Rev. Domyo Burk was raised Catholic, but left the church in high school when she found she lacked the faith that God or Christ existed in the way presented by Catholicism. For many years, she thought religion and spirituality were for other people, once even telling a friend, “If I ever get involved in an organized religion, shoot me.” Then, shortly after college, neurotic and despairing, she encountered Buddhism and credits it with saving her life. Eventually Domyo spent seven years in full-time residential training at a Zen center, become a Zen priest and teacher, and established her own Zen community on Portland’s westside.

Speaker Bio

Domyo Burk is a Zen priest and the Guiding Teacher at Bright Way Zen Center, a Soto Zen Buddhist community on the westside of Portland. After getting a master’s degree in wildlife science from Oregon State University in 2000, she spent 7 years in full-time residential practice at Dharma Rain Zen Center. In 2010 Domyo received Dharma Transmission (empowerment to teach in the Zen tradition) and in 2011 established Bright Way Zen. She currently divides her time between her work as a Zen priest, producing the Zen Studies Podcast, and climate activism with Extinction Rebellion.