taste and touch, can bring us into deep presence and ease. What is it like to truly taste a raisin? How often do we just eat, without a cellphone or radio, without distraction? Chozen Bays Roshi has been teaching mindful eating for decades. We eat to be nourished, body, heart and mind. With mindfulness practices and community support, we can learn together - the art of eating, and the joys of being nourished. In this workshop we…
Autumn Ango – Fall Residency
With Hogen and Chozen Roshi
October 11 - December 18, 2022
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 Gate
With Hogen Bays, Roshi and Patrick Bansho Green
October 13 - 23, 2022
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 very 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
October 29, 2022
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.
ZCO Board meeting November 2022
November 6, 2022
Online
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. Meetings are held via Zoom.
November Sesshin – Gratefulness
With Jogen Salzberg, Sensei and Kodo Conover
November 7 - 13, 2022
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. She will need to dive into creativity and allow the surprises of each donation manifest our meals.…
Compassion, Joy and Forgiveness- A Weekend Loving Kindness Retreat
With Amy Kisei, Sensei
November 18 - 20, 2022
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.
December Sesshin – Rohatsu
With Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi and Hogen Bays, Roshi
December 4 - 11, 2022
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 are…
Beginner’s Mind Weekend Retreat
With Amy Kisei, Sensei and Myoyu Voekel
December 16 - 18, 2022
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.