Introduction to Zen Meditation (4-week) - Victoria Zen Centre

October 17-November 7, 2009 – Saturdays 9:00-11:30am

October 19-November 9, 2009 – Mondays 7:00-9:30pm

If you are interested in learning how to meditate, this is the course for you. For people that are seeking to reduce stress, clarify a busy mind, improve focus and awareness, boost immune function, improve sleeping patterns, or gain insight into the mental, physical, and emotional habits that are preventing you from living life fully, this course offers a gradual combination of study and practice, individual and group interaction, and personal guidance that will provide a strong foundation to experience the profound change that Zen meditation practice offers. The fee for this four-week course is $295 and includes:

• Four weekly Sessions for a total of ten hours of class time.
• Small class size (max.8).
• A meditation cushion for each participant to keep.
• Course manual and supplementary materials.
• Teachings and group discussions on eight core aspects of Zen Practice.
• Peer Support
• 2 chanting practice CDs
• The opportunity to become a member of the Victoria Zen Centre.

For program information:

Visit our website.

The Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
In association with
The Vancouver Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Presents

THE DHAMMA BROTHERS


www.dhammabrothers.com

Saturday October 3rd at 7:00pm
By Donation

THE DHAMMA BROTHERS tells a dramatic tale of human potential and transformation as it closely follows and documents the stories of the prison inmates at Donaldson Correction Facility who enter into an intensive meditation program. This film, with the power to dismantle stereotypes about men behind prison bars also, in the words of Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking), “gives you hope for the human race."

Prior to the film a talk will be given. The speaker at this event will be Lama Margaret Ludwig. Lama Ludwig has eighteen years of activism in the penitentiaries of British Colombia as a Buddhist chaplain. Her selflessness has planted a seed of enlightenment for those who are most in need. She inaugurated the installation of a Buddhist garden shrine at the William Head prison which she hopes may be cultivated by a new generation of volunteers.

For more information: rangdral@yahoo.com

Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour

Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour

Friday August 21st 7 pm/10pm

Saturday August 22nd 10am/7 pm

Sunday August 23rd 10am/4pm

Cost: free

The Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre is pleased to host “The Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour” on August 21, 22 and 23rd. An Opening Ceremony will be held at 7 pm on Friday August 21st, and the relic show will be open to the public from 10 am to 7 pm on Saturday 22nd and from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday.

A unique and precious collection of more than 1,000 sacred Buddhist relics will be permanently displayed in the Heart Shrine of the completed Maitreya Buddha statue in Kushinagar. Meanwhile, it is the wish of the Spiritual Director of the Maitreya Project, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, that the collection should travel throughout the world to bring the blessings of the relics and the message of loving-kindness to people everywhere.

The relics were found among the cremation ashes of Buddhist masters. They resemble beautiful pearl-like crystals. Buddhists believe the relics are produced as a result of the master's spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom. Since we can all develop these qualities, the relics are a reminder of our own essential nature of purity and our inner potential to manifest that. The collection includes relics of the historical Buddha and the Buddha’s closest disciples as well as many other well-known Buddhist masters from Chinese, Indian, Korean and Tibetan traditions.

The purpose of the Relic Tour is to inspire people of all spiritual traditions and paths to come together to experience the blessings of the relics. For full details about the Maitreya Project and the Relic Tour please click on www.maitreyaproject.org/en/relic