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May 06
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Shambhala News Service
New Shastri Position Announced

The Sakyong has created a new position, known as shastri, in the teaching mandala of Shambhala. In Sanskrit, shastri literally means, “teacher learned in the texts and commentaries.”

The shastris will serve our city and regional Shambhala Centres. The Sakyong has designed the position of shastri especially to represent and teach his integrated Shambhala Buddhist curriculum, “The Way of Shambhala.” Acharyas will continue with their broader roles as senior teachers of Shambhala; shastris will teach on more local and regional levels.

The full announcement from Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown, the Dean of the Shambhala Teachers’ Academy, follows:

1 May 2010

Dear Noble Sangha,

On behalf of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and the Teachers’ Academy, I am pleased to announce the creation of a new teaching position, the shastri (literally in Sanskrit, “teacher learned in the texts and commentaries.”) Shastris will serve as senior teachers of our city and regional Shambhala Centres in the mandala. Rinpoche has designed the position of shastri to especially represent and teach his integrated Shambhala Buddhist curriculum, “The Way of Shambhala.” Acharyas will continue with their broader roles as senior teachers of Shambhala; shastris will teach on more local and regional levels.

Rinpoche has initially selected around sixty shastri candidates from the international mandala to serve terms of three years in these new teaching positions. He asked that this first group of shastris be chosen to serve in our largest centres. Additional shastris will be appointed in future years, as the needs of our local and regional centres become more clarified.

In order to look to the future, the shastris have been selected from our dedicated senior teachers as well as from newer, younger teachers. While shastris will serve as senior mentors, all of our other skilled and committed centre teachers are encouraged and still greatly needed to continue to teach.

The shastris’ portfolios will include strengthening and developing our teaching mandala, bringing current understanding of the Shambhala Buddhist curriculum vision to their centres, and mentoring and training other teachers. Shastris will also support the leadership in Shambhala Centres in building community, and strengthening the vision of enlightened society so important in Shambhala.

All shastri candidates are required to attend a special Teachers’ Academy training program, led by Kalapa Acharya Adam Lobel, Ms Carolyn Mandelker, Director of the Shambhala Office of Practice and Education, and myself, to be held at Shambhala Mountain Center from 11-17 July 2010. At the end of the training, the new shastris will be ceremonially installed by Rinpoche. They will begin their duties in their centres in late summer or fall of 2010.

The Office of Practice and Education has notified Shambhala Centre directors of the candidates who have been selected by Rinpoche for their centres. This announcement was accompanied by detailed descriptions of the positions the shastris will hold, and how they will work with local directors of Practice and Education and the centre directors.

We on the Council of Acharyas and the Teachers’ Academy are delighted with these new developments, knowing that the shastris will strengthen study, practice and teaching leadership throughout our mandala. We also ask your patience throughout this transition, as our centres prepare for a shift in leadership of our teaching mandala.

Warm wishes, in the Great Eastern Sun,

Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown
Dean, Shambhala Teachers’ Academy

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3 responses to “ New Shastri Position Announced ”
  1. I believe those names will be posted after the Shastris are officially appointed later in July.

  2. Is there a list of the new shastris? If so, where could I find this?

  3. Who are the new shastris?


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