A five-class course · Thursdays, November 18 to December 16, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Contentment can be hard to find. Much of the time we search for contentment in things, achievements or relationships. With meditation practice, we relax with ourselves and appreciate simple human experiences. Difficult emotions and the challenges of life can be met with gentleness, mindfulness and inquisitiveness.

All welcome · Suggested donation: $75 · Learn more at:

Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre

1 – 2033 Belmont Ave., Victoria, BC V8R 3Z7 • 250-383-9108

TO REGISTER: www.victoria.shambhala.org

Embodied Presence and Social Presencing Theater

For the first time Arawana Hayashi brings Embodied Presence and Social Presencing Theater to the Victoria Shambhala Centre January 28-30, 2011. Friday evening is a public program, suggested donation $15. Registration for the 2-day workshop is $175 and is limited to 40 persons.

Using everyday movement we explore body mind synchronization and space awareness. From our own body practice, we extend our awareness to experience the social body. We learn basic techniques for creating Social Presencing Theater. Social Presencing Theater creates a place where the community can collectively see itself and enact it’s emerging future. In the session, we explore themes present in the community. Social Presencing Theater is an aspect of social change work based on Theory U and the work of Otto Scharmer and the Presencing Institute.

In this course, participants will:
· develop an understanding of Presencing and Theory-U
· discover ways to practice this non-verbal work in current organizations and projects
· learn to bring space, awareness, and play into our everyday life
· cultivate a personal meditation and movement practice – “walking the talk”
· apply artistic process to whatever we do

Trained as a dancer and choreographer, Arawana Hayashi is an Acharya, senior meditation teacher, in the Shambhala Budddhist tradition. Arawana was Co-Director of the Dance Program at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. She was involved in experimental inter-disciplinary performance work that became the foundation for the University’s current degree programs in performance and somatic psychology. She is on the faculty of ALIA (Authentic Leadership in Action) Institute in Halifax and contributor to the Presencing programs with Otto Scharmer at the Presencing Institute. For more information on Arawana see www.arawanahayashi.com For more information on Theory U see www.presencing.com

To register Contact Joyce Rankin, email jrankin39@shaw.ca; phone 778-433-4417 if you have questions. A deposit of $50 is required since registration is limited. Make checks payable to Victoria Shambhala Centre, #1-2033 Belmont Avenue, Victoria BC V8R 3Z7

Hours:

Friday, January 28, 2011 – 7-9:30 pm

Saturday, January 29, 2011 – 9 am – 5 pm, lunch provided

Sunday, January 39, 2011 – 9 am – 5 pm, lunch provided

Victoria Zen Centre courses - November 2010

The Victoria Zen Centre has two courses beginning in November 2010.

Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice

"For over twenty years I had read book after book on the subjects of Zen and Buddhism, but somewhere in the back of my mind I knew all that reading was not enough. I was not DOING. The 'Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice' course was that huge nudge I needed to get myself truly participating and practicing." - Elder Seishin Susanne Ledingham

Thursday evenings, 7:00-9:30 PM
November 4-25, 2010
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke, BC

Discover the impact that consistent practice can have on and in your life! This course was designed by our abbot Ven. Eshu Martin, and is aimed at providing the support necessary for you to put an end to excuses, and to begin a stable and life long transformative practice through Zen Buddhism.

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 core aspects of Zen Practice.
• Peer Support.
• Chanting practice CD and Chant Sheet.
• The opportunity to become a member of the Victoria Zen Centre.

Intensive Preparation

Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM
November 13 & 20, 2010
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke, BC
Open to VZC Members and Associates

If you have successfully developed a stable daily practice of Zen meditation, and are wondering how to go further with our Sangha, this course is your next step. Participants will be introduced to the subtleties and differences involved in intensive training, and will receive an orientation to, and experience of, practices that are specific to intensive training in the Zen tradition. The Intensive Preparation course is the gateway to deepening your practice.

For Basic members and VZC Associates, the fee for this two-week course is $195 which includes a course manual and materials. For Full members, the course fee is included as part of membership dues.


For further information about these courses or to register: visit our website or email registrar@zenwest.ca.

Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice - Victoria Zen Centre

"For over twenty years I had read book after book on the subjects of Zen and Buddhism, but somewhere in the back of my mind I knew all that reading was not enough. I was not DOING. The 'Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice' course was that huge nudge I needed to get myself truly participating and practicing." - Elder Seishin Susanne Ledingham

Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM
October 16 - November 6, 2010
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke, BC

Discover the impact that consistent practice can have on and in your life! This course was designed by our abbot Ven. Eshu Martin, and is aimed at providing the support necessary for you to put an end to excuses, and to begin a stable and life long transformative practice through Zen Buddhism.

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 core aspects of Zen Practice.
• Peer Support.
• Chanting practice CD and Chant Sheet.
• The opportunity to become a member of the Victoria Zen Centre.

For program information and to register: visit our website or email registrar@zenwest.ca.

Become a Victoria Zen Centre Associate!

Dear Friends,

During our most recent strategic planning sessions, it was agreed that as a Sangha we wanted to make the Victoria Zen Centre (VZC) community more accessible to people who may not wish to become members of the VZC, but wish to support the Vision and Purpose of the VZC, and would like to take part in the community and practice activities that are available through the VZC. To this end, we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to become a “Victoria Zen Centre Associate”.

The VZC remains committed to creating a dynamic and sustainable environment for Zen practice, which for us includes supporting our full-time abbot, and ensuring that we have stable and appropriate places to engage in formal Zen practice. Naturally, there are expenses inherent in these aspirations.

The budget of the VZC is maintained through membership dues, course fees, and donations. We receive no funds from outside sources of any kind.

As an associate, you will be notified, and are welcome to participate in all of the free activities that are offered to members and associates, including our “Sangha Sunday” social community activities, online eZendo, iTunes podcasts, ceremonies, and other public functions.

Should you wish to participate in formal practice activities or courses at the VZC, completion of the “Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice” course or, for those with an established practice in another tradition or lineage an “Orientation Consultation” with the abbot is still required. Additionally, if you wish to participate in intensive practice at the VZC, the “Intensive Preparation” course is a prerequisite.

For VZC Associates, these activities are offered on a fee for participation basis (please see the chart below for details of what we offer to our members and associates).

The cost to become a Victoria Zen Centre Associate is just $10/mo or $120/year(CAN). You can pay annually, or monthly by cheques (post dated if paying monthly) or by Paypal as a monthly subscription, or for the entire year.

If you would like to become a Victoria Zen Centre Associate, simply submit your contact information (name, address, email, and phone) and submit your payment either by mailing or delivering cheques, or by clicking one of the Paypal links above.

If you have any questions, or would like further information, please contact Ven. Eshu at eshu@zenwest.ca or by phone 250-642-7936

We look forward to practicing with you!

Victoria Zen Centre

Associate Fees, Services and Practice Opportunities

	VZC Associate
Monthly Fee	$10 ($120/year)
Tuesday Evening UVic Open House	open to all
Monday and Thursday Morning e-Zendo	open to all
iTunes Living Zen Dharma Talks	open to all
Sangha Sundays	Included
Volunteer Opportunities	Included
Eligibility to Vote at Society Meetings	N/A
Operational Teams	N/A
Sunday Zen practice at Sooke Zendo*	$30/each
1.5 hr. training meetings with Ven. Eshu	$112.50 ($75/hr.)
Fundamentals of Zen Course*	$295
Thursday Evening Course*	$40/night
Intensive Preparation Course*	$195
One-day Intensives**	$95/each
Five-day Intensives**	$595/each

* - requires completion of Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice Course or Orientation by Consultation

** - requires completion of Intensive Preparation Course