Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi
1945 -

Jan Chozen Bays has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism since 1973. She received Jukai (lay precepts) in 1975 and Tokudo, Priest's Ordination, in 1979 from Taizan Maezumi, Roshi. From 1978 to 1983 she lived at the Zen Center of Los Angeles, studying with Maezumi Roshi and directing the Zen Center's non-profit Medical Clinic. She finished formal koan study in 1983, and she was given Dharma transmission, authorization to teach, the same year. Following the death of Maezumi Roshi in 1995 she has continued her training with Shodo Harada Roshi, a Rinzai Zen teacher, abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Japan.

Since 1985 Chozen has been the teacher for the Zen Community of Oregon. In 2002 she helped to found Great Vow Zen Monastery and currently is the co-abbot.

She has published articles about Zen in Tricycle and Buddhadharma magazines. Her book, Jizo Bodhisattva, Modern Healing and Traditional Buddhist Practice (Tuttle Publishing, 2002), has been re-issued in paperback as Jizo Bodhisattva, Guardian of Children, Women and Other Voyagers by Shambhala Publishing.  Chozen is also a pediatrician, mother and wife. As a physician she is very interested in how meditation and science interface. She is particularly involved teaching how to use meditation to work with eating disorders and grief.

Hogen Bays, Zen Teacher
1949 -

Hogen Bays began practicing in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi and was part of the residential staff at the Zen Center of Rochester in Rochester, New York until 1975.

He lived and trained at the Zen Center of Los Angeles under the direction of Taizan Maezumi , Roshi from 1980-1984. In 1990 he took Tokudo, Priest’s Ordination, with Maezumi 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. In 2000, after advice and consultation with Harada, Roshi and other Zen teachers he received Dharma Transmission from Chozen, Roshi.

He has been a leader of the 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.

Learn more about the Bays' Dharma Heritage