SEPTEMBER ZEN RETREAT ON SALT SPRING ISLAND OPEN TO ALL

The Salt Spring Zen Circle, which practices in the Soto Zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, will be offering our annual September retreat, called sesshin.  The retreat is non-residential, beginning and experienced meditators are most welcome to attend, and free billeting for off islanders is offered.

 

This traditional retreat, held at the beautiful Gatehouse and gardens on Stowel Lake Farm, begins at 7 PM on Thursday, September 22nd, and ends at 3 PM on Sunday, September 25th.

 

 

 

Cost is $120 for the entire sesshin, including all meals, plus dana (donation) for teachings by poet and founding teacher of the Salt Spring Zen Circle, Eihei Peter Levitt.

 

We encourage off-island visitors who may want billeting to register early since billeting will be on a first come first served basis.

 

For details and to receive a registration form, please contact Ann at acolburn@verizon.net or call our coordinator Judith at 250-537-2061.  Judith may also be reached at jdaylen@telus.net

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

HH Sakya Trizin - Teachings in Victoria

His Holiness Sakya Trizin will be giving the following teachings in Victoria as part of his current world-wide tour.

Tuesday, August 16, 7:30- 9:00 pm
“How Buddhism Applies to Daily Life”
Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Ave. $23.50.

Wednesday, August 17, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Trikulanatha (Chenrezig, Manjushri, Vajrapani) initiation.
Church of Truth, 111 Superior St. $50.

Tickets for these events will be available, beginning in a week or so, from the MacPherson box office and the usual outlets.

Sponsored by The Victoria Buddhist Dharma Society.

Residential Retreat with Heather Martin

Thetis Island B.C.
September 19 – 24, 2011.
Cost: $265.00 includes room and board for 5 days.

Meditation in Nature is the focus for experienced meditators on this 5 day residential retreat

Daily we are so busy doing things that we fail to appreciate the subtlety and beauty of the natural world. Even when we are out in nature we are often preoccupied and fail to appreciate the experience that we are having.

This silent retreat at Camp Columbia on Thetis Island, B.C. will use the coastal environment, extensive wooded acreage, trails, meadows and shoreline, as a motif for a week of insight and awareness in nature. The retreat will be grounded in the practices of insight meditation: Loving Friendliness (Metta), concentration (Samadhi) and clear seeing (Vipassana) into and through the confusions of the mind, to free us from those habitual daily struggles we impose on our lives.

The large, old, heritage lodge is basic and rustic. It has bedrooms upstairs and kitchen, dining hall, library, and large lounge/meditation hall downstairs. Participants will be sharing bedrooms and bathrooms.

Space is limited to 25 participants. To secure a spot, plan to register early. Cost for the retreat is $265.00 to cover expenses for accommodation and vegetarian meals. Dana donation for the teacher is extra.

More information and registration form - http://victoriavipassana.org/ (click on VVC Retreats)

Victoria Vipassana Community Sit with James Baraz

James Baraz will lead the Victoria Vipassana Community Sunday Night Sit July 3, 2011 7-9 p.m. at Arbutus-Queenswood Room in Cadboro Commons Building at the University of Victoria. Everyone is welcome!

Please arrive by 6:45 p.m.

We will sit for 45 minutes, followed by a talk given by James. Floor sitters, please bring your own mat and cushion. Chairs will be available.

The teachings are offered freely. Donations to the teacher are welcome.

About James Baraz:

James Baraz is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. He has been teaching meditation since 1978 and is a passionate supporter of community dharma groups. James created and taught the first three Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader programmes. James is co-author of Awakening Joy, and leads a 10 month Awakening Joy course in Berkeley, and world-wide through the online course. James and his wife Jane Baraz co-teach Awakening Joy workshops and retreats in the USA, Canada and in Europe.

Parking and Directions:

Park in Lot 5, off of Sinclair Road, east of Finnerty Road. Parking is free on Sundays. Cadboro Commons is adjacent to the Housing Office; both are close to the Lot 5 parking meter.

Ajahn Jayasaro Talk

An Evening of Buddhist Teachings

with Ajahn Jayasaro

June 9, 2011, 7 - 9 p.m.

The Victoria Vipassana Community is honoured to host Venerable Ajahn Jayasaro in Victoria. This is a wonderful opportunity to receive teachings from an esteemed, senior Buddhist monk in the Thai Forest tradition. Ajahn Jayasaro will start the evening with a short meditation followed by a talk with time for questions and answers.

Place: Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road, Victoria BC

Time: 7 - 9 p.m. Please arrive by 6:45 p.m.

The teachings are offered freely.

Donations to VVC and to the hermitage are welcome.

For more information, contact Brock Brown brock1492@shaw.ca

Additional Info: http://victoriavipassana.org/?p=1338

Metta (Loving Kindness Weekend Retreat

METTA (LOVING KINDNESS) WEEKEND RETREAT

Victoria Vipassana Community

2-day Retreat

Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29, 2011

9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

With Heather Martin

at

Goward House

2495 Arbutus Road

Victoria, BC

This non-residential weekend retreat is being offered for those new to or familiar with meditation practise. The focus will be on Metta or "Loving Kindness". This practise cultivates interpersonal harmony and opens the heart unconditionally. The Buddha suggested the use of metta as an antidote to fear.

The weekend will include periods of instruction and practise with ample time for questions. Heather will describe both the "how" and "why" of this simple yet profound practise, which benefits us in many immediate ways.

Heather Martin has been meditating since 1972 and has been practicing Vipassana since 1981. She teaches up and down the West Coast of the US and Canada and is the guiding teacher for the Victoria Vipassana Community. Her approach is encouraging, accessible and practical. Heather lives on SaltSpringIsland. Prior to being a dharma teacher, she was a midwife for 20 years.

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 programmes.

No one will be refused for lack of funds; please give whatever is affordable given your means.

We will also set out another basket for you to offer dana for the teachings and the teacher who has shared them with us. We will speak about the practice of dana for the teachings during the retreat.

Two to three days after you have completed the registration form you will receive more detailed information by email about the retreat.

Link to Registration Form:

http://victoriavipassana.org/?page_id=926

Thank you,

Joyce Elliott, Retreat Registrar

Victoria Zen Centre courses - June 2011

Victoria Zen Centre courses - June 2011

The Victoria Zen Centre has two courses beginning in June 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

Monday evenings, 7:00-9:30 PM
June 13 - July 4, 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.

Intensive Preparation

Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM
June 4 and 11, 2011
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke, BC
Open to VZC Members and Associates who have completed the Orientation course

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 Full members of the VZC, the course fee is included as part of membership dues. For Basic members the course fee is $95 and for VZC Associates the fee is $195. Course fees includes a course manual and materials.


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

Brilliant Moon

"Brilliant Moon" is a documentary on the life of Dilgo Khyentze Rinpoche. This is a 60 minute film and is available at Pic-A-Flic Video. 328 Cook St.

I have seen the film and I recommend it to anyone interested in Buddhism or the History of Buddhism in the West.

The trailer for the movie is on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCrHbChjCUk

Gord Shipway

A Day of Mindfulness: Seeding the Generous Heart

Victoria Vipassana Community Presents:

1-day Retreat

Saturday, April 30, 2011

9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

With Margo McLoughlin

at

Goward House

2495 Arbutus RoadVictoria, BC

In this one-day retreat, Margo McLoughlin will guide participants to consider how mindfulness and generosity work together on our spiritual journey. What does it mean to practice generosity and why is it considered the first step on the Buddhist path?

This retreat is open to both beginners and students with more practice experience.

Margo McLoughlin has been practicing in the Insight tradition of Theravada Buddhism since 1986. She is currently in training to be a Community Dharma Leader through SpiritRockMeditationCenter in Woodacre, California. As a storyteller and writer, Margo brings a deep appreciation of the role of metaphor, in the form of stories and poetry, to enlivening and inspiring our practice.

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 $20 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 programmes.

No one will be refused for lack of funds; please give whatever is affordable given your means.

We will also set out another basket for you to offer dana for the teachings and the teacher who has shared them with us. We will speak about the practice of dana for the teachings during the retreat.

Once you have completed the registration form (see below) you will receive more detailed information about the retreat.

Link to Registration Form:

http://victoriavipassana.org/?page_id=927

Thank you,

Brian Chapel, Retreat Registrar

Quiet tenant sought

The downstairs suite at 646 Ridgebank Crescent ( Reverend Meiten's house/meeting place of Vancouver Island Zen Sangha ) is going to be available for rent as of June 1st. We would like to encourage our Mahasangha to let any quiet, responsible friends know about it.

It has one bedroom (a very large bedroom) – with a small second bedroom that has no windows, but would work well for an office and den. The bathroom is a shower only – no tub. There are a good size kitchen and living room. Both are fairly bright with lots of light.

There is a big yard at the rear of the house.

Rent is $700 per month plus 1/3 utilities for the house, that is, 1/3 of the water/hydro/oil bills. Phone and TV are up to the tenant to arrange and pay for. The rent is paid on a month to month basis.

No smoking, pets only if our landlord approves in advance. The current tenants have had a spaniel for over a year.

Laundry is shared and part of the laundry room is available for the downstairs tenant for storage.

If interested, please contact the landowner Doug Arnold who can arrange to show it most week-ends if he has notice. Please contact Dave 250-656-2500 dsled@telus.net if you have further questions.

The landlord's contact information is:

Doug Arnold Consulting Inc.

219 1230 Haro Street

Vancouver BC V6E 4J9

604 760 0352

Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice - Victoria Zen Centre

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
May 7-28, 2011
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke

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

Mindfulness and the Brain - 1 Day Retreat

Mindfulness and the Brain Victoria Vipassana Community 1-day Retreat Sunday, March 20, 2011 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with Beth Trotter at Goward House 2495 Arbutus Rd. Victoria, BC In this daylong for students with prior mindfulness, or vipassana (insight) meditation experience, we will practice in silence with periods of sitting and walking. As well there will be some teachings and experiential exercises about current neuroscience understandings of the brain. We will look at how these findings can support the Buddhist understandings of release from suffering and increased happiness and wisdom. We will meet from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm at the Activity Centre of the Queen Alexandra Hospital, 2400 Arbutus Rd., Victoria, B.C., on Sunday, March 20, 2011. Prerequisite: Some previous experience with mindfulness, or vipassana meditation Beth Trotter has practised vipassana meditation since 1983 and has also been influenced by other traditions including dzogchen and the diamond approach. She is a therapist in private practice in Victoria and is particularly interested in making the dharma accessible to our western minds. Beth was instrumental in establishing the Victoria Vipassana Community, and has taught retreats for VVC in the past. 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 $20 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 programmes. No one will be refused for lack of funds; please give whatever is affordable given your means. We will also set out another basket for you to offer dana for the teachings and the teacher who has shared them with us. We will speak about the practice of dana for the teachings during the retreat. Once you have completed the Registration Form you will receive more detailed information about the retreat, including what to bring. Thank you, Eric Bedard, Retreat Registrar To register for the retreat: http://victoriavipassana.org/?page_id=927 If you have questions, please email Eric at magic@islandnet.com

Thich Nhat Hanh in Vancouver August 2011

Visit the website for more information.

Queenswood Rezoning Open House - Tues 8th Feb - Queenswood needs You!

The University of Victoria, the new owner of the Queenswood Retreat Centre is asking the public for their input as to the future use of the Queenswood property.

The Victoria Vipassana Community and other meditation groups in Victoria have held Retreats and Public Talks at Queenswood Retreat Centre [ i.e. In May 2010, we held a Public Talk + Non-Residential Retreat with Ajahn Sona attended by over 100 people in the Chapel]

This is our opportunity to let the University of Victoria know that we would like the Queenswood property to continue to be utilized as a place where spiritual retreats and public talks can be held.

Details of Public Open House UVic / Queenswood Rezoning Meeting:

PURPOSE OF MEETING: The University of Victoria, the new owners of what was until recently the Queenswood Retreat Centre, is asking the public for their input as to the future use of the Queenswood property.

LOCATION: St. George's Anglican Church Hall, Maynard Street ( between Hobbs Street and Cadboro Bay Road)

DATE: Tuesday, February 8, 2011

TIME: 4 - 8 p.m. on a drop-in basis

OFFICIAL PRESENTATIONS: 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Awakening Joy On-line 10 Month Course + Local Awakening Joy Group

James Baraz, a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Centre who gave an evening presentation to the Victoria Vipassana Community in October 2010 will be leading his annual on-line 10 month experiential course Awakening Joy beginning the first week in February. People are free to sign up at any time since this is an online course and all materials will be available to everyone. For more information and to register for this online course go to http://www.awakeningjoy.info

Awakening Joy Victoria, a local group will meet the second Thursday of each month (Second meeting will be Thursday, March 10), 7:00 – 8:30 pm Please note: Change in Location from 1st meeting - Please call Susan at 250 483 5847 for address and directions. Through reflection, conversation and play, we will integrate the practices for awakening joy into our lives. Everyone is welcome! Drop-in; It is highly recommended that you sign up for the on-line course but it is not a prerequisite to attend this group.

For more information call Susan Neden at 250 483 5847 Or Linda Chan at 250 380 6383 or visit Awakening Joy Victoria: http://awakeningjoyvictoria.conscious-choices.ca/

Victoria Zen Centre courses - February 2011

Victoria Zen Centre courses - February 2011

The Victoria Zen Centre has two courses beginning in February 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

Monday evenings, 7:00-9:30 PM
February 28 - March 21, 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.

Intensive Preparation

Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM
February 19 and 26, 2011
Victoria Zen Centre – Sooke, BC
Open to VZC Members and Associates who have completed the Orientation course

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 Full members of the VZC, the course fee is included as part of membership dues. For Basic members the course fee is $95 and for VZC Associates the fee is $195. Course fees includes a course manual and materials.


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

Interfaith Symposium

Free Admission, Everyone Welcome, Reconciling the Existence of God and Human Suffering. Saturday, 22nd January, Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo.... Six Keynote speakers from various faiths in an effort to bring harmony and understanding between different faiths. 3:00 PM to 7 PM.
Come for part of or all of. Details www.islamevents.ca