Do you wish to retreat for a short while in a peaceful, quiet and beautiful environment? Escape the pressures of work and life in the city? Zenwest has a hermitage and camping space available at our Kokizanji Temple for members that wish to experience a personal retreat or engage in residential practice at the temple.
During our residential training terms, you are welcome to join in the training schedule as a non-monastic participant.
Subject to availability in the hermitage or camping space, participants must overnight (no daily drop-ins) for a minimum of one night, and may stay for a maximum of thirty days. Some flexibility in the training schedule can be accommodated to allow for specific needs, please clarify any requests with the Abbot, Eshu Osho. A minimum of 48hrs notice is required, space is limited, and participation is subject to the approval of the Abbot.
During Residential Training and Retreats:
- No personal visitors.
- Computer and telephone access is limited to emergencies only.
- Please do not bring your computer, phone, or any other devices.
Rates*(all prices include meals):
Hermitage:
Private (non-member) Personalized Retreats:
- $120/night single occupancy
Member Retreats:
- $45/night shared occupancy or $90/night single occupancy for Full Members
- $50/night shared occupancy or $100/night single occupancy for Basic Members
Tenting:
Short Retreats:
- $25/night Full Members ($175/7 nights)
- $30/night Basic Members ($210/7 nights)
- $35/night Associates and Non-members($245/7 nights)
Residential Training:
- $599/mo
- For the month of June residential training costs are reduced to $299 for the month.
“I recently (November 2014) had the pleasure of participating in a one-week retreat at the Zenwest Centre in Sooke and words alone cannot describe this life-changing experience for me. Although the first few days of solitude was quite overwhelming, as time passed, these feelings were quickly replaced with a peaceful calm and a heightened sense of self-awareness and eventually a powerful awakening. I never truly realized how much my mind was being besieged with life’s many distractions and equally how enlightening it is to have a clear and more focused mind. I’m now planning on making the Zen Retreat an annual practice and highly recommend this to anyone looking to calm the mind and clear the path. “
Gary Eisenstein, President & CSO
Falcon-Software Company, Inc.
“My recent stay (January 2015) in the Hermitage at Red Flag Mountain Temple most definitely had a profound impact on me. The structure itself represented the community building the perfect homage to our practice and I felt honored to have been a part of having seen it built from the ground up.
My time there allowed me to experience the wonderful treasures that I had previously overlooked. Everything from the simple, blissful quietude that seemed to seep in periodically to the perfect slice of rugged West Coast forest directly out of my window as I ate my meals. The meals themselves were surprisingly tasty and perfectly proportioned.
Eshu Osho prepared a personalised schedule that was a great balance of Zen Form and flexibility that strengthened my practice well beyond where it had been. It also became obvious how well Eshu Osho managed me and what I was going through experiencing the world ‘unplugged’ and retreating from my normal routines.
I would encourage a stay at The Hermitage to anyone who wishes to deepen their practice.”
Jason Dunphy, Victoria B.C.
“This was my first retreat (January 2015). I didn’t know what to expect, but was leaving my mind open. Eshu Osho provided us with a schedule that laid out how our time was to be spent during the retreat. The accommodations in the Hermitage were very comfortable. Yes, it’s a small space for two. However, it’s an attractive space that allows a lot of natural light in with different window views looking out to the fabulous trees surrounding the Hermitage. The lower level bed I used was very comfortable. I slept like a log. The retreat offered a time to slow down and not have to worry about any tasks other than our daily work routines, meditation, and eating. I really enjoyed the food Eshu prepared for us. I was quite touched by Eshu’s efforts in providing us nutritious, flavourful, high quality food, and with such a busy schedule for himself too! Eshu also provided a map for us to go on a beautiful hike through Roche Cove Park walking from Red Flag Mountain.
This retreat experience gave the solitude I needed within the bounds of the structure Eshu defined. My meditation experience was deepened by the frequency of the mediations each day and sharing the meditations with Eshu and Jason. Ending the retreat with the Sunday Zendo and other members of our Sangha was wonderful…”
Genkyo Jeff Bosma, Victoria B.C.