Pacific Northwest Dathun - Dec 8, 2007- Jan 5, 2008

Greetings and welcome to all participants in the upcoming meditation programs to be held at Camp Pringle, West Shawnigan Lake Rd., Vancouver Island, BC.

The Victoria Shambhala Centre, with the support of the other Northwest Shambhala Centres, are pleased to host this, our fourth annual Winter retreat.

Recognizing the ignorance and aggression loose in the world adds a special urgency to our decision to meet with ourselves on this seat of meditation. Indeed, the time is now. Starting with simplicity, openness, and curiosity, we take the path that reveals our nature.

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche said: "I would like to leave you with the memory of what was said tonight—that we have to be so genuine and so gentle. Otherwise there is no way, no way, no other way to work with the universe at all, no way to work with the world at all. You have a lot of responsibilities--all of you, ladies and gentlemen, who are taking part here. You have tremendous responsibility, which falls into two categories: the first is responsibility to yourself, to become gentle and genuine. The second is obviously to work for others in that way . . . .You can do it. Take pride in yourself."

Meditation Retreat in the Pacific Northwest at Camp Pringle, Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island, B.C.
December 8, 2007 - January 5, 2008
with John Osajima

Dathün is a one-month residential meditation retreat designed for both beginning meditators and persons wishing to deepen their practice. Our focus will be the mindfulness-awareness practices of the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. Included will be group sitting and walking meditation, private interviews with qualified meditation instructors, talks and contemplation. Reflecting the particular training of the director, this dathün will include various mind and body awareness exercises. Each day will include a short work session. Meals will be taken in Zen oryoki style. Periods of silence and functional talking will be observed. Everyone is encouraged to attend the whole dathün. However, if that is not possible, you're invited to come for one, two or three weeks.

John Osajima has been a student in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition for 31 years. He is a senior teacher and former head meditation Instructor at the Berkeley Shambhala Center. He served as a meditation instructor for four dathüns and at several Meditation Instructor training programs. He regularly teaches Shambhala Training programs and the Maitri Space Awareness Program. He conducts Dharma Art workshops and classes in various settings. For several years he conducted weekly meditation classes at a county jail, a methadone clinic and at a half-way house for women.

Full Dathün: $1050 CAD
Single Week retreat: $350 CAD (Dec 8 - 15, Dec 15 - 22, Dec 22 - 29, Dec 29 - Jan 5)
Two Week retreat: $605 CAD (Dec 8 - 22, Dec 15 - 29, Dec 22 - Jan 5)
Students and seniors over 60 receive a 10% discount.

For more information and to register for all programs, contact Ty Runkle at tyrunkle@telus.net
or by calling 604-520-7611 and leave a message.
You can also contact the program coordinator Jack LaLonde at nwdathun@gmail.com.

The nature of mind teachings, known as Mahamudra in the Kagyu tradition, are considered the heart essence of all the teachings. Gampopa describes the path of mahamudra as the "single remedy that cures all." The Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche says that "if you recognize your mind's nature, that, in itself, is the recognition of everything else that is to be known." During this two-week Mahamudra retreat, guided by the seminal mahamudra text Pointing Out the Dharmakaya by Wangchuk Dorje, Karmapa IX, we will practice shamatha and vipashyana mahamudra to clarify and stablize our experience of the nature of mind.

Scott Wellenbach is a student of the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. As a member of the Nalanda Translation Committee he was a principal translator and editor of the mahamudra text, Pointing Out the Dharmakaya. He is also a co-director of Nitartha Institute, with particular responsibilty for translation projects. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Scott Wellenbach will be in residence from December 15-29.

Two Week Mahamudra Program: $685 CAD (Dec 15 - 29)
Program Prerequisites: Completion of Vajrayana Seminary
See 'register here' link below to register

Camp Pringle, December 29, 2007-January 5, 2008, with Shelley Pierce and Ben Hines

At the heart of the Shambhala teachings, is the practice of the Stroke of Ashe, and the special Gesar sadhana: The Windhorse of Authentic Presence: Arousing the Confidence of Warrior-King Gesar, given by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

This intensive Shambhala weekthun will deepen and expand one's advanced Shambhala practice experience and understanding of Windhorse. The weekthun will include daily sessions of stroke and Gesar sadhana practices, talks from the "Golden Sun of the Great East" and Gesar sourcebook, with discussion and Enriching Presence practices. Attendance requirements for this Weekthun is Warrior Assembly, together with either Authentic Presence, Kalapa Assembly or Rigden Abhisheka.

One week Stroke of Ashe and Gesar Sadhana program: $375 US or CAD, Dec. 29 - Jan. 5

For more information and to register for all programs, contact Ty Runkle at tyrunkle@telus.net
or by calling 604-520-7611 and leave a message.

The Site
George Pringle Memorial Camp is United Church facility consisting of an 18 acre forested site on the west shore of Shawnigan Lake, 45 minutes drive north-west of Victoria, BC. Principally used as a summer camp for children and teenagers, the camp is also rented to groups seeking retreat facilities. Camp Pringle is a beautiful, sequestered site, ideal for group retreat practice. We welcome the opportunity to host you in this important event in your life. We look forward to seeing you there.