New Zen Monastery to Open in Oregon

February 13, 2002

Source: Northwest News Channel 8

http://www.kgw.com/kgwnews/oregonwash_story.html?StoryID=36712

On February 13, 2002, The Northwest News Channel 8 reported that "a Zen Buddhist organization has received approval to open a monastery and seminary in a vacant elementary school after weeks of debate over whether to allow the move... The Zen Community of Oregon, which was formed in the 1970s, conducts weekly services in Portland, but has spent years searching for a rural piece of property to hold monthly silent meditation retreats... The proposal sparked a debate at a public meeting held by the Buddhists in January to explain their plans for the school. Some residents said they thought Buddhism ran counter to their Christian beliefs and expressed fear that the seminary [monastery] would attract the community's youth."