who is this for

This offering is for people who are just beginning their Zen practice and would value personal guidance alongside Zenwest Buddhist Society’s free Orientation to Zen program. It’s designed for those who:

• Have completed—or plan to complete—the free 4-week Online Orientation to Zen program

• Are learning the basics of zazen posture, group forms, and etiquette

• Want help navigating the physical and emotional challenges of starting a sitting practice

• Need support building a consistent home practice

• Appreciate having a one-on-one space to ask questions and troubleshoot obstacles

What’s included

This is a focused, four-week support offering designed to walk alongside the free online Orientation to Zen program offered by Zenwest Buddhist Society — a self-paced series of videos and email content.

This one-on-one support includes:

• Four private sessions (20–30 minutes each, once per week)

• Support with posture, breath, and settling into stillness

• Guidance on group forms, etiquette, and what to expect in the zendo

• Help navigating the physical and emotional challenges that often arise when beginning a sitting practice

• Encouragement and accountability as you build a consistent home routine

• A quiet, relational space to ask questions and reflect on your experience

This is not an open-ended mentorship — it’s intentionally held within a four-week container to help you start strong and steady.

This is not a teaching program — it’s a relational space to help you begin with structure and support.

Cost & Structure

The full four-week offering is $150 CAD + GST, paid in full at the start of the program.

This includes:

• Four private 20–30 minute sessions (once per week)

• Light email support between sessions, if needed

• A steady rhythm of encouragement and guidance to help you begin your practice well

This offering is structured to be both accessible and time-bound — a supportive container for your first month of committed Zen practice.

Zen practice begins with simply showing up — again and again.

About Me

My name is Teàrlach Eshū Martin Kilgour. I’m an ordained full priest — Osho, and Dharma teacher — Zenji in the Rinzai Zen tradition, with over 25 years of practice and teaching experience. My Dharma name is Kōsēn Eshū (紅仙恵秀) — often translated as Red Mountain Hermit or Red Wizard.

I serve as Abbot of Zenwest Buddhist Society, and guide students through Monarch Trancework, where this mentorship is housed. My background includes decades of Zen training, koan study, Sangha leadership, and teaching in both lay and formal practice settings.

I was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1999 by Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi and trained over several years with his senior students. In time, I stepped forward to publicly address serious misconduct in that community.

I continued my training with Kokan Genjo Marinello Roshi, Abbot of Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji (Chobo-ji) in Seattle, WA, from whom I received the title of Osho (Zenji). I remain affiliated with Chobo-ji and the broader lay Rinzai network.

I’m based on Vancouver Island, Canada, and committed to offering relational, lineage-rooted Zen practice to those seeking structure and support — particularly those who find themselves practicing without access to an authorized teacher or living sangha.

How to Begin

If you’re interested in this offering, the first step is to book a short consultation.

This 15–30 minute conversation gives us a chance to meet, answer any questions you may have, and make sure this support offering is a good fit for you. If it is, we’ll schedule your first session and begin the four-week rhythm from there.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you’ve completed the orientation and feel called to commit more fully, you’re welcome to explore the Zen Mentorship & Training path.

This is an ongoing container for sincere students of Zen — grounded in relationship, tradition, and direct experience. It includes one-on-one guidance, structured practice, and, where appropriate, koan study and Dharma Interview.