Vow Sesshin

I had never visited Great Vow before attending the week-long summer "Grasses, Trees & The Great Earth" sesshin. I could not be happier that I went. The personality of Great Vow is very warm while also peaceful and quiet. I would highly recommend the outdoor grasses & trees sesshin. It was magical in a different way from an indoor zendo sesshin. We sat in a great big circle and Kisei and Kodo were wonderful as our teachers.

Thank you 🙏

The feature that distinguishes this sesshin from others is its focus on the natural environment and the fact that all activities take place outside. The facility has stunningly beautiful grounds which include many wildflowers, moss-covered rocks, a bamboo grove, and large blackberry bushes. It also includes walking paths through a lush forest. All this makes the outdoor venue very attractive. We had cool weather, though sitting in direct sun was very uncomfortable and even dangerous for those of us with much skin damage. To be fair, we didn't have to sit in direct sunlight for more than one hour each day, usually in two different periods. The weather is sometimes hotter during this time, which would make the experience more challenging. There are also lots of mosquitos, though the facility does provide bug spray. I suppose these are just part of practice when one signs up for an outdoor sesshin!

The buildings are comfortable, including the dorms. Many people slept outside in tents, though I was not one of them. The dorm area includes a "workout" area complete with yoga mats and various tools for massaging sore muscles. Although the shesshin is silent, everyone exhibits kindness and consideration. All meals are vegetarian with vegan options, and I thought they were all very good.

The two teachers were very good. They prepared a well thought-out and meaningful program focused on earth awareness in its various aspects. I couldn't accept the more anthropomorphic interpretations of natural beings, but the teachers seemed aware of this possibility and were not dogmatic about the subject. They made sure everyone who wanted to have a one-on-one session with a teacher could be accommodated.

Overall, I was content with the sesshin.

THE TEACHER. Adam Jogen Salzberg teaches with authenticity, kindness and knowledge, which I share with you, based on my experience of his teaching, talks and membership in the zen community in Oregon, where I live and practice. If you are a new to zen, I recommend his courses with highly. Even though I have been practicing Buddhism for more than a decade, I still have a beginner's mind, and I learn fresh ideas from every encounter with Jogen. 5/5
THE SETTING. I am asked to offer a review of the Inner Critic workshop held at Great Vow Monastery in Oregon at the end of July 2024, and led by Jogen. I find the Monastery an open and welcoming setting for beginners and long-term practitioners alike. The grounds are peaceful: filled with life, from the nesting of the blue-and-gold barn swallows (who build homes in the Monastery's eaves) to the gangly coyotes who amuse the sangha with their teenage airs and sing lullabies at night-time. 5/5
ACCOMMODATIONS. Residents keep the temple spotless: a former elementary school with sinks and toilets built for small people. Visitors are offered comfortable beds and linens. Meals are thoughtful, with great care on two fronts: creating vegetarian dishes that offer healthy and fresh proteins, grains, vegetables and fruits--many from the Monastery gardens. Allergies and special needs are taken seriously, with accommodations for vegans, folks who are gluten intolerant, and for those with common food allergies. 4/5
WHAT WOULD MAKE IT BETTER. My body is a walking storehouse of allergies--which are year-round: I am allergic to molds, mildew, grasses, dust mites--an endless list. While antihistamine pills help a great deal, the smoke and scent from the incense used constantly at the Monastery cannot be managed by a pill. I find the incense aggravates my asthma--in short, it is difficult for me to breathe in the Zendo: the inner sanctum of the Monastery. Because pieces of my lungs have been removed surgically (to make breathing easier and to remove bacteria caused by tuberculosis' cousins--micobacterium avian) I find that I do better with fresh, clean air, and that--because the incense is hazardous and annoying--I wear a mask to dilute the smoke and scent--and yet--the mask--inhibits my breathing.
In summary, I face a hobson's choice: I come to the Monastery--and that is my choice. I come to engage in a fundamentally personal interaction/exchange with the community. That said, it requires taking a risk to my health because of zen traditions beyond my control: use of incense may likely cause me harm.

This visit was my second weekend retreat. We are so blessed to have a Buddhist community in Portland not to mention a beautiful zen retreat within driving distance of Portland yet far into the backroads and woods of Oregon. I leave feeling refreshed, relaxed and at peace with myself. Everyone should consider a weekend silent retreat or seminar.

Extremely well run logistics orchestrated with kindness and quality allow the quiet to soothe the soul quickly. Then, the magic ensues.
Thank you for creating space that allows me to see that knowing is knowing that I do not know. And what a joy the not knowing is.