The Buddha Eye Development plan was established by our Visioning Committee, which was comprised of the Abbot, Board members, Trainees, and Teachers, with significant input from the Stewardship Council and broader Sangha through open dialogues, focus groups, and discussions. The Current plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in 2025. While communicated in specific phases, including current work and future phases of development, the plan serves as an orienting map for the future of Buddha Eye Zen Community Temple across the next decade and more.

Organization & Administration
Current Work

  • Develop clarity of organizational structure.

  • Create materials to help make leadership roles transparent.

  • Create processes for official interaction with the temple (e.g. registration).

  • Develop a culture of communication with and between leaders.

  • Clarify the role of various teachers within the temple community.

Phase 2

  • Develop administrative role(s) to coordinate and conduct the work  of the temple (e.g. communications)

Phase 3

  • Develop the role of the Vice Abbott who assists with Abbot responsibilities and prepares for succession

Staff & Volunteers
Current Work

  • Determine positions within temple activities which require staffing.

  • Continue to clarify and cultivate volunteer positions.

  • Hire necessary positions for current programs.

  • Enhance cultivation of dharma teachers.

Phase 2

  • Establish administrative role(s).

Phase 3

  • Establish the role of Vice Abbot.

Training
Current Work

  • Re-create structure for practice positions.

  • Develop inward and outward facing training path frameworks.

  • Shift Residential Program to Apprenticeship Model.

  • Develop a clear vision of Koji and Koji training modality.

  • Develop and promote diversification of teachers and teaching.

Phase 2

  • Develop curriculum for training teachers and leaders.

  • Develop teachers to train teachers.

  • Create and promote community-based teaching opportunities.

Phase 3

  • Develop supports for teachers taking on ventures independent from Buddha Eye Temple

Programming
Current Work

  • Create a 5-year cycle of coordinated fundamental curriculum.

  • Create a process for sangha members to bring forward programming.

  • Develop Children's Program that serves 3-12 year old children.

  • Refine and develop yearly Practice Period.

  • Develop program structure to respond to space limitations.

Phase 2

  • Respond to community needs in a variety of settings.

  • Refine and develop Sesshin.

  • Clarify approach to digital dharma.

Phase 3

  • Develop a seminary program.

Sangha
Current Work

  • Develop opportunities for interpersonal connection and reflection on dharma teachings and practice.

  • Establish regular social events.

  • Develop guidelines, policies, and procedures for cultivating sangha harmony and integrity.

  • Develop a culture of day to day engagement with the temple.

Phase 2

  • Grow various peer groups that facilitate connection and reflection between people  with similar experiences.

Phase 3

  • Leadership in the Eugene-Springfield interfaith community

Community Engagement
Current Work

  • Establish a process for developing community programming.

  • Develop Community Programs.

  • Begin zazen sessions in the larger community (i.e. not at BET).

  • Explore how temples can be an asset to the larger community.

Phase 2

  • An experimental phase with various types of community programming.

  • Develop a connection with the larger Soto Zen Sangha.

Phase 3

  • Well established rotation of community programming recognized in the larger community

Financial Support
Current Work

  • Begin targeted outreach/fundraising to support specific programs.

  • Cultivate donors toward a long term vision of “Establishing a Temple.”

  • Cultivate the role of stewards in “Establishing a Temple.”

Phase 2

  • Enact Capital Campaign to support facilities expansion.

Phase 3

  • Endowment funded to support generational sustainability.

Facilities
Current Work

  • Conduct an assessment for responding to current and future needs.

  • Discuss with neighbors the possibility of property expansion.

  • Design process for enhanced facilities.

  • Explore retreat/sesshin facilities off current site.

Phase 2

  • Build facilities expansion.

Phase 3

  • Establish Rectory.

Wind of the Lineage
Current Work

  • Create communication and out-reach framework and materials (web-presence, printed matter, etcetera) that name and identify the characteristics of the Buddha Eye Lineage.

  • Significant outward presentation of our teachers’ teaching.

  • Develop aesthetics that express and identify our lineage.

Phase 2

  • Curate the "reservoir" of dharma talks, create clips, transcripts, and edited works.

Phase 3

  • Buddha Eye Lineage group formed.