Harvey Daiho Hilbert Roshi (born 1947) is a psychotherapist and an expert on post-Vietnam stress syndrome.
He is an ordained Soto Zen priest and the founding
abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...
of the Order of Clear Mind Zen and a leader of the Zen community in southern New Mexico. He was featured in a documentary on Vietnam Veterans that aired on both
National Public Radio
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...
's "
Morning Edition
''Morning Edition'' is an American radio news program produced and distributed by NPR. It airs weekday mornings (Monday through Friday) and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 5:00 to 9:00 AM ...
" and PBS station KRWG-TV.
During combat in the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
Hilbert was shot in the head, leaving him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Despite his injuries, Hilbert went on to college.
Early life and education
Hilbert was born in New Jersey in 1947 and grew up in Florida. A high school drop out, he enlisted in the Army in 1964
[Morning Editio]
"Vet Recalls The 'Legacy Of War That Lasts Forever'"
''NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
'' "Morning Edition," November 9, 20123:20 AM ET. at age 17.
In 1966 he was assigned to Company A, 35th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade Task Force in Vietnam. On May 29, 1966, his company was taken by helicopter to an ongoing battle at LZ 10 Alpha near
Pleiku Province
Pleiku is a city in central Vietnam, located in the Central Highlands region. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province. Many years ago, it was inhabited primarily by the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups, sometimes known as the Montagnards or De ...
,
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
as part of
Operation Paul Revere
Operation Paul Revere was a 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division operation that took place west of Pleiku, lasting from 10 May to 1 August 1966.
Prelude
On 10 May 1966 following sightings of large People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces west of ...
.
During the fighting Hilbert was shot in the head, resulting in an 8-square-inch hole in his skull.
He also was hit in the back with shrapnel. Due to combat, he could not be airlifted out until the following morning.
Hilbert was taken to a field hospital, where bullet fragments were removed from his brain.
The wounds left him paralyzed on his left side.
After rehabilitation, he recovered the use of most of his leg and some functioning of his arm.
He obtained his bachelor's degree (multidisciplinary) from
Coker College
Coker University is a private university in Hartsville, South Carolina. It was founded in 1908 and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Coker's sports teams, nicknamed the Cobras, compete in NCAA Division II.
Histo ...
, and then attended
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Case Western Reserve was established in 1967, when Western Reserve University, founded in 1826 and named for its location in the Connecticut Western Reser ...
to study social work, obtaining both his master's and PhD. Hilbert is also an artist.
After his release from the Army, Hilbert dedicated himself to working with those suffering from combat-related
post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on ...
, or PTSD.
Military awards
On September 27, 1966, Hilbert's unit received the
Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
.
Also for his service, Hilbert was awarded a
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...
and the
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It is awarded to every member of the US Armed Forces who has served during any one of four sp ...
.
Trauma victim work
After college, Hilbert began a private practice focused on helping trauma survivors,
which continued for nearly three decades. A key component of his treatment was the use of contemplative practices with his clients.
In addition to his private practice he also served as a consultant to other
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on a ...
treatment facilities.
Eventually his business grew into the Proact Corporation, a canopy organization, which consisted of Rainbeau Research and Counseling Centers, Professional Guidance Institute, Employee Assistance Program, and Stress Intervention Centers. The companies served patients from seven offices in two states.
Hilbert twice testified before the U.S. Congress as an expert witness on those suffering from PTSD.
Zen
At 19, he began meditating and studying Zen.
[Severson, Alexia]
"Meditation provides emotional, mental and physical benefits"
'' Las Cruces Sun News'', Las Cruces, Sept. 1, 2015 and eventually became a student of Ken Hogaku Shozen McGuire roshi at the Dharma Mountain Zendo in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. In 2005, he was given
Dharma Transmission
In Chan Buddhism, Chan and Zen Buddhism, dharma transmission is a custom in which a person is established as a "successor in an unbroken Lineage (Buddhism), lineage of teachers and disciples, a spiritual 'bloodline' (''kechimyaku'') theoretica ...
.
In 2005, he retired from clinical practice to establish the Order of Clear Mind Zen in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with affiliates in northern California, Virginia, and West Texas. Hilbert has a history of street practice,
bearing witness for peace, and continues his community service with vulnerable populations.
Books and studies
Hilbert contributed to several books and studies, including ''Social Work Today'', Volume 16. He co-authored ''Homelessness in Ohio: A Study of People in Need, Franklin County Report'', which was published by the Ohio Department of Mental Health. He wrote the book ''Zen in your Pocket'' about Zen helping with traumatic stress and disability. Roshi Hilbert also wrote Living Zen: The Diary of an American Zen Priest, which details a year in the life of a Zen priest, and what he learned about life from the day-to-day events.
Other writings include:
*
*
*
Personal life
Hilbert lives in
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces (; "the crosses") is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern New ...
with his wife the Rev. Kathryn Shukke Hilbert.
[
]
See also
*Buddhism in the United States
The term American Buddhism can be used to describe all Buddhist groups within the United States, including Asian Americans, Asian-American Buddhists born into the faith, who comprise the largest percentage of Buddhists in the country.
American Budd ...
*Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
Below is a timeline of important events regarding Zen Buddhism in the United States. Dates with "?" are approximate.
Events
Early history
* 1893: Soyen Shaku comes to the United States to lecture at the World Parliament of Religions held in C ...
References
External links
WorldCat bibliography
Daibutsuji Zen Temple
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilbert, Harvey
1947 births
Living people
Zen Buddhism writers
Soto Zen Buddhists
Zen Buddhist priests
United States Army soldiers
21st-century American psychologists
People from New Jersey
People from Las Cruces, New Mexico
20th-century American psychologists