by John McQuade
During this period of the covid-19 event , with its emphasis on social isolation, I have engaged more than usual the contemplative practices of Nalanda Miksang contemplative photography. Through these practices, I realize that contemplative mind is completely free of covid-19 and more decisively free of the covid-19 mind-set.
The mind-set of covid- 19 tends to be the mind-set of suffering in various ways and degrees: from the actual contracting of the disease and its consequences for oneself and others to the degrees of fear and anxiety at personal and social registers: concerns about health, finances and what the future may hold. Conversely these very challenges , difficulties and fears are intensified conditions for the manifest of noble qualities of courage and perseverance.
Contemplative practice is in large measure an engagement of harmonization and enriching presence. It works to harmonize the distinction between the perceiver and the perceived. In speaking of contemplative mind we prefer the word harmony rather than “ peace”. The word “peace” can suggest a substantive state of mind – tranquil and free of struggle – that is somehow separate and special. The orientation to “free of struggle” is accurate but the notion of “ another state of mind” can be misleading. For the contemplatives the distinction is between struggle and harmonization which more fundamentally is based on the dualism or non-dualism of the perceiver and perceived. This distinction is very subtle : there cannot be the distinction between dualism and non-dualism since that itself would be a dualistic distinction. It is not a matter of dissolve to some kind of Whole. It is as the Zen’s say “not-two”. A harmonization and intimacy. Continue…
From the Editorial Team— Many resources have been shared by the Shambhala leadership and Community members to help us all through this moment of isolation and uncertainty. Your editorial team has gathered them together here so that this page can be a resource for everyone. We will continue to update this page with resources as […]continue
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2020-08-04 -
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Dear Shambhala Community —
We, as the Board of Directors of Shambhala, are pleased to ratify and introduce to the Shambhala Community the new Code of Conduct consisting of the following documents:
Shambhala Code of Conduct
Child Protection Policy
Policy for People Holding Positions of Authority
Policy to Address Sexual Misconduct
Policy on Diversity, Inclusivity and Anti-Discrimination
Together, these five policies comprise the new Shambhala Code of Conduct, known as “the Code.”
Access the new Code of Conduct:
Click Here to Access a PDF of all five Policies
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