A Message From Allie

My name is Allie, and I am a 25 year old who just finished a term of 313 days of residency at Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clastkanie, Oregon (ZCO), under the leadership of Chozen and Hogen Roshi, students of Taizan Maezumi Roshi among others. I arrived at the Monastery at the end of October last year, and my residency ended on the 6th of this month. It was my first time travelling outside of Florida on my own, barring a single Sesshin, and also my first time in Monastic practice. In fact, I'd only been practicing Zen for a few months before I made that jump, but the call was strong, and I did have prior spiritual experience as a solitary Daoist, and meditated semi-regularly before finding the Great Cloud Sangha. However, finding Elliston Roshi, Bill, and the rest of the Great Cloud Sangha had a profound impact on my life, and I would never have found, let alone made the jump to live at, Great Vow if it wasn't for their support and guidance. It was a pretty crazy leap of faith, but I was struggling a lot with personal issues and spiritual questions that I did not have answers for, and felt a calling toward a life of spiritual practice and service.

It was very challenging adapting to the strict Monastic schedule and new environment, but the Zen Community of Oregon sangha was extremely supportive and caring in helping me adjust and work through the karma and thoughts I had brought with me. Monastic practice is definitely not for everyone, and I'm not sure I'd recommend people jump straight into it with both feet like I did, but I am so grateful I had the opportunity to practice with such a mature and wise sangha, and help contribute to such a beautiful place. During my time at Great Vow I learned sewing, basic cooking, gardening, my practice matured greatly due to an intensive schedule of Zazen, chanting, and study (as well as monthly Sesshin and other retreats), and I grew in my abilities to relate with others and live together in harmony in a communal setting. Now that I am back in Florida visiting family, I plan to use this time to reflect on my experiences at Great Vow, to further develop my independent spiritual practice with the guidance of teachers from ZCO and STO, and to discern what might be the best use of the limited and precious life energy I have been alotted. After a year of residency I still do feel a strong drive to become ordained, but I want to make sure I look deeply inward before I make such a large life decision. Deep bows of gratitude for all the support this Sangha and practice have given me in the journey on this beautiful winding path. I am happy to answer any questions those who read this have about myself, my practice, monastic living in America, the Zen Community of Oregon, or anything else. 😀