Image by Elias from PixaBay Join us Tuesday nights at the Multifaith Centre at UVic. We’re right near Finnerty Gardens. Paid parking is in front of the building. The sits start promptly at 7:00 p.m. so please arrive at 6:45 to settle on your zafu and prepare for two sits of fifteen minutes each and a dharma talk. Leave phones and other devices turned off, we can provide a locked room for these items ..read more

Welcome Back Sitters! We will be returning to Multifaith for our Tuesday night sits this October 4, 2022. We will continue with our self-serve style of set up while being mindful of leaving more spacing between the zabutons (black mats).  We also provide use of zafus (meditation cushions).  The evening will begin at 7:00 so arrive about 15 minutes early to set up and settle.  The contents of Tuesday night sit will feature zazen, (seated meditation) kinhin (walking meditation) and a dharma talk. Following the sit there will be an informal fifteen minute question & answer&nbs ..read more

Welcome to week two of the Online Orientation to Zen Course! If you have been following along, you have now sat a bit this past week and have started to get into a rhythm. This week we will continue with the sitting and increase the time you sit by five minutes so you will sit a total of ten minutes. We have provided a 10 minute practice session below for you use to use help time this, if you wish to use it. There is a new journal for this week. Download it, print it, and make sure to keep a record of your daily sitting practice. Feel free to also record notes about how you felt during the sit ..read more

Welcome to week one of the Online Orientation to Zen Buddhist Practice. We are excited that you have decided to take your practice to the next level with us. This week there are four videos you will watch, an outline of practice goals, and supplementary materials on our practice form that you can watch to learn more about zen practice and roles in the zendo (a Japanese word that describes the main practice hall where meditation is practiced). Watch Videos: Watch the first three videos in order before you begin sitting. They will take you through the basics of post ..read more

Newsletter for July 2016 Mini-Moment Monthly Quote To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves, and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows. It is easy to say no, even if saying no means death. —Jean Anouilh Please feel free to send us a short memorable or motivating quote, it could be one of your own or someone you know. Submit your quotes to TommiWrites@gmail.com. Sits July 3: Sangha Sunday (Kokizan-ji) July 5: Tues. Evening (Sands) July 10: Mondo Zendo (Kokiz ..read more

What is the appropriate response to CoVid19? In Douglas Adams’ first book the “Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” he refers to the the guide as bearing the words “DON’T PANIC inscribed in large yellow friendly letters on its cover.” In this time of CoVid-19 we would do well to etch this into our consciousness. It would also be equally useful to remember to “carry a towel” (also from the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy), your towel literally or metaphorically, to remind yourself to wash your hands frequently with soap and water from 20-30 seconds. It is also a keen reminder that we are all in t ..read more

Genjo Marinello Osho will be leading a sesshin in Victoria at the Maria Montessori Academy on the weekend of February 28th to March 1st , 2020.  Genjo Osho is the Abbot of the Chobo-ji temple in Seattle, and is a senior teacher in the Rinzai Zen school. The weekend will begin with a formal meal and sitting on Friday evening. The Saturday schedule, 7am to about 9pm, will include zazen (seated meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), teisho (dharma talk), dokusan (interviews), samu (work practice), three formal meals and yoga.  The Sunday practice will begin at 7am and conclude by no ..read more

Thank you for signing up for the Online Orientation to Zen Course. We will be sending you your first lesson shortly ..read more

Welcome to week four of the Online Orientation to Zen Course! You have completed three weeks of daily sitting. Congratulations on making this far. It is quite the accomplishment to have sat regularly for three weeks. You should feel like you are really settling into this practice habit and that it is becoming a part of your daily routine. This week we will increase the time you sit to twenty five minutes. We have provided a 25-minute practice video below for you use to use help time your sits, if you wish to use it. You will also be chanting every sit this week to really get some experience wi ..read more

Welcome to week three of the Online Orientation to Zen Course! You have completed two weeks of daily sitting. You should now have established your routine and begun building a solid foundation for your practice. This week we will continue with the sitting and increase the time you sit by five more minutes so you will sit a total of fifteen minutes each time. We have provided a 15 minute practice session below for you use to use help time your sits, if you wish to use it. The course material for week three includes three videos, an outline of practice goals, and supplementary material ..read more