{"id":877,"date":"2015-12-31T22:03:20","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T22:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/?p=877"},"modified":"2016-06-13T20:35:29","modified_gmt":"2016-06-13T20:35:29","slug":"zenwest-newsletter-january-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/zenwest-newsletter-january-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Zenwest Newsletter &#8211; January 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/bLrwHL\">(Original Email Version)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- BEGIN HEADER \/\/ --><\/p>\n<table id=\"templateHeader\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; min-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; border-top: 0; border-bottom: 0;\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"headerContainer\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0 9px 0 9px;\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 305px; padding-bottom: 0; display: inline !important; vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/fac910bd-4643-4bc7-a3f8-cdf86d919e72.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"305\" align=\"left\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">Newsletter for January 2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- \/\/ END HEADER --><!-- BEGIN BODY \/\/ --><\/p>\n<table id=\"templateBody\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; min-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; border-top: 0; border-bottom: 0;\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"bodyContainer\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<tbody class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\" \">\n\t\t\t\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100% !important; background-color: #dfd5d5; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"18\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"color: #160d0d; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 150%;\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><strong>A Brief Word From Your Newsletter Team<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Ho, ho, ho! The end of 2015 is only a few hours away, which lends itself well to a bit of reflection. What have we done? Have we connected more as a Sangha? Have we found a consistent, stable practice on the cushion? Have we experienced an opportunity to take the practice off the cushion? Have we stepped out of our comfort zone? Are we continually opening up the gifts of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha?<\/p>\n<p>Wherever you are on your path, we are honoured to be walking it with you, and wish every one of you the very best\u2014now and in the year to come.<\/p>\n<p>Your editorial team,<\/p>\n<p>Ky\u014dk\u016b, H\u014dy\u016b, and Ren\u00e9e<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/td>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/p>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/tr>\n\n\n<\/table>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" style=\"text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0 9px 0 9px;\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 1194px; padding-bottom: 0; display: inline !important; vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/f26a948d-ac0b-43fc-a3b0-ed490f49741d.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"563.9999694824219\" align=\"middle\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">But of course we stray out of our r\u00f4les from time to time.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- \/\/ END BODY --><!-- BEGIN COLUMNS \/\/ --><\/p>\n<table id=\"templateColumns\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; min-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; border-top: 0; border-bottom: 0;\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"columnsContainer\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" width=\"50%\">\n<table class=\"templateColumn\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; min-width: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"leftColumnContainer\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Sits<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnCaptionBlock\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnCaptionBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnCaptionBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnCaptionBottomContent\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"false\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnCaptionBottomImageContent\" style=\"padding: 0 9px 9px 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 400px; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; vertical-align: bottom;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/ff5679d4-2053-427b-a314-aed13356975e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 0 9px 0 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; text-align: left;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"263\">\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">Jan 3: <a style=\"line-height: 20.8px; word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/94-short-sunday\" target=\"_blank\">Sangha Sunday<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"line-height: 20.7999992370605px;\">(Kokizan-ji)<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">Jan 5: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/51-tuesday-zen-open-house\" target=\"_blank\">Tuesday Evening<\/a> (UVic)<br \/>\nJan 10: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/112-mondo-zendo\" target=\"_blank\">Mondo Zendo<\/a> (Kokizan-ji)<br \/>\nJan 12: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/51-tuesday-zen-open-house\" target=\"_blank\">Tuesday Evening<\/a> (UVic)<br \/>\nJan 13: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/113-wednesday-zendo\" target=\"_blank\">Wednesday Zendo<\/a> (Roseberry)<br \/>\nJan 17: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/54-half-day-zendo\" target=\"_blank\">Half-Day Zendo<\/a> (Kokizan-ji)<br \/>\nJan 19: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/51-tuesday-zen-open-house\" target=\"_blank\">Tuesday Evening<\/a> (UVic)<br \/>\nJan 24: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/52-monthly-one-day-intensives\" target=\"_blank\">One-Day Intensive<\/a> (Kokizan-ji)<br \/>\nJan 26:\u00a0<a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/51-tuesday-zen-open-house\" target=\"_blank\">Tuesday Zendo<\/a> (UVic)<br \/>\nJan 27: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/113-wednesday-zendo\" target=\"_blank\">Wednesday Zendo<\/a> (Roseberry)<br \/>\nJan 31\u00a0<a style=\"line-height: 20.8px; word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/zen-training\/54-half-day-zendo\" target=\"_blank\">Half-Day Zendo<\/a><span style=\"line-height: 20.7999992370605px;\">\u00a0(Kokizan-ji)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"columnsContainer\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" width=\"50%\">\n<table class=\"templateColumn\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; min-width: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"rightColumnContainer\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Special Events<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" style=\"text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0 9px 0 9px;\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 211px; padding-bottom: 0; display: inline !important; vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/136c2b94-db55-474a-a481-8dbc6ba105ce.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" align=\"middle\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\u2022 Jan 7, 14, 21, 28 (Every Thursday): Zenwest Chanting Choir 7\u20149pm Kozan &amp; Seishin&#8217;s place (<a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/247+Beechwood+Ave,+Victoria,+BC+V8S+3W6,+Canada\/@48.412396,-123.3346107,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x548f74f8261ec8bb:0x13646eb15de4d02d?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\">map<\/a>) Scroll down to find out what this is about.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 (Saturdays) Orientation to Zen 101 9:30-11:30am Location TBA Check the website: <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\" target=\"_blank\">zenwest.ca<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- \/\/ END COLUMNS --><!-- BEGIN FOOTER \/\/ --><\/p>\n<table id=\"templateFooter\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; min-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; border-top: 0; border-bottom: 0;\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"footerContainer\" style=\"padding-bottom: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #999999; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" style=\"text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0 9px 0 9px;\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 600px; padding-bottom: 0; display: inline !important; vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/4c84d45a-c094-40c9-96e7-f1ddde04d38f.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"563.9999694824219\" align=\"middle\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><strong>Building Bridges<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>By Grace from Mauritius<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><br \/>\nHello everybody,<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I am Grace, from Mauritius, the home of the now extinct dodo bird! I am 49 and have four children: Kamlesh (33) and Anoushka (31), who adopted me as their mom after I took care of them when they were kids, as well as Angel (23) and Jordan (19). Aaliyah, my granddaughter, was born in August last year, the same month I joined Zenwest Sangha.<\/p>\n<p>How did I reach you? It occurred to me quite early that the hope of paradise and the fear of hell were somewhat limited. Then, life&#8217;s events acting as catalysts kept me searching for a deeper meaning. Out of all I came across, Buddhism glowed like a gem. At some point, reading was not enough, and while looking for tips about how to practice meditation, I came by the zenwest.ca website.<\/p>\n<p>Joining a sangha is a major turning point for me\u2014one I had not planned; it just happened.<\/p>\n<p>So far I am still struggling with my meditation cushion; progress is slow, but I really enjoy what I am doing. In addition, as practice becomes a steady and regular part of my daily activities, I come to notice subtle changes in the way I respond to people and situations, foretelling growth.<\/p>\n<p>I wish to thank the whole team for the warm welcome, especially Eko and Soshin, and Eshu for his advice, teaching, and support.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" style=\"background-color: #404040; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 0 0px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; vertical-align: bottom;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/21a683ee-1ad3-4f39-a478-a21581980e68.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"564\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 125%;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"546\"><strong>Grace and granddaughter Aaliyah<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #999999; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<tbody class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\" \">\n\t\t\t\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100% !important; background-color: #ede8e8; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"18\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"color: #0f0101; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 125%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>What Is the Shika Role All About, Anyway? <\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>By Reverend Doshu Rogers<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\">The role names and functions that we use come from traditional Japanese monastic practice. The Shika role is that of \u2018head monk\u2019, who has responsibilities as \u2018knower of guests\u2019, or \u2018guest manager\u2019, as well as other administrative duties.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>At Zenwest Buddhist Society we don\u2019t have a monastery, but we certainly have a large number of guests! Our weekly Tuesday night sits at UVic, which are open to all, attract about 200 new first-time guests each year. Our Shoji team meets these newcomers at the door, and assists them in getting oriented for the evening practice. The Shika helps greet new and returning folks, and hosts the tea circle, which is aimed at supporting all in feeling included in our sangha (community of practitioners).\u00a0The following day, Shika emails all the sit participants, and for the first-time guests, explicitly invites comments and questions, and then follows up with those who respond.<\/p>\n<p>In a similar vein, for our regular member sits, Shika finds out who is planning to attend, ensures that everyone has access to transportation to and from the sit, plans the zendo seating arrangement, communicates with the Abbot, and generally ensures that the events run smoothly. For intensives, Shika works with the Tenzo (cook) to ensure that the planned menus are appropriate, organizes the work periods, and provides whatever logistical support is required in advance or during the practice.<\/p>\n<p>As \u2018head monk\u2019, Shika has overall responsibility that our practice events are effective and supportive for all participants. Shika reports to the Abbot, and works closely with (and at the same organizational level as) Ino, who is responsible for training and overseeing the zendo officers. During practice sessions, Shika may offer corrections to members or to officers where appropriate (as may Ino, or the Abbot), and is in charge of sits when the Abbot is absent.<\/p>\n<p>Behind the scenes, there is a fair amount of record keeping and reporting to the Abbot in support of these activities, including keeping attendance records, a seniority list which determines zendo seating order, and a general database, whose entries are important for our Religious Authorization formalism, such as determining if members qualify for the Jukai, or other ceremonies. Shika also keeps minutes and other records (policy decisions, etc.) for the Practice Council, which provides direction to our community in practice matters.<\/p>\n<p>Ceremonies often involve the Shika, who heads the officer team at Commitment ceremonies, leads new members in the Zendo Entering and Shokenko ceremonies, and may assist at weddings, funerals, and the like.<\/p>\n<p>As the only Zenwest member to have held the Shika role so far, the role and my practice have grown together over the years. Being retired and having a flexible schedule, I have been able to undertake progressively more responsibility, and devote more time to it, without becoming too overloaded.<\/p>\n<p>The role has kept me near the \u2018centre\u2019 of the community, well informed generally about Zenwest activities, and connected to sangha members and their situations. These personal connections have been a particular boon for me, as I tend not to be very socially outgoing. Sometimes the duties seem relentless, even overwhelming, but being Shika also provides me with a direct way to give back to this practice, and to repay some of the debt of gratitude that I owe to the many people who have assisted me along the way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/td>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/p>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/tr>\n\n\n<\/table>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" style=\"background-color: #9e6565; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 0 0px;\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 187px; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; vertical-align: bottom;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/26223609-e665-4a7f-8cac-ca220a57eb2f.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 125%;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"545\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Reverend Doshu Rogers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Meet a Member: H\u00f5y\u016b Boulter<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" style=\"background-color: #145f3f; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 0 0px;\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 202px; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; vertical-align: bottom;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/ac63d86e-fd04-410b-85fc-4377237cce7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 125%;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"545\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><strong>Elder H\u014dy\u016b Boulter with son Fraser<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; line-height: 200%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;\" valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><em>When did you start on the path? And where?<\/em><br \/>\nSince coming out backasswards (frank breech birth) into this world, I have always been on the path. Maybe not always walking, but definitely meandering along strange crossroads and foraging through fields of uncertainty\u2014yet still this path has beckoned. Since I was in my mid-teens I had yearned to go to Nepal. In 1985\u20131986, I, and the father of our three children, went travelling abroad to southeast Asia looking for self. I got it, to some degree, understanding that wherever I went, there I was.<\/span><\/span><\/span><em>What, in terms of life challenges, brought you to the practice of meditation?\u00a0 <\/em><br \/>\nLife seems to always have been a challenge, foremost the death by suicide of my mother, who was young (45 years), and then not many years later the death of my father in a car accident. At age 25 I was an orphan. I think I was stunned for many years, but as I have aged, I am realizing that these comings and goings are fertile ground for deeper growth.<em>Why do you continue?<\/em><br \/>\nSimply said, I see the change in the way I feel at home in the world. The way I respond to the basic truth that \u201ceverything comes and everything goes\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><em>What do you find, at this time, is your greatest challenge in walking the way?<\/em><br \/>\nStill a residual lingering of my own doubting mind that THIS is enough.<\/p>\n<p><em>If you could share one bit of practical advice about sitting zazen, what would it be?<\/em><br \/>\nConnect with Sangha.<\/p>\n<p><em>Finally, in three words, can you express what Buddha, Dharma, Sangha means for you?<\/em><br \/>\nGratitude. Service. Support.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; line-height: 200%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 22px;\"><span style=\"color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 14.9333px;\">\u81d8\u516b<br \/>\n<a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bodhi_Day\" target=\"_blank\">R\u014dhatsu<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" style=\"text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0 9px 0 9px;\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 348px; padding-bottom: 0; display: inline !important; vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/aaf9073d-e7c9-4f08-b90e-47775d944e39.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" align=\"middle\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<tbody class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\" \">\n\t\t\t\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100% !important; background-color: #f4f1f1; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"18\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"color: #0a0101; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; text-align: left; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Rohatsu Sesshin\u00a0Reflections<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><br \/>\nOn Saturday November 28, five companions on the Way boarded the Black Ball ferry for an inner journey. Rohatsu, a retreat, honours the historic Buddha, Shakyamuni&#8217;s spiritual awakening under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India. Our retreat was sponsored by Chobo-ji, our sister Rinzai Zen Temple in Seattle. Located on the Puget Sound across from Seattle, we congregated at Camp Indianola, a Christian summer camp, until December 6.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Words cannot describe the beauty of the location, and as the days went by, this writer felt a peace and inner exploration that was all things. We witnessed a Jukai ceremony and, on the last day, two new priests took their vows.<\/p>\n<p>Genjo Osho, the Abbot of Chobo-ji, daily offered Teisho on \u201cThe Hidden Lamp\u201d, \u201cStories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women\u201d as well as a daily reflection by Hakuin Ekaku, often called \u201cRohatsu Exhortations\u201d. We chanted. We sat. We took dokasu (interview). We sat. We ate.We took kinhin (walking meditation). We sat.<\/p>\n<p>As one, we turned inward, dove deep, and sometimes surfaced spluttering, then diving again, over and over being directed to be with what is. We listened to the cries of a bald eagle, torrential rain, and wild winds beating against the windows and deck. We sat as sunlight burst through the clouds, warming our backs.<\/p>\n<p>When we five returned home eight days later, short on sleep, there was an agreed sense that we had experienced something that . . . well, you had to have been there.<\/p>\n<p>Below, four of our group try to share in words:<\/p>\n<p><em>From Reverend Doshu Rogers:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Rain on the roof<br \/>\ndoes the heavy lifting.<br \/>\nWe just settle down,<br \/>\nand show up.<\/p>\n<p><em>From Egen Kelly:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Just sitting, one day.<br \/>\nHearing joy and feeling fear,<br \/>\nIs the eagle&#8217;s noble life.<\/p>\n<p><em>From Terry Nathan:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was very nervous about going to Rohatsu. I had only done one sesshin so far, and it was at Kokizan-ji this past summer, a very comfortable place for me; I was unsure how I would be able to handle the increase in the amount of sitting as well as the longer days with a sangha I had never met. But when I arrived, I found out the jikijitsu was in her 70s and had only started practicing two years ago. She was there the whole time and completely rock solid; it was a great wake-up call that I needed to get over my own doubts and dive in wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe week itself was truly unbelievable, one of the top experiences of my life. Two weeks later I am still feeling the impact day to day. The teishos were moving, and Genjo&#8217;s vast experience and depth as a teacher really came through, as well as his sense of humour. The amount of sitting and lack of sleep were not really an issue. I was exhausted but often euphoric. And with at least two interviews a day, I could really dive into koan practice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were encouraged to combust completely any distractions and to focus on why we were there. I don&#8217;t know how successful I was, but I came out of Rohatsu with an overwhelming feeling of intense gratitude. I am extremely fortunate in my current circumstances in life; I always try to be grateful for that and keep in mind that it can and will change in an instant, but this gratitude I am speaking about was not about what is currently going on around me or how I feel about my job, my marriage, my family, etc. It was about the fact that I am here, despite all odds, in the universe, experiencing it from the inside. How did it come to be that I have awareness and I get to live a life? I don&#8217;t know, but I feel that this is a gift beyond measure, and lately I am feeling so happy for being here.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGenjo hammered home the brevity of life: We are here for an instant, and although I understand this intellectually, the feeling and realization of impermanence really deepened, as if I \u201cown\u201d it a bit more than before. The only conclusion that I can come to from this feeling is that I am not to waste a single moment. They are disappearing one breath at a time, and what has been lent to me is just that\u2014a loan, and I will eventually give everything back. In the meantime there is my unfolding life, which may not always be good and filled with happiness, but is a gift nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRohatsu, or more broadly sesshin in general, is an amazing opportunity to take ownership of what I already know to be true. To examine closely what I&#8217;m doing here and, by doing so, change the very cosmos themselves. I plan on going again next year, and I hope to see you there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>From Elder H\u014dy\u016b Boulter:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Novice Kingfisher asked Master Bald Eagle,<br \/>\n\u201cWhy are there no fish on the surface today?\u201d<br \/>\nThe Master simply replied,<br \/>\n\u201cDive deep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The next day, Kingfisher flew to the Master\u2019s branch, bowed and lamented.<br \/>\n\u201cMaster, there are still no fish.\u201d<br \/>\nMaster Bald Eagle said,<br \/>\n\u201cThere is no Kingfisher.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/td>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/p>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/tr>\n\n\n<\/table>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" style=\"background-color: #404040; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 0 0px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; vertical-align: bottom;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/ebb3d488-096f-408f-8f4f-c31b01c26b13.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"563\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 125%;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"545\"><strong>A very productive Janine at our December board meeting<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\">Chanting Choir<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\">The Zenwest Experimental Chanting Group will begin on Thursday January 7, 2016 and will take place every Thursday until March 31, 2016. At that point, we\u2019ll assess if, and how we\u2019ll continue. Perhaps the group could do a demonstration\/performance at the potluck on Saturday April 2nd during Genjo Osho\u2019s visit. All of this remains to be determined based on how things come together.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\">I\u2019d like to keep attendance as open as possible, recognizing that it is entirely possible that everyone who wants to be a part of this will not be able to attend every week. That said, working with your voice is a practice that benefits from frequent use, and backslides when you aren\u2019t using it; so I would ask those who wish to take part to attend as many Chanting practices as you can.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\">We will be working on vocal development, listening, practicing variations of chants that we already know and use; as well as exploring some new material that many of us have never seen before.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.6em;\">Seishin and Kozan have offered to host the Chanting Choir at their place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\">So, to review:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>What: <\/strong>Zenwest Experimental Chanting Choir<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>When: <\/strong>Thursdays from 7-9pm &#8211; January 7-March 31, 2016<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Where:<\/strong> 247 Beechwood Avenue Victoria, BC<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Who: <\/strong>Members and associates<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.6em;\">Here we go!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.6em;\">Warm regards,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\">Eshu<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<table align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<tbody class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]>\n\n\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\" \">\n\t\t\t\t<![endif]--><\/p>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100% !important; background-color: #7fffd4; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"18\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"color: #1e0202; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Coming in February: Ask The Abbot Video Response<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Starting in our February newsletter, we will feature your submitted questions as answered by video response by our Abbot, Eshu Osho. One question will be randomly selected on a monthly basis. Please keep your question short and succinct, and send to news@zenwest.ca with the subject heading \u201cAsk Eshu\u201d. The deadline for \u201cAsk Eshu\u201d submissions are the 15<sup>th<\/sup> of every month.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/td>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/p>\n<p><!-- [if gte mso 9]><\/tr>\n\n\n<\/table>\n\n\n<![endif]--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" style=\"background-color: #404040; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 0 0px;\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 530px; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; vertical-align: bottom;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/db2b4f4d-e548-477e-b078-8548f89ba457.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"530\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; line-height: 125%;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"545\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">Ask this dude. He looks like he would have a response.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"padding: 9px 18px; line-height: 200%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;\" valign=\"top\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px;\"><strong>Write On!<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\">You are encouraged to share a poem, a haiku, a meditative moment, or a photo in our monthly Zenwest e-newsletter. Send your submissions to news@zenwest.ca. Those wishing to be assigned small reporting duties of sangha events can connect with Hoyu at TommiWrites@gmail.com.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 24px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Together, \u201cWe Make Zen Come Alive!\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 9px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" style=\"text-align: center; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding: 0 9px 0 9px;\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" style=\"max-width: 698px; padding-bottom: 0; display: inline !important; vertical-align: bottom; border: 0; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec\/images\/1b92c550-17f9-449d-8a4c-3cc4075cc06d.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"564\" align=\"middle\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"min-width: 100%; padding: 18px; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #EAEAEA; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--\n\n\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\" style=\"padding: 18px;\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"mcnDividerContent\" style=\"border-bottom-color:none; border-left-color:none; border-right-color:none; border-bottom-width:0; border-left-width:0; border-right-width:0; margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:0;\" \/>\n\n--><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" style=\"min-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" style=\"mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 125%; text-align: left; padding: 9px 18px 9px 18px;\" valign=\"top\"><em>Copyright \u00a9 2015 Zenwest Buddhist Society, All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Zenwest Newsletter mailing address is:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/news@zenwest.ca\" target=\"_blank\">news@zenwest.ca<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>For other inquiries and Zenwest business:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"mailto:office@zenwest.ca\" target=\"_blank\">office@zenwest.ca<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>To see the full schedule in all its glory, click <a style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.ca\/index.php\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"utilityLink\" style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.us9.list-manage.com\/unsubscribe?u=58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec&amp;id=2bd1e46771&amp;e=[UNIQID]&amp;c=4e7b79b759\">unsubscribe from this list<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <a class=\"utilityLink\" style=\"word-wrap: break-word; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"http:\/\/zenwest.us9.list-manage2.com\/profile?u=58d93a6e2e9c1959ab183b6ec&amp;id=2bd1e46771&amp;e=[UNIQID]\">update subscription preferences<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- \/\/ END FOOTER --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Brief Word From Your Newsletter Team<br \/>\nBuilding Bridges &#8211; By Grace from Mauritius<br \/>\nWhat Is the Shika Role All About, Anyway?  &#8211; By Reverend Doshu Rogers<br \/>\nMeet a Member: H\u00f5y\u016b Boulter<br \/>\n\u81d8\u516b &#8211; R\u014dhatsu<br \/>\nRohatsu Sesshin\u00a0Reflections<br \/>\nChanting Choir<br \/>\nComing in February: Ask The Abbot Video Response<br \/>\nWrite On!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=877"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950,"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/877\/revisions\/950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zenwest.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}