Fearlessness in Uncetain Times

FEARLESSNESS IN UNCERTAIN TIMES – The Path of Meditation


The Victoria Shambhala Centre is pleased to offer this program with Acharya Allyn Lyon
Friday November 6 at 7:00p.m. and
Saturday November 7 from 9:00a.m.- 4:30p.m.

New and experienced meditators are invited to join us.
The program fee is $45.00
If you wish to register or have any questions please contact Marni Lalonde by email at marnil@telus.net





ALLYN LYON was appointed an acharya in 2000, after several years serving as Director of Shambhala Mountain Center and in other Shambhala administrative positions. Since then she has been traveling and teaching while creating a home base in Tepotzlan, Mexico, where she is the resident acharya. Her main interest in teaching dharma is the nature of mind and how it functions: "What is mind? How does practice work with mind? What is real?" But if there's a bottom line, Allyn says, "it's that I really enjoy practicing the dharma, teaching and sharing my love of the dharma with students." For more about Acharya Lyon, go to shambhala.org/teachers/acharya/alyon.php.

Contentment in Everyday Life

The Contentment in Everyday Life course is a thorough exploration of mindfulness meditation, delving into the foundational views of the Hinayana Buddhist teachings, and meditation in action for daily life. By acknowledging and understanding the reality of suffering we can open to our inherent goodness and express the qualities of gentleness, appreciation, and fearlessness in our everyday lives.

Five Thursdays -- 7:00 to 9:00 PM from November 19th to December 17th.
The course will be led by Mark Hazell and Jack Lalonde
The fee for the course is $75

To register or get more information email Mark Hazell youthful_moon@hotmail.com

HARDCORE ZEN IN VICTORIA WITH BRAD WARNER - Victoria Zen Centre

Co-sponsored by Victoria Zen Centre and UVic Interfaith Services

Brad Warner is a Zen monk, writer, bass player and film-maker. He wrote the books Hardcore Zen, Sit Down And Shut Up and his latest, Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. His Zen pedigree, for those who value such things, is that he received Dharma Transmission from Gudo Nishijima Roshi, who received his transmission from Rempo Niwa Roshi who, at the time was the head of the Soto Sect in Japan. He was also a student of Tim McCarthy, who was a student of Kobun Chino Roshi.

Brad will be joining us for three events here in Victoria from November 16-23, 2009.
1. Tuesday November 17, 2009 7pm, Victoria, BC Canada

University of Victoria Interfaith Chapel, Lot #6 UVic Ring Road

Tuesday Zen Open House

Zen meditation and Q&A

The Victoria Zen Centre and UVic Interfaith Services co-sponsor a beginner’s group each week. 3x15 minute sits with a talk in the second one (just 15 minutes). Afterwards there is tea, introductions, and a period of question and response. Brad will do a short talk and field questions.

2. Thursday November 19, 2009 7pm, Victoria, BC Canada

University of Victoria Interfaith Chapel, Lot #6 UVic Ring Road

Public talk

This will be Brad's main talk, and there will be plenty of opportunity for questions. Brad's books will be available for purchase. Fun will be had by all.

There is no cost for this event, however space is limited. If you would like to attend, please contact office@zenwest.ca. Two seats can be reserved per email.

3. Sunday November 22, 2009 6am-5pm

Victoria Zen Centre, Sooke, BC

Members one-day intensive with Brad Warner

Our regular monthly one-day intensive will feature Brad Warner giving the Dharma talk and conducting interviews with members.

Fees for the intensive are $29 for Full Members and $79 for Basic Members. All funds will go to Brad Warner. Space is limited, so register early.

For more information, please contact office@zenwest.ca

Journey without Goal

With Silas Rosenblatt and Jim Sacamano

An introduction to the world of vajrayana Buddhism, the diamond or indestructible vehicle. The idea of indestructibility here is the discovery of indestructible wakefulness, the discovery of our own innate awakened state of mind, or vajra nature. Tantra literally means “continuity” or “thread”. Hinayana, mahayana and vajrayana are a continuous thread of sympathy or sanity, which is never broken. Vajrayana is further and greater expansion. It is the expression of greater sanity and greater sympathy, arising from the practice of hinayana (foundation path) and mahayana (compassion path).

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche


Tuesday evenings 7:30pm t0 8:30pm.
November 17th, 24th, December 1st, 8th and 15th.
Intensive day long practice - December 19th.
Sitting practice begins at 7:00pm.

Shambhala Community Study programs cost: $45 - $75
* (Buddhist studies prerequisites apply)



Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
1-2033 Belmont Avenue,Victoria BC. V8R 3Z7.
www.shambhala.org/centers/victoria
Registration: rangdral@yahoo.com

Medicine Buddha Course In November

Know Thyself ♥ Love Thyself ♥ Heal Thyself



An Invitation to Buddhist Healing Tradition



For those seeking to heal themselves, or to assist in the healing of others.



For beginners or long-time practitioners of meditation.



In pursuit of healing, we will learn and practice both Meditation and the Medicine Buddha Sadhana, a profound teaching on medicine and healing from the Tibetan Vajrayana Tradition.



Please join us for 5 Monday nights (7:30 pm-9:00 pm)

starting November 2, 2009

Cost: $50 – practice materials included

The Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre

2033 Belmont Avenue



Please call 250-383-9108 for more information or registration

http://victoria.shambhala.org/

email: victoria.shambhala@gmail.com

Medicine Buddha and Psychotherapy

On Tuesday the 27th of October Jim Sacamano will give a talk at the Shambhala-Buddhist Centre.
The title of the lecture is Medicine Buddha and the Neuroscience of Psychotherapy.
Jim is a Victoria area Psychiatrist and the founder of the Medicine Buddha Program at the Shambhala-Buddhist Centre.
In November the Medicine Buddha Group at the Centre will give an introductory course on Medicine Buddha Practice (Menla Practice). The dates for this are; November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.
Jim’s lecture should provide a good introduction to the Medicine Buddha Practice and one can then decide if the Medicine Buddha course is for you!
Time for the talk only is 8PM
Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
#1 - 2033 Belmont Ave., Victoria, BC V8R 3Z7
Tel. (250) 383.9108 Email: victoria.shambhala@gmail.com

Tibetan Monks at UVIC

At 3:00pm on Sunday Oct 18, the Tibetan monks will perform a "sang-sol" ceremony in front of the Art Gallery. A "sang-sol" is a purification ceremony conducted with the aromatic smoke from burning juniper branches.
At 7:30pm on Friday Oct 23, the UVic Students for a Free Tibet will be hosting a presentation of the monks playing Tibetan instruments, performing sacred dances and doing demonstrations of monastery debating. This will be held at the new First Peoples House at UVic, located between University Centre and the quadrangle. General admission is $15, seniors/students are $10. All proceeds will be donated to the monks home monastery.
See www.tsengdokrinpoche.com/Mandala-Tour-in-Canada.htm for the web site of the monk's tour and http://aggv.bc.ca/tibetan+monks+-+sand+mandala.aspx for the AGGV web site of the monk's visit to the gallery.

The monks will share in a percentage of the entrance fee, which will go to the support of their monastery in India.


CTC Victoria
250-380-1235
victoria@tibet.ca

Transforming Suffering and Happiness

Tibetan Buddhist teachings with Ngakpa Kalzang Dorje November and December 2009

In this teaching discover how both happiness and suffering can be transformed into methods of realization on the Path to Enlightenment.

Victoria Classes: Thursday evenings November 19th to December 10th at the Oak Bay Library from 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Nanaimo Classes: Wednesday evenings November 18th to December 9th at the Harbourfront Library from 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Duncan Classes: Sunday evenings November 15th to December 6th as per our usual schedule

Everyone Welcome - Classes offered free of charge - Donations accepted

For further information please contact Thubten Choling in Duncan, tel: 250-748-6028 or info@thubtencholing.com

Victoria Vipassana Community Weekly Sunday Evening Sits

Join us every Sunday for a Community sit at the Lynn Wylie Yoga Studio, #202 – 1600 Bay Street (Shakespeare St. entrance) from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. On the first Sunday of each month, there will be a guided meditation and on the third Sunday of each month, the sit will focus on Metta (Loving Kindness) meditation. Everyone is welcome!

Details: http://victoriavipassana.org/?p=218

Additional information: Please contact Rod House rodhouse@shaw.ca or Brock Brown brock1492@shaw.ca

Victoria Vipassana Community Non-Residential Weekend Retreat

This silent non-residential weekend retreat on November 7 & 8 (includes lunch) will be appropriate for both new and experienced meditators and will be taught by Joanne Broatch from Vancouver. We will meet from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm each day at Queenswood, 2494 Arbutus Rd., Victoria, B.C. The weekend will include sitting and walking periods (including outdoor walking) as well as meditation instruction, and a talk by the teacher.

Joanne Broatch, the teacher for the weekend, has practised Buddhist meditation in the Theravadan tradition since 1980 and has been teaching, primarily on the West Coast since 1994 where she has focused on the growth ofsangha(meditation community), especially in smaller communities. Joanne is particularly interested in the importance of faith and loving kindness in physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

Details and Retreat Registration Form: http://victoriavipassana.org/?p=277

Please direct queries to Rod House, Registrar about this retreat at vvcRetreat@gmail.com

Tibetan Monks at the Art Gallery

Five Tibetan monks from the Gaden Jangtse Monastery in India will be in Victoria from Oct 3rd to 25th, constructing a sand mandala and butter sculpture at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV), as part of the gallery's Sacred Art of Tibet exhibit. The exhibit will continue until Dec 6th and the completed mandala will be on display until then.

The opening ceremony will take place Saturday Oct 3 at 10:30am in the Pollard Gallery of the AGGV.

See www.tsengdokrinpoche.com/Mandala-Tour-in-Canada.htm

for the web site of the monk's tour and http://aggv.bc.ca/tibetan+monks+-+sand+mandala.aspx

for the AGGV web site of the monk's visit to the gallery.

For information on when the Gallery is open and it's entrance fee go to http://aggv.bc.ca/Hours+And+Admissions.aspx

. If you plan to visit the Gallery a number times to follow the progression of the mandala you might want to consider getting a membership. For membership information go to http://aggv.bc.ca/become+a+member.aspx

. The monks will share in a percentage of the en trance fee, which will go to the support of their monastery in India.

The UVic Students for a Free Tibet will be hosting a presentation of the monks playing Tibetan instruments, performing sacred dances and doing demonstrations of monastery debating. This is tentatively scheduled for Fri Oct 23 at UVic, with details to follow.

CTC Victoria

250-380-1235

victoria@tibet.ca

Copyright 2008 Comité Canada Tibet Committee
300, Léo-Pariseau, Suite 2250,
Montréal, Québec H2X 4B3
514.487.0665 Fax 514.487.7825

Contact Information: If you have any comments or questions, please email ctcoffice@tibet.ca.
To view our Privacy statement, www.tibet.ca/en/privacy_policy

.

A Buddhist Program at UVIC

The Bodhisattva’s Balancing Act: Altruism in an Empty World
Anne MacDonald, Dept. of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies, University of Vienna



Indian Mahāyāna works stress the importance of an altruistic attitude for progress on the Buddhist path, deeming the attainment of Buddhahood to be impossible without it. The same works emphasize the necessity of understanding the emptiness (śūnyatā) of phenomena for liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death. But what exactly is the relationship between compassion and the view of emptiness, and how do the texts envision the Buddhist practitioner’s involvement with them? The lecture will attempt to clarify misunderstandings concerning the meaning of emptiness and to illuminate the delicate course to be taken by the meditator aiming to achieve the state of a Buddha.

Anne MacDonald is a professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. She received a BA in anthropology from McMaster University, an MA in religious studies from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in indology from the University of Vienna. Dr. MacDonald specializes in the study of Madhyamaka Buddhism, and is currently working on recently discovered Sanskrit manuscripts of major works of the seventh-century Indian Buddhist philosopher Candrakīrti.


Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: David Strong Building, Room C116
Sponsor: Centre for Studies in Religion and Society

Death and Dying

The Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre presents

Death And Dying As Spiritual Practice.


Join us as we take a plunge into the realms that await us in the dying process, learning how to transform obstacle into opportunity. Explore the final death bardo, where we spend forty-nine days after dying and are hurled by the winds of karma into our next life. In this course we will examine death, the intermediate state and re-birth in Tibetan Buddhism. By becoming familiar with the bardo and preparing for it now, we can discover what to expect in the process, when to expect it and what to do about it. We also learn about practices to help those who are dying or have recently died.

Discover the many opportunities this bardo presents for spiritual development.

Anne Bruce.


Anne Bruce (PhD) has been studying meditative traditions since 1984. A member of the Shambhala community since 1985, Anne also teaches nursing at the University of Victoria where her research and scholarship address palliative and end of life care.

Wednesdays: October 7th, 14th, 21st., 28th. 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Saturday Intensive: October 31st. 9:30 – 4:00pm.
*(Sitting practice begins at 7:00pm)

Shambhala Community Study Programs cost $45-$75.
(Sliding scale depending on your financial means)

For registration and suggested reading please contact:
David Clarke: rangdral@yahoo.com


Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre
#1-2033 Belmont Avenue, Victoria BC, V8R 3Z7. 383-9108
www.shambhala.org/centers/victoria

Shambhala Training Level I

Shambhala Training Level I: The Art of Being Human
with Layth Matthews
September 18 / 7:00 PM - September 19 / 6:00 PM
Price: $75.00

Through the practice of meditation, we glimpse unconditional goodness as the ground of our existence. Opening to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, we begin to see our potential as genuine and compassionate human beings.

To Register contact Mark Hazell at markhazell45@gmail.com

Meditation in Everyday Life

Meditation in Everyday Life
with Layth Matthews
September 24 / 7:00 PM - October 29 / 9:00 PM
Price: $75.00

According to the Shambhala teachings, the reason to practice meditation is to help create enlightened society. In this six week course we will look at how to bring our practice into our daily lives, the obstacles to doing this, working with emotions and strong feelings, and recognizing basic goodness in ourselves and others.



The main teacher for both of these programs is Layth Matthews. Layth has been a student and teacher in the Shambhala community for many years.

To Register contact Mark Hazell at markhazell45@gmail.com



The fee for both this course and Level I is $75.00. If you choose to do both programs, which is highly encouraged – the Meditation in Everyday Life course is designed to deepen one’s understanding of the material presented in The Art of Being Human – the fee is $120.



Meditation In Everyday Life is open to anyone who has received meditation instruction in the Shambhala tradition.

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

Pascal Auclair Evening

The Victoria Vipassana Community is pleased to host an Evening with Pascal Auclair, Friday, July 31st, 7:00-9:00 pm at the Helga Beer Yoga Studio, 202 - 1600 Bay Street (Shakespeare St. entrance). We will sit together, followed by a dharma talk by Pascal. This evening is by donation only and baskets will be set out for donations for the teacher, and for studio rental.

Pascal will be teaching a Week-Long Retreat at the Gatehouse on Salt Spring, starting the following day, August 1 – 8. Details on this retreat: http://ssivipassana.org/?cat=12

Pascal Auclair has been immersed in the Dharma since 1997, sitting retreats in Thailand, India and America with revered monastics and lay teachers. In 2006 he was invited by Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield to join the teacher training program at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is now enjoying teaching retreats at these two centers, as well as for True North Insight and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Pascal works with families, teens, young adults, and yogis sitting short and long retreats.

Tibetan Art at the Art Gallery of Victoria

Sacred Arts of Tibet



Sand Mandala by Monks of Gaden Jangste monastery of Mundgod, India
(c) Tony Bounsoil Photo Design

August 14, 2009 to December 6, 2009
The art of Tibet is almost exclusively devoted to the service of Buddhism and is almost never practiced for art’s sake. Tibetan art is representative of the existential character of Mahayana Buddhism known as Tantrayana or Vajrayana (the diamond path or vehicle), which considers its art to be very sacred. Although Tibetan art is religious in nature, it is also rich in artistic or aesthetic value. Tibetan art is evocative and the portraiture, although often rigidly stereotyped, shows a great variety of styles rendered in a powerful and realistic manner, particularly in the treatment of facial features, costumes, appendages and backgrounds.

The making of religious art in Tibet serves several functions. Its actual commission and production are acts for which one received merit, the more images made, the greater the merit. The painted or sculpted image serves to inspire the faithful to reach a higher level of consciousness. This exhibition will feature the Gallery’s extensive collection of painted thankas, sculpted images and sacred or ritual objects. As part of the exhibition, the Gallery is looking to host a group of Tibetan monks to construct a sand mandala. A mandala, which is considered a magical and sacred realm, is a visual prayer and a means of representing the entire sacred universe. It is an all-inclusive symbol and is thought to represent both the mind and body of the Buddha. The basic configuration of a mandala, which is deceptively simple in appearance, is a ring or circle enclosing a symmetrical walled palace with a gateway in each wall facing one of the four cardinal points of the compass. Each detail of its construction has symbolic meaning.