{{Short description|American Vietnam veteran, psychotherapist, and Zen priest}} {{Infobox religious biography |background = #FFD068 | color = |name = Harvey Daiho Hilbert |image= Harvey Daiho Hilbert.jpg |caption = Dr. Harvey Daiho Hilbert Roshi |birth name = |alias = |dharma name = |birth_date = |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |nationality = American |religion = Zen Buddhism |school = Sōtō |lineage = |title = Priest |location = |education = Case Western Reserve University |occupation = |teacher =Ken Hogaku Shozen McGuire roshi |reincarnation of = |predecessor = |successor = |students = |spouse = Rev. Kathryn Shukke Hilbert |partner = |children = |website = }} {{Zen Buddhism}} {{Western Buddhism}}
'''Harvey Daiho Hilbert Roshi''' (born 1947) is a psychotherapist and an expert on post-Vietnam stress syndrome.<ref name="chicagotribune.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/02/21/return-to-vietnam-2/|title=Return To Vietnam|author=Hall, Richard|date=February 21, 1988|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> He is an ordained Soto Zen priest and the founding abbot 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's "Morning Edition" and PBS station KRWG-TV.<ref name="NPR" /><ref name="PBS" /> During combat in the Vietnam War 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<ref name="NPR">{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=N. P. R. |date=2012-11-09 |title=Vet Recalls The 'Legacy Of War That Lasts Forever' |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/11/09/164685368/vet-recalls-the-legacy-of-war-that-lasts-forever |access-date=2026-01-06 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> at age 17.<ref name="PBS" /> 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, Vietnam as part of Operation Paul Revere.<ref name="PBS" /> During the fighting Hilbert was shot in the head, resulting in an 8-square-inch hole in his skull.<ref name=NPR /> He also was hit in the back with shrapnel. Due to combat, he could not be airlifted out until the following morning.<ref name = PBS>{{cite episode |title=Our Stories: Vietnam Part 1 |series=KRWG Specials|first1=Harvey|last1= Hilbert|network=PBS Station KRWG|url = http://krwg.org/post/our-stories-vietnam |date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
Hilbert was taken to a field hospital, where bullet fragments were removed from his brain.<ref name = movie>{{cite AV media | people=Tebbe, Adam Kō Shin(Director) | title=ZEN IN AMERICA: A documentary film about Zen Buddhism in North America | medium=Motion picture}}</ref> The wounds left him paralyzed on his left side.<ref name = movie /> After rehabilitation, he recovered the use of most of his leg and some functioning of his arm.<ref name="movie" />
He obtained his bachelor's degree (multidisciplinary) from Coker College, and then attended Case Western Reserve University to study social work, obtaining both his master's and PhD. Hilbert is also an artist.<ref name = artist>{{cite AV media |people= Yee, Robert (Director) |title= Harvey Daiho Hilbert, Las Cruces Artist Series |medium= Documentary |language= en|url=https://robertyeeproductions.com/}}</ref> After his release from the Army, Hilbert dedicated himself to working with those suffering from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
== Military awards == On September 27, 1966, Hilbert's unit received the Presidential Unit Citation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Presidential Unit Citation (Army) |url=http://www.cacti35th.com/history/1966/28-29%20may%20A%20PUC.pdf |website=cacti35th.com}}</ref>
Also for his service, Hilbert was awarded a Purple Heart and the National Defense Service Medal.<ref name="NPR" />
== Trauma victim work == After college, Hilbert began a private practice focused on helping trauma survivors,<ref name=lasc /> which continued for nearly three decades. A key component of his treatment was the use of contemplative practices with his clients.<ref name="lasc" /> In addition to his private practice he also served as a consultant to other PTSD 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.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>
== Zen == At 19, he began meditating and studying Zen.<ref name="lasc">{{Cite web |last=Severson |first=Alexia |title=Meditation provides emotional, mental and physical benefits |url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/life/wellness/2015/09/01/meditation-provides-emotional-mental-and-physical-benefits/72018164/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Las Cruces Sun-News |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Order and its Founder|url=http://www.clearmindzen.com/p/about-me.html|access-date=2022-01-10}}</ref>
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,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://upaya.org/newsletter/view/2009/07/27|title=Upaya Institute {{!}} Zen Center: 7/27/2009 Newsletter|work=Upaya Zen Center|access-date=2018-07-13}}</ref><ref name = artist2>{{cite AV media |people= Yee, Robert (Director) |title= Street Zen |medium= Documentary |language= en|url=https://robertyeeproductions.com/}}</ref> bearing witness for peace, and continues his community service with vulnerable populations.<ref name = Alamo>{{cite news|first = Steve|last = Ramirez| title = Holiday honors sacrifice of Las Cruces residents, veterans| publisher=Alamogordo Daily News|date = May 30, 2006}}</ref>
== Books and studies == Hilbert contributed to several books and studies, including ''Social Work Today'', Volume 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6nbpAAAAMAAJ|title=SWT, Social Work Today|date=26 August 1985|publisher=British Assn. of Social Workers.|via=Google Books}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UJJAQAAMAAJ|title=Homelessness in Ohio: A Study of People in Need, Franklin County Report|first1=Beverly G.|last1=Toomey|first2=James Allan|last2=King|first3=Harvey|last3=Hilbert|first4=Nancy|last4=Lust|first5=Steven|last5=Howe|first6=Richard J.|last6=First|first7=Thomas P.|last7=Holland|first8=Traian|last8=Saveanu|first9=William A.|last9=Muraco|date=26 August 1985|publisher=Ohio Department of Mental Health, Office of Program Evaluation and Research|via=Google Books}}</ref> He wrote the book ''Zen in your Pocket'' about Zen helping with traumatic stress and disability.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sLE-jwEACAAJ|title=Zen in Your Pocket: From Everyday to the Catastrophic|first=Harvey Daiho Hilbert|last=Roshi|date=10 November 2015|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|via=Google Books|isbn=9781519199751}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IUS8VBO/|title=Amazon.com: Living Zen: The Diary of an American Zen Priest eBook: Harvey Daiho Hilbert Roshi: Kindle Store|website=www.amazon.com|access-date=2018-08-30}}</ref>
Other writings include: *{{cite book|last=Goldstein|first=Howard|author2=Harvey C. Hilbert|title=Creative Change: A Cognitive-Humanistic Approach to Social Work Practice|publisher=Tavistock Publications|year=1984|location=New York, NY|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fWAOAAAAQAAJ|isbn=978-0-422-78650-8}} *{{cite book |last=Hilbert |first=Harvey|title=Child Abuse Teacher Inservice Training : A Cooperative Venture|publisher=Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse|year = 1982}} *{{cite journal |last=Hilbert |first=Harvey|last2=Hilbert |first2=H.C. |date = 1984|title=Battered women leaving shelter: Which way do they go? A discriminant function analysis. |journal=Journal of Applied Social Science |volume=8 |pages=291–297}}
== Personal life == Hilbert lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico with his wife the Rev. Kathryn Shukke Hilbert.<ref name = lasc/>
== See also == *Buddhism in the United States *Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AHonig%2C+Harvey+Hilbert%2C&qt=hot_author WorldCat bibliography] *[https://www.daibutsuji.org/ Daibutsuji Zen Temple] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612161744/https://www.daibutsuji.org/ |date=2018-06-12}} {{Buddhism topics}} {{Modern Buddhist writers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilbert, Harvey}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Zen Buddhism writers Category:Soto Zen Buddhists Category:Zen Buddhist priests Category:United States Army soldiers Category:21st-century American psychologists Category:People from New Jersey Category:20th-century American psychologists Category:American Buddhists Category:Writers from Las Cruces, New Mexico Category:Military personnel from Las Cruces, New Mexico