Jan 30
Monday
Mary Sehlinger Retirement
Shambhala’s Director of Societal Health and Well-being retires: “I see the Shambhala Community engaging in a long cultural shift.”
by Kalapa Envoy Richard Reoch
After six years as Shambhala’s Director of Societal Health and Well-Being, Mary Sehlinger is retiring. Known to many by her former married surname, Whetsell (Sehlinger is her maiden name), Mary has played an instrumental role in the development of Shambhala’s global community.
Like many Shambhalians, her life has been devoted to social service. With a doctorate in counseling psychology, she worked in the U.S. Federal Prison in Lexington, Kentucky where she directed a 100+ bed residential substance abuse treatment program. For 22 years she has also had a private practice devoted to mindfulness-based psychotherapy, and has specialized in working with sexual violence – rape recovery and childhood sexual abuse. Beyond her professional life, she enjoys weekly riding lessons on a horse named Wanda, and has revived the passion she held in her younger years for making art. Continue…
Author Archive
3 responses - Posted 01.28.17
Seeing confusion as an opportunity for positive change by Kim Kelso Thinking about the results of the presidential election at first filled me with disappointment, dread, and fear. As the weeks unfolded, I was tempted to be forlorn. Yet I knew from my Shambhala teachings that ignoring or ...continue
no responses - Posted 01.26.17
Portland hosts a new series celebrating the Path of Appreciation in Dharma Arts: Tiger Dharma Arts Salon by Abbey Pleviak Tonight the Dharma Arts Council hosted our first Four Dignities Dharma Art Salon of the year, on the warrior quality of Tiger. Societal Health and Wellbeing Director Mark ...continue
no responses - Posted 01.24.17
A warrior tribute to long-time Shambhalian Steve Armbruster: 21 April 1950 – 14 January 2017 Surrounded by family and friends, Steve Armbruster died peacefully in Halifax on January 14 following respiratory problems. His wife Rita, son Erik, daughter Melissa, and other dear friends provided loving care and warriorship ...continue
no responses - Posted 01.22.17
Inspired by online course EcoSattva 2016, offered by One Earth Sangha, which is still available and strongly recommended by the author. Thanissara is one of the principle teachers of the course. The title and final paragraph are paraphrased from her book Time to Stand Up. by Camilo ...continue
2 responses - Posted 01.20.17
An interview with Holly Gayley on the recent publication of her book, Love Letters from Golok: A Tantric Couple in Modern Tibet. It chronicles the lives and letters of a contemporary tantric couple, Khandro Tāre Lhamo and Namtrul Rinpoche (pictured here with Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok), who ...continue
1 response - Posted 01.16.17
Starting with ourselves, and learning to appreciate many ways that human goodness is expressed every day by Susan Firer I’ve had an idea running through my mind for almost a year now, I would guess. It has to do with appreciation, humanity, suffering, and compassion. So often I ...continue
4 responses - Posted 01.13.17
Unraveling oppression and white privilege starts here by Kelsey Blackwell Dad and Me “But all our phrasing—race relations, racial chasm, racial justice, racial profiling, white privilege, even white supremacy—serves to obscure that racism is a visceral experience, that it dislodges brains, blocks airways, rips muscle, extracts organs, cracks bones, ...continue
no responses - Posted 01.11.17
A long-time Shambhala practitioner (and previous editor of the Times) starts a creative new venture by Sarah Lipton I am thrilled to release this preview episode of Genuine, a fresh new podcast produced by The Presence Point. I’m so happy to be sharing it with all of you, ...continue
3 responses - Posted 01.09.17
Children journey to the spiral’s center in Karmê Chöling’s traditional midwinter Festival of Lights photography by Philip Campbell Between December 25th and New Year’s Day, practitioners of all ages gathered at Karmê Chöling for a warm and lively week of programs to support and celebrate families and children. A highlight ...continue
no responses - Posted 01.06.17
In the community of Dönda, Tibetan region of the Yushu Prefecture, a new stupa rises above the roof by staff at the Gesar Fund The new shrine room at the Gesar Community Centre now has a new stupa and a new prayer wheel. The older “before” picture was taken ...continue
2 responses - Posted 01.04.17
Warm blush on deep snow Longest night turns to brilliance Even now light comes continue
6 responses - Posted 01.02.17
Exploring depth and meaning in the Ekajati protector chant by Russell Rodgers Ekajati: Queen of the Mamos, thangka painting by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche This chant has an extraordinary level of teaching in it about the nature of mind and the nature of reality. To the extent that one truly ...continue
3 responses - Posted 12.31.16
Our series of essays on the Shambhala chants continues, with a look at the “reality” of another protector by Russell Rodgers “Is Vetali real” seems like a simple enough question, deserving a “yes” or “no” answer. In fact, this question has many levels. In one of the previous ...continue
no responses - Posted 12.29.16
An update on Konchok Foundation activities in the Surmang region of Tibet by Lyndon Comstock The Children’s educational program at Surmang is starting its winter 2016-2017 program this month. Last year more than 150 children participated; a similar number is expected this year. Donors to the Konchok Foundation provide all of the ...continue