Wednesday

Entering 2014

Storm clouds on Cape Breton, photo by Terry Rudderham

2013 has gone and run by. Welcome 2014.

Last night a large gathering congregated at Karme Choling to celebrate good human society and ring in the new year together. At 10 to midnight, Shastri Bill Brauer led us in a session of tonglen. 75 people stopped dancing to practice together. Shastri Brauer started off by saying, “There are millions of people tonight who are not doing well. And if we’re not going to do something about it, who is?”

He continued by explaining that all the exuberance of delight we had just engaged in on the dance floor is the energy of the goodness. That celebration of the preciousness of our humanity is the understanding that we bring to the practice of tonglen. We extend our deep longing for all beings on this planet to experience the joy of being human.

For those millions of people who are suffering right now, tonight is not a good night. For so many countless beings, life is not crackling with goodness and celebration.

But holding that awareness does not mean denying ourselves, or doubting our goodness. Rather, it becomes the inspiration, the deep roots of our longing to ease the suffering of others. It is our duty to do this. It is our duty to be awake so that we can help others wake up.

So, let’s celebrate in this new year. Let’s kick off our shoes (or place them neatly in the proper place) and dance. And let’s dedicate our celebration to the welfare and joy of all beings. May every action be of benefit to all beings.

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Stay tuned this year for some exciting changes on the Shambhala Times. We’ve got plans, and we’ll be in touch about them.

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Princess Aoifa MacMurrough of Leinster, Ireland, Sarah Lipton’s 22nd Great Grandmother, photo courtesy of the National Gallery