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Creating Gardens of Compassion
By Olivia Kirby Shambhala vision is based on living on this earth, the real earth, the earth that grows crops, the earth that nurtures your existence. – Chogyam Trungpa Want to bring about peace in oneself and in the world? Here is what we suggest: Actually planting seeds. Growing our own ... continuePosted April 21, 2009 by
Teens Touch the Earth at Karme Choling
By Dan Glenn Karme Choling’s thriving teen retreat series took a turn for the green this April. Twenty-nine youth attended Touching the Earth, led by Leila Bruno and Adam Pattantyus, two sangha members who are also part of the Touching the Earth working group. Donna Stephens, who has ... continuePosted April 21, 2009 by Dan
Literally Cultivating Peace
By David Wimberly When powerful drala and even awakened werma cry, As earth’s ancient sacred living systems die, Will Shambhala warriors touch the earth with exertion to apply? And raise gardens of compassion invoking blessings from our warming sky. Our Shambhala path empowers us as earth protectors, which demands that ... continuePosted April 21, 2009 by
Community Garden Reaps Rewards in Spades
By Bob Cervelli St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, is well known for its ocean frontage, beaches, and close proximity to downtown Halifax. Many residents here can easily commute into the city for work. The “bay sangha” is a vibrant group and includes the Gyatso (Ocean) Deleg. Most ... continuePosted April 21, 2009 by
Maitri Programs
The practice is based on the traditional Buddhist teachings of the five buddha families, and a basic attitude of openness or friendliness called “maitri.” The practice is done by maintaining a particular posture in a colored environment, either with glasses or in specifically designed rooms; each posture ... continuePosted April 21, 2009 by Jessica Sarapoff
Shambhala Shows Up on Huffington Post
Waylon Lewis, a second generation Shambhala Buddhist or “Dharma Brat,” is the founder of elephant journal and elevision, an online video talk show that has garnered 200,000 views in its first year. A self-described “passionate environmentalist, 365-day bike commuter, mediocre climber and lazy yogi”, Waylon is ... continuePosted April 21, 2009 by
“I am Miksang.” An interview with Miksang teacher, Maxine Sidran
Maxine Sidran: I first saw the word Miksang on a calendar at the Toronto Shambhala Center. My response was to the word that followed it: photography. I have practiced photography my entire adult life, and the fact that it had showed up at a meditation center ... continuePosted April 20, 2009 by
Overwhelming Generosity in the Midst of Crisis
After six months of what seemed like constant fund-raising I sat down one morning in February to draft up a report. I was trying to make sense of what had been accomplished. I was nervous. We had just run four major fund-raising campaigns: The matching grant offered ... continuePosted April 20, 2009 by
Getting Londoners to Slow Down
By Tessa Watt In this particular dark age, our distraction often manifests as speed. Speed kills the space in which we could appreciate what we’re doing. That frantic quality creates its own power and momentum, which begin to rule us. Because we can’t rest in the present ... continuePosted April 20, 2009 by
A History of Sustainability in Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
By David Wimberly In the Beginning The primordial genesis of Shambhala arose out of the ecology of Tibet, a particularly unforgiving and fierce environment. Bon and even pre-Bon cultures recognized the need for balance in human existence with other life. Dawa Sangpo brought to Tibet the Buddha’s teachings ... continuePosted April 20, 2009 by
Sun Camp: When You Lose Your Mind, Come Back!
Sun Camp was the most important part of my life as a young adult. It felt as though I did all of my growing up during two short weeks in August, and then spent the rest of the year processing. I was obsessed with camp. I ... continuePosted April 19, 2009 by
Of Tea Mugs and Compost in Boston – HIGHLIGHT
By Sarah Lipton When I took on the role of center coordinator in Boston two years ago, after a failed recycling initiative at my previous job with a large university, my pump was primed to help bring sustainability to the Shambhala Center. Upon walking into the center ... continuePosted April 19, 2009 by
Dedicating Energy – HIGHLIGHT
As Shambhalians, when we conclude our meditation practices or close teaching events, we dedicate any merit generated to the benefit and enlightenment of all sentient beings. What if, through conscious lifestyle changes, we dedicated the surplus of our fortunate situation to the benefit of all ... continuePosted April 18, 2009 by
Drala in Karme Choling’s Garden – HIGHLIGHT
By Sue Gilman What we need to do is more hard work. Both with the Vidyadhara and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, what made them who they are and what they were, is hard work. This particular transmission of hard work and no quick fix is actually a ... continuePosted April 17, 2009 by
Warrior Song of King Gesar
Our earth is wounded Her oceans and lakes are sick Her rivers are like running sores The air is filled with subtle poisons And the oily smoke of countless hellish fires blackens the sun Day has become night. Fish are born deformed; birds fall lifeless from the sky Forests and plains wither Animals running ... continuePosted April 17, 2009 by Jennifer Holder