Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi, MD
Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi, MD. has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism since 1973. She received Jukai (lay precepts) in 1975 and Tokudo, Priest's Ordination, in 1979 from Taizan Maezumi, Roshi. From 1978 to 1983 she lived at the Zen Center of Los Angeles, studying with Maezumi Roshi and directing the Zen Center's non-profit Medical Clinic. She finished formal koan study in 1983 and she was given Dharma transmission, authorization to teach, the same year. Following the death of Maezumi Roshi in 1995 she has continued her training with Shodo Harada Roshi, a Rinzai Zen teacher, abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Japan.
Since 1985 Chozen has been the teacher for the Zen Community of Oregon. In 2002 she helped to found Great Vow Zen Monastery and currently is the co-abbot.
She has published articles about Zen in Tricycle and Buddhadharma magazines. Her book, Jizo Bodhisattva, Modern Healing and Traditional Buddhist Practice (Tuttle Publishing, 2002), has been re-issued in paperback as Jizo Bodhisattva, Guardian of Children, Women and Other Voyagers by Shambhala Publishing.  Chozen is also pediatrician, mother and wife. She is particularly involved teaching how to use meditation to work with eating disorders and grief.