Portland Buddhist Priory sangha members in the meditation hall. Rev. Master Leon Kackman in at  center left.
Photos by: Amy Aycrigg, Rev. Master Leon Kackman, Trinity Treat.

Members of the Portland Buddhist Priory hope this year or next to break ground on a new addition, which will open up more space for Zen temple activities. The timetable depends on receiving building permits, and coordinating construction schedules.

A new meditation hall will comprise most of the main floor of the addition. The new hall will free the existing meditation hall space, to be used as a library and a meeting space.

The  building expansion will cover the current driveway.

The main floor will include a spacious entry hall, and easier access to restrooms and storage. The expanded daylight basement will house a new priory office and bathroom, and will provide future space for retreatants and guests.

The addition will include a flat roof for outdoor meeting space, and a container garden. The addition will be accessible to those with physical challenges, and fully compliant with local building codes.

Work began with fundraising. In late 2021 the priory was fortunate to receive a substantial long-term, no-interest loan with no set repayment time. With a substantial portion of the project’s funding in hand, the priory secured the largely pro bono services of an architectural firm, Woodblock Architecture, to develop initial plans and to assist with the permitting process. Last year the priory secured a builder, East Avenue Design+Build, to bring the project to fruition.

Sangha members removing old carpet to prepare for building expansion.

The Portland Buddhist Priory received another generous donation in the form of wood, from Rev. Master Hugh Gould and the Eugene Buddhist Priory in Eugene, Oregon. The Eugene priory sits on several wooded acres that need thinning. The felled Douglas Fir trees will be milled and shipped to Portland, for use in the Portland priory’s building project.

Some wood will be further milled and used for the interior flooring and trim. This gift will save costs but will also serve as an example of the long-term sharing and support between the two priories. The gift pays homage to the trees, which have benefited the Eugene sangha for many years.

This April Portland priory members gathered to begin emptying the basement, in preparation for the priory’s expansion. The work party was fortunate to have dry and relatively warm weather, a rarity for this year’s unusually cool and wet April in Portland.

Families  gathering for  the Portland Buddhist Priory Family Day. 

Portland Buddhist Priory’s resident monk, Rev. Master Leon Kackman, led the group in emptying the basement of shelving units, furniture, home repair supplies, extra kitchen gadgets and containers, gardening supplies, leftover ductwork, and any number of items one might find stored in one’s basement. Members hoisted everything into a rental truck, and transported the items to a nearby storage unit for safekeeping. The work party broke for lunch to enjoy, pizza, salad, and fellowship, and to hear updates on the expansion project.

The priory is one of some four dozen monasteries, temples, priories, hermitages, and meditation groups in North America and Europe, affiliated with the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC). The order began in 1978 as an outgrowth of the Zen Mission Society, founded by Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennett in 1970. The order follows the serene reflection meditation (soto Zen) tradition.

A service in the somewhat-cramped existing meditation hall, Portland Buddhist Priory. Rev. Master Leon Kackman top right; Lay Minister Gary Fear top left.

Portland has had an Order of Buddhist Contemplatives-affiliated group since the early 1970s. The priory in its current form started in 1987, and then in 1990 moved to its current location, conveniently in a Southeast Portland neighborhood.

The priory serves as residence for an Order of Buddhist Contemplatives senior monk, who serves as prior. The facility also serves as a temple for meditation, ceremonies, and sangha events.

Priory leaders always knew a new meditation hall would be needed to fully support members’ needs. In 2018, upon consultation with the priory council, priory leaders decided the time was right to move forward with expansion plans.

The Portland Buddhist priory is in a former private home, just  east of the Willamette River and south of downtown.

The priory sangha is deeply grateful to all who have donated resources and time to make this project a reality. Unfortunately, construction costs have risen since the project’s original plans were drafted.

The priory has sufficient funds to build the basic addition, but some finishing work may be completed in phases as additional funds become available. Sangha members have set up a GoFundMe campaign and appreciate any support, no matter how small.