Zenword Zen Centre

Creston, British Columbia

The flame of compassion is an inexhaustible lamp and it burns in each one of us. Peaceful relations rise out of compassion like wild flowers rise out of wind-scattered seeds. Zen training fuses compassion with skillful means.

At ZenWords Zen Centre we do this in three ways: we offer traditional Zen practice at Creston Zendo, we operate Maitri House, a nonsectarian social service centre and we teach Zen Writing Practice through face to-face and online workshops.

Upcoming Event

Winter Training Term - January 18 – April 25

Training with the Precepts
Every other Winter Training Term, Kuya Minogue, resident teacher at Creston Zendo, teaches the Sixteen Precepts of Soto Zen Buddhism both online and in weekly classes. At the end of the training term she holds a week long retreat called Jukai and stands as witness for anyone wishing to adopt the precepts as the ethical basis for their lives. The precepts are as follows:
Sixteen Zen Precepts

The Refuge Precepts	The Great Precepts
Take refuge in the Buddha. Take refuge in the Sangha. Take refuge in the Dharma.	Cease from harm. Do only good. Do good for others.
Ten Grave Precepts
Affirm life; do not kill. Be giving; do not steal. Honour the body. Manifest truth; do not lie. Keep a clear mind	See essential perfection; do not criticize others Realize self and other as one; do not inflate self by blaming others Give generously; do not withhold anything Actualize Harmony; do not hold anger Experience the Intimacy of everything.

Other Significant Dates

December 1: Zendo reopens in temporary facilities. (See December schedule)
December 15, 16: Zendo Closed
December 21: Festival of Buddha’s Enlightenment/Winter Solstice Celebration
5:00 pm Potluck RSVP
December 31: 11:00 zazen; midnight bell-ringing; nonalcoholic toast to New Year
January 4: Zendo reopens
January 18: Winter Training Term begins.
April 30: Winter Training Term ends.