5.0
Verified
City Refuge Retreat
3 days of stillness in the city. Great food and companions.
The Resilient Heart
Top Rated
The Resilient Heart
4.92104 reviews
79640 Quincy Mayger Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016, USA
April 2 - 5, 2026
About this Retreat
Your Guides
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.
Details of this retreat
This retreat is one in which Hogen Roshi often experiments with dharma teaching and practice. So, please come with a flexible mind, open to possibilities.
This retreat/workshop is (as are all of our events) an opportunity to hear the teachings of liberation, to reflect and verify them and to apply them to our lives. As the truths of dharma penetrate our hearts they relieve our dissatisfaction and enable us to help others.
Our practice is a continual invitation to expand our view. As our view expands, we no longer live tethered to our preferences, judgements and beliefs about how we think the world should be. We come to see that even the most tumultuous and challenging circumstances can become opportunities for deep insight and possibility.
This is not meant as an introductory course. Hogen requests that you register only if you have participated in a ZCO sesshin or an equivalent retreat.
This retreat/workshop is (as are all of our events) an opportunity to hear the teachings of liberation, to reflect and verify them and to apply them to our lives. As the truths of dharma penetrate our hearts they relieve our dissatisfaction and enable us to help others.
Our practice is a continual invitation to expand our view. As our view expands, we no longer live tethered to our preferences, judgements and beliefs about how we think the world should be. We come to see that even the most tumultuous and challenging circumstances can become opportunities for deep insight and possibility.
This is not meant as an introductory course. Hogen requests that you register only if you have participated in a ZCO sesshin or an equivalent retreat.
Getting Here
Zen Community of Oregon, 79640 Quincy Mayger Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016, USA
Accommodation
Event fee - in person - non member
ZCO dues-paying member - in person
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Turning the Mirror Inward
Participating in inner criticism is like turning yourself around in front of a mirror—up, down, left, right, front, and back—so that you can truly see yourself clearly. You must be brave and honest enough to face your true self—the depths of your own heart. Inside, there is good and evil, light and darkness, and a tangled mix of disguise and authenticity intertwined with your external relationships.
It takes courage to see and honesty to confront this stubborn “self” and the attachment to “ego.” From my own learning experience, this is only the first step in self-cleansing. It may take years of self-acceptance (often a painful process) and the wisdom to protect that inner self. Only by taking this first step can one truly begin the practice of cultivating the mind and nurturing goodness.
I am deeply grateful to Teacher Jogen for his guidance to beginners in meditation. His approach is both kind and down-to-earth, and he highlighted the importance of turning our awareness inward. I am also thankful for all his teachings and final reminders. Through persistent daily meditation and prayer (self-reflection), we can cultivate the mind and nurture goodness.
It takes courage to see and honesty to confront this stubborn “self” and the attachment to “ego.” From my own learning experience, this is only the first step in self-cleansing. It may take years of self-acceptance (often a painful process) and the wisdom to protect that inner self. Only by taking this first step can one truly begin the practice of cultivating the mind and nurturing goodness.
I am deeply grateful to Teacher Jogen for his guidance to beginners in meditation. His approach is both kind and down-to-earth, and he highlighted the importance of turning our awareness inward. I am also thankful for all his teachings and final reminders. Through persistent daily meditation and prayer (self-reflection), we can cultivate the mind and nurture goodness.
4.0
Verified
New Member Tea
Glad I attended as it gave me more insight into why sangha matters. I had felt seperate from others, I think because my 'usual' way of relating, mostly through conversation, simply had not had nor made many opportunities as I sat at home on zoom, or even as I attended zazenkais over the last many couple of years.
I appreciate the opportunity to share and to ask questions of interest to me.
Thank you.
I appreciate the opportunity to share and to ask questions of interest to me.
Thank you.
5.0
Verified
Well worth the time
I was reluctant to sign up for a full day Basic Zen Buddhism offering but the experience was well worth the time. Teachers were excellent and covered all of the basics that aren’t covered anywhere else. It’s like learning a new culture!
I loved the environment and atmosphere and all of the people attending were so pleasant. Beautiful way to spend the day.
I loved the environment and atmosphere and all of the people attending were so pleasant. Beautiful way to spend the day.
5.0
Verified
Heart of Wisdom Zazenkai: Sept. 20, 2025
This one-day retreat was my first with the Zen Community of Oregon (ZCO) at the Heart of Wisdom temple. I found the treat so peaceful, so calming, in such a beautiful and comfortable space. The retreat was intimate, but not too small---about 25 attendees. I found this to be perfect. I found the dharma talk to be uplifting and personally impactful. I'm looking forward to the next opportunity for extended time with the ZCO!
Chad O.
Chad O.
Last Chance