2023 at a Glance
All events are accessible in both the Dirt and Cloud Zendos unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, January 14th ~ 9am-3pm Pacific Time
Death and Dying Workshop – Planning Ahead
Do you have questions about how to plan ahead for the “uncertainty of the hour of your death”? Would you like to learn some of the options for your care while you are dying? This workshop will help you find answers to these and other questions, and to begin the process of completing your planning forms. Click here for more information.
Saturday, January 28th ~ 5:30am-9pm Pacific Time
Zazenkai – All-Day Retreat
Retreat is an essential part of realizing the truth of Zen for yourself. Our Zazenkai encompasses an entire day, just like a day of sesshin (a longer residential retreat) and includes zazen, chanting, silent work practice, formal oryoki meals, rest, and sanzen with the teacher. Click here for more information.
Saturday, February 11th ~ 5-7pm Pacific Time
“Sharing In Sangha” Open Mic Night
Sangha members will gather (Dirt+Cloud Zendo) to get to know one another better (and have fun!) by sharing in expressive or creative ways – playing or singing music, reciting poetry, telling a story or jokes, acting out a scene, or offering a “show & tell” that shares something created, a special skill, one’s home, or photos from a recent trip or event. Click here for more information.
Sunday, February 12th ~ 9:30-10am Pacific Time
Nehan Ceremony
Our annual Nehan ceremony commemorates the death of Shakyamuni Buddha. This simple but moving ritual symbolizes how the Dharma is passed on, and isn’t dependent on the presence of any one individual – even the Buddha! Click here for more information.
Saturday, February 25th ~ 8:30am-4pm Pacific Time
Spring Term Student Program Begins ~ Opening Retreat
Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, March 7th ~ 8-9pm Pacific Time
Annual Precept Study Series Begins
Every year, we study the Bodhisattva Precepts. Please join us! This series occurs every Tuesday (except for sesshin, on March 21st) between March 7th and our June 4th Jukai ceremony (13 classes total) and is led by Sangha members who have received Jukai. Click here for more information.
Monday Evening, March 20th - Friday Morning, March 24th
BWZ Annual Sesshin
Sesshin – a multi-day, residential, full-time silent meditation retreat – is a challenging but profound experience. Consider joining us! We will be renting a beautiful out-of-town facility with accomodations and a kitchen. Click here for more information.
Sunday, April 2nd ~ 9:30-10am Pacific Time
Wesak Ceremony
Wesak (pronounced Vay-sock) is celebrated all over the world, in all forms of Buddhism, and commemorates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. All are welcome to join the ceremony; its beauty of this ceremony is greatly enhanced by the participation of children and the presence of bountiful flowers! Click here for more information.
Saturday, April 22nd ~ 7:30am-4:30pm
One-Day Retreat with Mondo
Our One-Day retreats are a wonderful way to deepen connection with Sangha and settle into stillness. At the end of the retreat, we do mondo practice (a formal question-and-answer ceremony based on a Dharma text). Click here for more information.
Saturday, April 29th ~ 8am-5pm
Dharma Cloud Lineage Day – At Bright Way Zen!
Once a year, groups in the Dharma Cloud lineage (including Dharma Rain Zen Center, plus our friends from Wy’East Zen Center in Sandy from Zen West/Empty Field Zendo in Eugene) gather to maintain connections and give people a sense of our shared lineage. Stay tuned for a schedule: Click here for more information.
Saturday, May 20th ~ Wagesa Workshop
Wagesa Workshop ~ In the Dirt Zendo
Wagesas are presented to people when they take Jukai at Bright Way. This is a visible way to acknowledge their commitment. In addition, it is pretty special that the Wagesas are handmade by members of the sangha. Please consider spending a few hours making Wagesas. Everyone is welcome! Please consider attending. Click here to learn more.
Saturday, May 27th ~ 8:30am-4pm Pacific Time
Spring Term Student Program Ends ~ Closing Retreat
Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.
Sunday, June 4th ~ 11:15am-12:15pm Pacific Time
Jukai Ceremony ~ Formally Becoming a Zen Buddhist
Every year, we gather to witness people “receiving” the Bodhisattva Precepts and formally becoming a Zen Buddhist. If you are interested in doing this, click here for more information.
Saturday, June 24th ~ 5:30am-9pm Pacific Time
Zazenkai – All-Day Retreat
Retreat is an essential part of realizing the truth of Zen for yourself. Our Zazenkai encompasses an entire day, just like a day of sesshin (a longer residential retreat) and includes zazen, chanting, silent work practice, formal oryoki meals, rest, and sanzen with the teacher. Click here for more information.
The Month of August ~ Tuesdays and Sundays
Sangha Voices Series
In August, our teacher Domyo takes a sabbatical and our Tuesday classes and Sunday talks are led by Sangha members! This is a wonderful opportunity for Sangha members to get to know one another better, and to hear the Dharma expressed in many different voices. Stay tuned for a schedule of classes/discussion topics/talks, and consider volunteering to offer something yourself if you have been a member of Bright Way for a year or more.
Sunday, September 17th ~ 9:30-10am Pacific Time
Founder’s Ceremony
This ceremony honors our temple founder, Rev. Kyogen Carlson, and his teacher Roshi Jiyu Kennett, around the anniversary of their deaths. Click here for more information.
Saturday, Sept 23rd ~ 8:30am-4pm Pacific Time
Fall Term Student Program Begins ~ Opening Retreat
Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.
Saturday, October 28th ~ 5:30am-9pm Pacific Time
Zazenkai – All-Day Retreat
Retreat is an essential part of realizing the truth of Zen for yourself. Our Zazenkai encompasses an entire day, just like a day of sesshin (a longer residential retreat) and includes zazen, chanting, silent work practice, formal oryoki meals, rest, and sanzen with the teacher. Click here for more information.
Sunday, October 29th ~ 9:30-10am Pacific Time
Sejiki Ceremony
Sejiki is our annual Soto Zen “Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.” We make offerings to the manifestations of unresolved karma in the world, and also remember people who have recently passed away. Click here for more information.
Sunday, November 19th ~ 11:15am-12:15pm Pacific Time
Annual Member’s Meeting
Please attend Bright Way Zen’s Annual Member’s Meeting! While the title of the meeting refers to “members,” all are welcome to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to create an opportunity for everyone to hear an update from the Board of Directors regarding various topics of interest and to discuss questions and ideas from all attendees. Click here for more information.
Saturday, November 25th ~ 7:30am-4:30pm
One-Day Retreat with Mondo
Our One-Day retreats are a wonderful way to deepen connection with Sangha and settle into stillness. At the end of the retreat, we do mondo practice (a formal question-and-answer ceremony based on a Dharma text). Click here for more information.
First Week of December
Rohatsu Sesshin
Bright Way Zen does not hold its own Rohatsu sesshin at this time, but members are strongly encouraged to participate with another Sangha. Rohatsu is the deepest, quietest sesshin of the year, and it’s practiced by Zen communities all over the world in early December. Domyo attends the sesshin at Great Vow; to join her, stay tuned for information on their Rohatsu by clicking here.
Saturday, December 16th ~ 8:30am-4pm Pacific Time
Fall Term Student Program Ends ~ Closing Retreat
Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.
December 23rd - January 1st
Holiday Break
Bright Way is on holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s, but there are usually a few practice events you can tune into during the break.
~ Page under construction – more events to come! In the meantime, refer to our Calendar. ~
