We Make Zen Come Alive! The Victoria Zen Centre offers many avenues for training. Formal Zen training includes our Tuesday Zen Open House, Sunday sessions, and all intensive retreats. Periods of sitting are twenty-five minutes in length, punctuated by five-minute periods of walking practice. Sitting, walking, chanting, ritual Zen meals, care-taking practice, and one-on-one meetings with Ven. Eshu create a dynamic matrix of practice through which we may begin to realize the vastness our True potential.
*Completion of the Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice and Practice Assessment are prerequisites for Formal Zen training at the Sooke Zendo. For newcomers, a black karate-style practice uniform (dogi) is required for Formal Zen training, which can be purchased at many martial art supply stores, or online. In Victoria we recommend Professional Self Defence.
When you are ready to get started, try an Evening of Zen Meditation! Everyone is welcome, and there is no cost. Please arrive fifteen to twenty minutes early for instruction on your first visit. Evening Meditation is offered every week on Mondays in Sooke, and on Tuesdays in Victoria at the UVic Interfaith Chapel.
When you are ready to get started, try Zen meditation at UVic! Everyone is welcome, and there is no cost. Please arrive fifteen to twenty minutes early for instruction on your first visit.
When you are ready to get started, try Zen meditation in Sooke! Everyone is welcome, and there is no cost. Please arrive fifteen to twenty minutes early for instruction on your first visit.
Sangha Sunday Zendo is held at the Sooke zendo on the first Sunday of each month(see our schedule), and is free and open to all Members and Associates of the Victoria Zen Centre. Sangha Sunday Zendo runs from 9-10:45am. The schedule includes chanting, sitting meditation, walking meditation, and a Dharma talk.
All Members and Associates must have:
Regular Sunday Zen Practice is held at the Sooke zendo most Sundays (see our schedule). Sunday practice runs from 9:00 am till noon. Sunday sits include tea, chanting, sitting meditation, walking meditation, a Dharma talk, and interview with Ven. Eshu.
Maintaining Formal Zen training while leading a busy life with a family and career can be difficult. If you aren't able to make it to the Zendo as often as you would like, one way of supporting your daily home practice is to schedule Training Meetings with Ven. Eshu. This is an opportunity to investigate your practice in an intimate one-on-one environment with our resident monk.
From January 28 - April 29, 2013 The Victoria Zen Centre offers our members and associates a Non-Residential Training Period.
The schedule for our silent one-day intensive runs from 6am to 5pm, and includes sitting, walking, chanting, meal practice, and a period of care taking. Ven. Eshu gives a Zen talk during the mid-morning sitting, and conducts one-on-one meetings with each student.
Our longer intensives on Saturna Island feature an extended schedule, which runs from 4am to 9pm. These silent retreats include sitting, walking, chanting, meal practice, and a period of care taking. Ven. Eshu gives a Zen talk each day, and meets with each student privately twice each day.
For those who wish to develop further in practice at the Victoria Zen Centre, we offer the Eldership Programme. To qualify for this year long focused programme of practice and study, a candidate must maintain membership in good standing with the Victoria Zen Centre for a minimum period of one year, and complete a minimum of two five-day intensives with Eshu. For more information on the Eldership Programme, please contact the Centre.
