Victoria Zen Centre courses - Autumn 2011

Victoria Zen Centre courses - Autumn 2011

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

Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM
October 15 - November 5, 2011
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke, BC

Monday evenings, 7:00-9:30 PM
November 7 - November 28, 2011
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 $395 ($295 for Victoria Zen Centre Associates) 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 further information about these courses or to register: visit our website or email registrar@zenwest.ca

Introduction to Insight Meditation

4 Monday nights Sept 12, 19, 26 and Oct. 3, 2011

7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Oak Bay United Church

1355 Mitchell St. Victoria, BC

The Victoria Vipassana Community is pleased to have Brock Brown teach an Introduction to Insight Meditation course. The course is suitable to beginner meditators as well as those who wish a review of Insight Meditation.

Insight Meditation, also known as Vipassana, is the simple and direct practice of bringing moment to moment attention and mindfulness to the ever-changing experiences of our body/heart/mind. With sustained practice, we gain insight into the habituated conditioning of our minds. This practice cultivates compassion for oneself and others and leads to freedom.

This course will combine information about mindfulness meditation techniques as well as experiential exercises with time for sharing our experiences. We will practice mindfulness of different objects including breathing, the body, thoughts, and emotions. There will be suggestions for participants to practice during their daily lives.

Cost: The cost of the course is a sliding scale of $40.00 to $60.00. (Scholarships are available). Registration and pre-payment are required to secure your spot. To register and to receive more information about the course or how to apply for a scholarship, go to http://victoriavipassana.org/?p=1811

About the Teacher: Brock Brown has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 1989. He is currently in the Community Dharma Leader Program offered by Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Brock has also completed the Dedicated Practitioner Program, a 2 year program offered by Spirit Rock.

His teachers include Heather Martin, Guy Armstrong, Sally Clough and Eugene Cash. He also has an affinity for the teachings of Ajahn Chah and the Thai Forest Tradition.

"7 Factors of Enlightenment " - A Public Talk and Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Sona

Public Talk - Friday, August 26, 2011, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (No registration required) Weekend Retreat, Saturday + Sunday, August 27 & 28, 2011 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Ajahn Sona University of Victoria Arbutus and Queenswood Rooms in Cadboro Commons Ajahn Sona returns to Victoria after a very popular retreat with us last summer. The Venerable Bhikkhu Sona is Abbot of Birken Forest Monastery, located south of Kamloops. Born in Canada, Ajahn ("teacher") Sona's background as a layperson is in classical guitar performance. His encounter with Buddhist wisdom as a young man initiated a spiritual journey that led him to become a lay hermit for several years. He subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk under Venerable Gunaratana, at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia. Ajahn Sona further trained at monasteries in the Ajahn Chah lineage in northeast Thailand. Upon his return to Canada in 1994 he helped establish Birken Forest Monastery. Ajahn Sona has ample experience leading meditation retreats and lecturing on Buddhist meditation and practice, both in Canada and abroad. His teachings combine tried-and-true Buddhist wisdom with modern commonsense. Cost: The Buddha's teachings are considered to be priceless. In keeping with the teachings and spirit of generosity or dana, we offer this retreat on a donation basis. The suggested donation for this retreat is $40 ---- to cover the cost of facility rental, and other organizational expenses. A basket will be placed at the registration table for your donation. Any money collected above the costs of the retreat will go towards other VVC programs. We will also set out another basket for you to offer dana for the teachings and the teacher who has shared them with us. No one will be refused for lack of funds; please give whatever is affordable given your means. Register online at www.victoriavipassana.org Once you have completed the registration form you will receive more detailed information about the retreat. Thank you, June Fukushima, Retreat Registrar