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Meditated Murder: A Dharma Mystery – HIGHLIGHT
The Shambhala Times brings you new “Summer Reads” by members of the Shambhala Community… The following is an except regarding the nature of appearance/emptiness from the book entitled Meditated Murder: A Dharma Mystery. It is by Sachi Deleg, a pen name for long time Shambhala practitioner ... continuePosted July 11, 2014 by
Yes: Express Your Everything – HIGHLIGHT
A One-Woman Play by Cynthia Kneen Photos courtesy of Jennifer Holder Before leaving for South Africa, I had been writing and performing a one-woman show as part of an underground theater group. A week before I left home, I wrote something new called YES. It is fiction, ... continuePosted June 23, 2010 by
The Immediacy and Immensity of Africa – HIGHLIGHT
Cynthia Kneen shares with the Shambhala Times vivid and insightful impressions during her travels in South Africa. Currently a guest of Shambhala Cape Town, she is teaching the Shambhala and Buddhadharma in South Africa for three months. By Cynthia Kneen Shambhala South Africa is a vibrant sangha, growing ... continuePosted June 1, 2010 by
Never Give Up – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks, by Cynthia Kneen Takeda Shingen was a great warrior who lived in sixteenth century Japan. He gave a very famous teaching to warriors under his leadership. He said they should develop their minds to be fu rin ka zan. Kanjuro Shibata XX ... continuePosted March 17, 2010 by
When Concept Opens Up – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks, by Cynthia Kneen I find contemplation powerful. When a concept opens up, we find a meaning that is deeper and richer than the intellectual activity we started with. As the mind softens and appreciates, we gain insight into the nature of what ... continuePosted March 2, 2010 by
Diving Deep – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen I grew up in the Midwestern United States, from sturdy Canadian stock. Somehow my parents thought that Californians were a little silly, and to me that meant that an activity like whale watching was probably silly, too. Then I ... continuePosted January 21, 2010 by
Knowing Love – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen I’ve been thinking about love. Rumi, the Sufi poet, says of love, “Sea water begs the pearl to break its shell.” In a different context, the Druk Sakyong, Trungpa Rinpoche, said, “The dralas are eager to fall in love ... continuePosted December 25, 2009 by
Picasso’s Picassos – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen There is a story about a collection of paintings by Picasso that Picasso kept for himself. One of them is very small, only 7 ¼ by 5 ½ inches. It is a very dark oil painting with a figure ... continuePosted November 22, 2009 by
The Joke’s on Me – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen Trungpa Rinpoche always asked me to help him–at Tail of the Tiger, at Naropa University, and later, as he put it, “by infiltrating the business world and telling me what they are up to.” “Please,” he’d say, “Help me. ... continuePosted October 17, 2009 by
Shambhala Mahasiddas – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen In The Sadhana of Mahamudra Trungpa Rinpoche says, “I’ve been fool enough to think that I possess my own projections.” I certainly feel foolish, and suffer greatly too, when I try to control my own phenomena. It’s not practical, ... continuePosted September 17, 2009 by
“Wow!” – HIGHLIGHT
From the column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen Society is made up of individuals. Really, enlightened society is an individuals’ community. There is no extra “thing” called society. The spark, or magic, lies in our individuality rather than our uniformity. But 2+2=5 when individuals share the same ... continuePosted August 28, 2009 by
Being Buddha – HIGHLIGHT
From the weekly column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen I think a lot about society. This could be because society is the issue for Shambhala and Mahayana Buddhism, and I am part of this. But somehow it’s a deeper issue, too. Look at how troubled human society ... continuePosted August 3, 2009 by
Dharma Beyond Words – HIGHLIGHT
From the weekly column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen A Tibetan Rinpoche once said to me, “When we first came to the United States, I thought, Are Americans crazy?! Everything doesn’t have to happen in one lifetime!” I wonder about this, too. Our culture advocates taking a ... continuePosted July 23, 2009 by
Hold Your Seat – HIGHLIGHT
From the weekly column Dharma Snacks by Cynthia Kneen Once I met a Chinese Buddhist Abbot, who gave me this advice. “You have to hold your seat when circumstances of obstacle arise. It is from habitually seeing external circumstances as real that they become real obstacles.” ... continuePosted July 15, 2009 by
Golden Fish – HIGHLIGHT
From the weekly column, Dharma Snacks, by Cynthia Kneen Once when I was living at a meditation center, a famous American writer came to visit. He asked about doing a solo retreat. I was young, junior to the venerable author, yet there I was with responsibilities to ... continuePosted June 13, 2009 by