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