Living Zen

Today I'm sharing the preparation session for the next installment of the Thought Process Trancework Series which I’ve called “Understanding Patterns”, in which we’ll be doing a deeper exploration into how subconscious thought patterns first come about often when we are really young, how they become established and essentially automatic – our default way of reacting – and how, often in spite of being aware of an unhelpful pattern, we can still find ourselves repeating the same mistake over and over. This session, and many others are also available to download, for FREE from the downloads page of my website. If you enjoy what I'm offering on the Living Zen Podcast, please let me know by commenting, and you can like, subscribe, and I'd love it if you share Living Zen with anyone you think will enjoy and appreciate it!

Today’s episode is an active Trancework session called “Foresight and Vision”. If this is your first time listening to Living Zen or this Thought Process Trancework series, I’d highly recommend that you go back to the beginning and start there, as each session builds on, and complements the last. Of course, each session is still highly effective on its own, but if you really want to enhance the impact of the sessions, do yourself a favour and take it from the top! In this Trancework Session, we’ll be reorienting the perspective of your subconscious mind to be more future oriented, and supporting you in clarifying and cultivating your vision... for your future. Naturally we all want “good things” to happen, and you likely want to “succeed” in the ways that are important to you... but have you ever really clarified what that actually means? What does that look like, in practical terms? If you were really successful, what would you be doing... and feeling... that you just aren’t doing now? In this session we’ll be setting your subconscious mind into motion on the task of clarifying where you want to be going, and beginning the step-by-step journey that takes you from where you are right now, to where you want to be. This session, and many others are also available to download, for FREE from the downloads page of my website. If you enjoy what I'm offering on the Living Zen Podcast, please let me know by commenting, and you can like, subscribe, and I'd love it if you share Living Zen with anyone you think will enjoy and appreciate it!

In this prep session, building on the last session, “Facing the Unkown”, we’ll explore and unpack our subconscious patterns around how and why we project negative past experiences forward, and how you can begin to transform this pattern into something much more beneficial, and satisfying. This session, and many others are also available to download, for FREE from the downloads page of my website. If you enjoy what I'm offering on the Living Zen Podcast, please let me know by commenting, and you can like, subscribe, and I'd love it if you share Living Zen with anyone you think will enjoy and appreciate it!

Today’s session is an active Trancework session that I’ve called “Facing the Unknown” that addresses problematic subconscious thought patterns that arise when we face circumstances, situations, environments, people... anything really... where the causes or outcomes or both... are unknown to us. Often our own minds prevent us from moving forward in our lives by projecting “worst case scenarios” from the shadows of our subconscious into any and every kind of ambiguity that we might face in our life, work, or relationships. This pattern does tend to preserve the known and familiar status quo, but far more often it obstructs us from moving forward, making needed changes, or taking reasonable risks as we pursue goals, aspirations, and even our deepest souls purpose. In this session, I’ll be offering your subconscious mind an entirely new way to approach the unknown that will open the doors to possibility and transformation in your life, your work, and your relationships.  This session, and many others are also available to download, for FREE from the downloads page of my website. If you enjoy what I'm offering on the Living Zen Podcast, please let me know by commenting, and you can like, subscribe, and I'd love it if you share Living Zen with anyone you think will enjoy and appreciate it!

This Thought Process Trancework series explores subconscious thought patterns that we’ve all experienced at times. Generally, these patterns start out as efficiencies created by the subconscious mind to ensure survival, but as our environment and developmental stages change, these patterns often become far more problematic than beneficial, and at times can lead to deep or pervasive cycles of suffering. Originally, the core of these sessions came out of my exploration into Trancework processes in order to address issues like insomnia, chronic pain, addiction, anxiety and depression – and what I found was that there are a handful of specific thought patterns, almost like subconscious software, that in various combinations, underpin the vast majority of these issues. As I incorporated them into my practice, I came to see that everyone, including myself struggles with at least some of these patterns from time to time – particularly during periods of increased stress. I’ve structured the series in paired sessions; first a preface session where I outline the pattern that may be creating challenges, and then an active Trancework session which uses various techniques to shift the subconscious mind into more adaptive approaches. You’ll be able to tell the difference, because the Trancework sessions have a backing sound track that helps to facilitate access to deeper states of consciousness. This session, and many others are also available to download, for FREE from the downloads page of my website. If you enjoy what I'm offering on the Living Zen Podcast, please let me know by commenting, and you can like, subscribe, and I'd love it if you share Living Zen with anyone you think will enjoy and appreciate it!

As we go about living our lives, we have all kinds of experiences, both good and bad, and often our focus is on moving through challenges and adverse experiences as quickly as possible... and once we’ve done that, we seldom look back! Now... this isn’t necessarily a bad thing... it’s just that sometimes it results in us mentally or emotionally carrying around bits of unfinished business that are often years... or even decades old. The kinds of things that pop up into our awareness at the most inconvenient times... like when things are quiet at home... or when we’re finally able to lay down in bed... or when we’re trying to focus on that task that we really need to get done. This session will help you clarify the nature of the stuff that’s been lingering around in the shadows of your subconscious mind... and weighing you down. You can release what’s no longer needed, and bring into focus anything that might need a little more intention to unpack and process so that you can move forward on your journey. This session includes a prep session as well as an integration session, so you’ll need about 90 minutes to give yourself the time and space to get the most out of it. The integration session will also help you to better understand how your subconscious mind prefers to communicate, which will become very important as you move forward with Trancework. This session, and many others are also available to download, for FREE from the downloads page of my website. If you enjoy what I'm offering on the Living Zen Podcast, please let me know by commenting, and you can like, subscribe, and I'd love it if you share Living Zen with anyone you think will enjoy and appreciate it!

To download this session (and others) visit the downloads page of my website. You can contact me with comments at eshu@monarchtrancework.com  I thought I'd begin with an experiential sample of what I offer in my practice at Monarch Trancework. In this episode, you'll hear a preparatory session, and active Trancework session, and an integration session afterwards. Doing the integration session immediately after the Trancework session is recommended, so you may want to be prepared with a pen or pencil, and some paper to write on. Enjoy! - Eshu

Breathing new life into the Living Zen podcast. A lot has happened since I posted the last episode in 2017! Check out what I've been up to, and get ready to step into the new world with Living Zen. I love hearing from listeners. If you'd like to contact me, you can email me at: eshu@monarchtrancework.com You can also visit the Monarch Trancework Website for more information about the work that I do, and how you can engage with me directly.

To: Zenwest members, associates, patrons, and donors   From: Eshu Osho, Zenwest Board, and members of the Zenwest strategic planning group   Dear friends and supporters of Zenwest,   In our global community, locally, and within our Sangha, the past 3 years have been filled with change. We are writing to talk with you about the changes we have been discussing over the past eight months as part of the 2017 strategic planning process.   Some of you are already familiar with Zenwest’s current model, while for others this is new information. To ensure that everyone has access to the background information to help you understand the history and context for our proposed changes, we have included as an appendix to this letter an overview of the developments in Zenwest that led to the current model, written by Eshu Osho who provides his perspective from 22 years of practicing with Zenwest and 13 years as Abbot.   The model that Zenwest has been operating under since 2005 served Zenwest well for many years. Unfortunately, as a result of multiple factors (discussed in detail in the Appendix) we have come to the difficult conclusion that under the current circumstances the strategic model we have been running is not sustainable, and Zenwest needs to make significant changes going forward.   Our collective recommendation is that Zenwest undergo a transition over the next 12 months to: (a) gradually phase out financial compensation for Eshu Osho, (b) undertake a review of all aspects of our programming, and (c) engage in deep community discussions to determine how to go forward in revitalizing and renewing our community.   These are very significant, serious changes that we are suggesting and we need to know whether the sangha is supportive of this proposed direction.   We want to be clear that the recommendation to end Eshu Osho’s employment with Zenwest is in no way a comment on Eshu’s performance as Abbot. Rather it is a reflection that our membership has shrunk (as discussed in the Appendix) and it is no longer financially sustainable to support a paid position.   Throughout the extended and at times painful discussions that led to this recommendation, we have held two core principles: First, that we are responsible to treat all of the Zenwest relationships with integrity and care. This includes the relationships between Zenwest and Eshu Osho and the Martin family, between sangha members, and relationships with external bodies such as the University of Victoria Multifaith Services where we have a chaplaincy. Second, we all remain committed to Zen practice and creating spaces for people to practice in community. However, it is unclear at this time what that might look like. We see the need to create space for organizational transformation, where we individually and collectively deeply consider what we want to do, what brings us joy, and how we want to practice.   What we are proposing for the next year is a three-phase transition.   Phase 1: June-September 2017 Eshu Osho continue to work 0.4 FTE at Zenwest (the current arrangement). All Sunday and Tuesday practice opportunities remain the same. Begin community discussions about the future of Zenwest.   Phase 2: October 2017-March 2018 Eliminate cash salary from Eshu Osho’s compensation arrangement. Zenwest will continue to provide a residence and amenities to the Abbot and his family at the temple in Sooke as compensation for Eshu’s continuing work (hours to be negotiated between Eshu and the Zenwest Board). Sunday and Tuesday sits will continue. Continue community discussions about the future of Zenwest.   Phase 3: April-June 2018 All compensation will be eliminated from the relationship between Eshu Osho and Zenwest, and Eshu Osho will cease to be an employee of Zenwest Buddhist Society. This is conceptualized as a “pause” to allow our sangha and Eshu to reflect and consider what we want going forward. It is not yet clear what member-led practice opportunities might continue to be available during this time, this will depend in part on the community discussions in earlier phases.   It is our hope that this staged withdrawal arrangement will allow both Eshu Osho and the members and board of Zenwest Buddhist Society time to explore, plan, and prepare financially and organizationally for what will be a major transformation of how the future of Zenwest will unfold.   Further, it is our hope that this staged arrangement will alleviate the financial demands of Zenwest without creating catastrophic financial hardship for Eshu Osho and his family; Eshu has been employed and served our Sangha as our Abbot and teacher for the past 13 years, and his family has been very generous in sharing their home space as a temple.   The direction set out above can only be undertaken if members, associates, patrons and donors are willing to support this transition, both in principle and financially. It is our intention to continue to provide practice opportunities until April 2018 and we hope that members and associates will remain actively engaged in Zenwest and continue to provide financial support through dues in this period. We will also need to continue to hold quarterly fundraising drives in addition to dues, to allow for a gradual transition for Eshu Osho and his family. At this time we anticipate that the fundraising targets will be $6,000 in June, $5,500 in September, and $2,550 in December. Fundraising after this time depends on what the community decides to do together.   Although we don't yet know what form this will take, we are clear that we want to continue to practice Zen in community. To determine what this will look like requires our collective wisdom and creativity. As you have been a participant and contributor to this community, we would like to extend an invitation to you to participate in the conversation and exploration of how Zenwest will be moving forward into the future.   To facilitate these discussions, and also give an opportunity for people to ask questions and talk about this letter, we will be holding in-person and online meetings, including the following: An in-person member get-together Wednesday June 28, hosted by Kozan, Seishin, and Yushin. This will kick off a series of monthly potlucks open to anyone interested in the future of Zenwest who wants to share ideas in community. One-to-one video chat between Eshu Osho and Distance members. An online Zoom meeting open to all associates, and people who have completed the online Orientation course, facilitated by Eshu Osho. A facilitated discussion at the Tuesday night Zen open house, coordinated by Rev. Soshin.   Additionally, members, associates, and supporters can email Eshu Osho or any of the Board members or other Strategic Planning participants to discuss this letter and clarify any issues of concern. Contact information is included below.   We very much value and appreciate your support, and look forward to hearing your ideas and comments.   Sincerely,   Eshu Osho, Abbot, Zenwest Buddhist Society, eshu@zenwest.ca Rev. Hoyu Tommi Boulter, Chair, Zenwest Buddhist Society, reverendhoyu@shaw.ca Rev. Soshin Ruth McMurchy, Treasurer, Zenwest Buddhist Society, ramcmurchy@gmail.com Rev. Doshu Lars Rogers, Secretary, Zenwest Buddhist Society, doshu@zenwest.ca Joshua Goldberg, Strategic Planning participant, jgoldberg@shaw.ca Seishin Susanne Ledingham, Strategic Planning participant, sledingham@gmail.com Kozan Nori Nishigaya, Strategic Planning participant, anishi@gmail.com Yushin Charles Rose, Strategic Planning participant, charles@roseware.com       APPENDIX: HISTORY AND CONTEXT By Eshu Osho, Abbot, Zenwest   In 2004, a strategic planning group that included the Zenwest board of directors, a group of members who had committed to being a part of the planning process, and the Zenwest Abbot together created a plan and vision for how Zenwest would grow into the future - and out of this plan and vision, a model was created.   Two key features of this plan were: Maintenance of a stable and consistent practice space appropriate for all levels of Zen training. The full-time employment of Abbot and teacher Eshu Osho.   We believed that the best way to ensure the stability of the community, its programs, and the consistency of teaching was by employing a skilled professional who can have these goals as their primary focus, and having an appropriate place to do Zen practice.   This planning group also fully recognized that the costs of committing to supporting a full-time employee and practice space were significant, and several models of membership were suggested and considered, such as: A straightforward business model in which the cost of membership was based on the expenses divided by the membership. A donor model, in which there are no membership dues, but rather we would ask for donations and hope that enough came it to pay for expenses.   As a group we felt that the first model would likely be more exclusive than we wanted, with a membership in the neighbourhood of $200+/mo; which would put it way out of range of some that would greatly benefit from Zen practice.   Conversely, the instability and insecurity inherent in the second model would likely make basic survival a monthly worry and would be a distraction from practice and development.   In the end, together we created a community-centred model for Zenwest Buddhist Society. We would offer different levels of membership from “Full” (with dues representing a single full share of the cost of the resources and opportunities available), to “Basic” (with dues being non-trivial, but significantly less than a full share of the actual cost of the resources and opportunities available).   Full members would have access to all activities, and Basic Members would be required to pay for activities and opportunities outside of basic sits.   Beyond this, we made provisions to accommodate those who experienced financial hardship, as well as opportunities for work-exchan

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen

The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you did. Please consider purchasing the Living Zen-podcast app on the iTunes app store! www.zenwest.ca If you are interested in getting started in Zen Practice, check out our Online Orientation to Zen Practice Program http://www.zenwest.ca/online-zen/84-online-orientation-to-zen