"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.
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