Harvey Hilbert

At 19, he began meditating and studying Zen. 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 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.

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 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, Vietnam as part of Operation Paul Revere. 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.

On September 27, 1966, Hilbert's unit received the Presidential Unit Citation (United States).

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 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. 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.