Expanding the vision

SE Madison Street Zendo
In 1986, the Carlsons began looking for a space to house Dharma Rain and its rapidly expanding activities, including a children’s program along with residential monastic training and a growing body of serious lay practitioners. Kyogen and Gyokuko longed to share the gifts of their training through development of Dharma Rain’s programs, but access to more space was critical. Finally, with the support of a rapidly growing sangha, a house was purchased in the Southeast neighborhood of Portland. A former church across the street was subsequently purchased and served as the temple, where classes and services were offered, although extended retreats were held elsewhere. Two more homes in the neighborhood provided additional resident housing. For nearly 30 years, these buildings in the popular Hawthorne district of Portland became the locus of Dharma Rain and the practice home for a thriving sangha.
In addition to providing monastic training, Dharma Rain became an early leader in the authorization of lay teachers, and developed one of the strongest Buddhist children’s programs of any Zen center in the West. By the early 2000’s, with six authorized teachers – both lay and monastic – Dharma Rain had established itself as a thriving Soto Zen temple.