Sunday

Peace is the Answer: Letter from our Guest Editor

Fall Leaves with Glimpse of Tree, photo courtesy of Joey Johannsen

The Harvest of Peace, one of four Shambhala holidays, occurs around the time of the autumn equinox. It is a time when our community gathers, listens to teachings by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and celebrates the riches of both our diverse and shared cultures and heritages. It is also a time to reflect on and deepen our compassion for ourselves, each other, and the world at large.

In these increasingly stressful times, this celebration is potent and joyful. When summer ends (at least in the western hemisphere) and we enter the autumn’s harvest, we begin to gather what we have grown – including inspiration and deepening relationships — to prepare for the winter months. It is a time for each of us to harvest meaning in our lives, expand our openness and bounty, and reach into our experience of basic goodness to nourish and strengthen our own lives and fully celebrate the riches of community.

Today, the Sakyong will address every Shambhalian, at every centre around the world. Later this afternoon or by Monday morning, the video and audio will be available on the Shambhala Times. Every other day, we will publish a Harvest of Peace address given by the Sakyong in a past year. We encourage everyone to harvest his words and renew our dedication to contemplating the nature of peace in our lives. We will also include some shorter articles each day that illuminate aspects of this Shambhala holiday, including stories from around the world, creative activities for families and children, and things we can do to touch in with the energy of this potent time.

In his 2007 Harvest of Peace address, the Sakyong said that, “In this season of transition,
heading into winter—at least here in the northern hemisphere—is a deepening process… the message of compassion and the message of peace are never out of fashion. Compassion and peace are not transitory. In this particular time… we have to decide, individually and collectively, that peace is the answer. More and more I’ve been thinking about and working with how to harvest peace, particularly inside the community. Trying to harvest peace outside the community should not be that much more difficult. But inside or outside, the solution to our difficulties comes down to the element of peace.”

He went on to say that, “We gather together like this to remind ourselves to practice, to deepen, to contemplate and to console each other that aggression, ignorance and negativity are not inevitable.”

The Sakyong is fulfilling the command and treasure teachings of his father, the Druk Sakyong, with a depth and urgency that – in effect — increases our realization and motivation a thousand fold. He reminds us that the Druk Sakyong planted the Shambhala banner and proclaimed: “Here is the profound teaching that can be a solution and an antidote to what is going on in the world.” How we celebrate this day and how our dedication motivates us is at the heart of the harvest celebration.

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Laura Simms is a senior teacher in Shambhala, a writer and a renowned storyteller. Her work is focused on compassionate action. She is a fellow at the Arthur Mauro Peace and Justice Center in Winnipeg, and works with Search for Common Ground, Nepal.