Nov 12
Saturday
Wrinkle Face
For National Pet Adoption Day, we offer this story of a shelter dog and his family
by Jessica Spencer Berdiel
Our Chinese Shar-pei didn’t have a name when we picked him out from the shelter. The staff was calling him Wrinkle Face. It suited him. A good Samaritan found him walking along the side of the road and brought him in out of the February cold. His folded skin made him look like he was draped in a brown burlap sack, and he had a nose like a hippo. He maintained a quiet dignity as he sat alone in his kennel, staring solemnly out the window that faced the highway. He was the only dog that didn’t frantically bark at the humans as they meandered down the aisle. My son Jaime fretted over the fate of the other dogs in the shelter. He asked the volunteer if ours would worry about them after he left. “Dogs don’t worry about things in the past like people do,” she told Jaime. “They are only here right now.” Jaime gave her a puzzled side-eye as he adjusted the temporary leash we got at the front desk. I don’t think he knew what that meant. Continue…
Author Archive
no responses - Posted 11.10.16
Sakyong Mipham energizes Shambhalians in Seattle: “Rising to the Occasion, Social Engagement in a Chaotic World” by Andrea D’Asaro Despite the cold and rain, it was a sold-out crowd that arrived early on Friday night to hear Sakyong Miphan’s calm yet urgent call to action during “this critical time, ...continue
no responses - Posted 11.08.16
Next month, the Sakyong will perform pujas for enrichment and overcoming obstacles by Walker Blaine On December 3rd and 4th, the Sakyong will perform two pujas, or intensive practices, for the benefit of the community and the world. Twice a year, His Majesty sets aside time for meditation ...continue
no responses - Posted 11.06.16
There is incredible value to finding stability in the midst of chaos. by Sarah Lipton The leaves have almost entirely fallen from the trees here in Northern Vermont. They lie brown and shriveled on the still-green grass. Just now a light breeze erupted across the hillside, tinkling the ...continue
no responses - Posted 11.02.16
Naming and sharing the art that inspires you on the path by Carol Henderson As I drove to work one morning this week, fall colors in the woods on either side, and a silver glimmer bright on the lake beyond, I did what I often do behind the ...continue
1 response - Posted 10.31.16
A Buddhist practitioner goes on pilgrimage, following the ancient trail of the Camino de Santiago by Pat Hoffman Going on a “spiritual” pilgrimage is a tricky thing – just that label loads the trip with expectation. It’s kind of like going on retreat with a shopping list of ...continue
4 responses - Posted 10.29.16
More Syrian refugees are likely to be on the way by Katie Letheren According to recent polling, Donald Trump has less than an eight percent chance to win this election. That means Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is more than likely to take her seat in the Oval ...continue
2 responses - Posted 10.27.16
What is a mahakala? Do they exist in reality? by Russell Rodgers These are questions provoked by doing the chants. In this essay, I’ll explore those questions a little more, and in addition talk about the Four Armed Mahakala in particular. In the previous essay, “The Protector Ritual,” we ...continue
no responses - Posted 10.25.16
On the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the Ashe in the modern world, we offer our readers a short video by Kalapa Acharya Adam Lobel, to celebrate the significance of this event: https://vimeo.com/shambhalaonline/review/188848343/3ec2a5c992 . continue
1 response - Posted 10.23.16
An explication of The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge by Russell Rodgers The “Heart Sutra” is chanted by Mahayana practitioners all over the world. You could do it at home to start your meditation. Its full title is “The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge.” ...continue
no responses - Posted 10.23.16
por Russell Rodgers Al igual que los otros cantos de longevidad, este evoca por completo el poder de la devoción. Para los gurús auténticos, la devoción de los estudiantes es lo que les prolonga la vida. Puesto que son boddhisattvas, existen para servir y, ya que no ...continue
no responses - Posted 10.22.16
por Russell Rodgers Que por la confianza del áureo Sol del Gran Este, florezca el jardín de lotos de la sabiduría del Rigden. Que se disipe la oscura ignorancia de los seres sensibles. Gocen de profunda y brillante gloria todos los seres. En general, dedicar el mérito nos hace prestar atención ...continue
2 responses - Posted 10.21.16
We continue exploring the Shambhala chants with a look at the Kagyu lineage supplication by Russell Rodgers Kagyu Monlam, The Kagyu lineage is one of the three main Tibetan lineages that form the basis of Shambhala Buddhism. Each of these lineages contributed a unique approach to enlightenment. The particular ...continue
3 responses - Posted 10.19.16
Our series on the Shambhala chants continues, with the traditional supplication to Padmasambhava by Russell Rodgers HUM In the northwest of the land of Uddiyana, On a blooming lotus flower, You have attained supreme, wondrous siddhi. You are renowned as Padmakara, Surrounded by your retinue of many dakinis. ...continue
4 responses - Posted 10.17.16
Waking up to basic goodness through the practice of wakeful kindness in everyday life by Stuart Rice My name is Stuart, and I have a confession: I’m a very messy person. And I can also confess that it was my messiness that, in a Shambhala sense, provided an ...continue