Jul 07
Friday
Gampo Abbey
Summer Newsletter
The last few months have brought vivid reminders of impermanence. Our beloved Abbot, Kyajbe Thrangu Rinpoche, has left this life. It was announced by his monastery in Nepal, that he passed into Parinirvana on June 4, 2023. Around the world there were passionate ceremonies to wish him well on his passage. As is traditional we now include a daily chant which supplicates for his swift return.
It is also a time of renewal and new growth, especially in the wild landscape of Cape Breton, Unama’ki in the Mi’kmaw language. You may know about the dangerous wildfires that forced many families from their homes in Nova Scotia. A full week of rain and effort from responders changed the immediate danger of wildfires. But approximately 150 families have lost their homes in Nova Scotia.
With the long weekend upon us, it’s a beautiful time to visit the grounds of Gampo Abbey. The buildings remain closed to the public, but we welcome visitors to walk the land, circumambulate the Stupa of Enlightenment, and take in the ruggedness and drala, the inherent spirits, of the environment. The whales and seals have been very active lately and you can see them right in front of the Abbey.
-Trinkar Ötso, Director, and the team at Gampo Abbey
Read Gampo Abbey’s full Summer newsletter here.
Author Archive
no responses - Posted 06.29.23
written by James K. Rowe This is an excerpt of an essay originally published on December 16, 2020 in The Arrow: A Journal of Wakeful Society, Culture & Politics. The full essay is linked below. “Terror cannot be remembered… Yet, what the memory repudiates controls the human being. What one does ...continue
no responses - Posted 06.16.23
written by Nalika Gajaweera This is an excerpt of an essay originally published on May 13, 2021 in The Arrow: A Journal of Wakeful Society, Culture & Politics. The full essay is linked below. “I want to be one of the nicest human beings that this earth has seen,” ...continue
no responses - Posted 06.06.23
By Laurence Corman When I attended my first AA meeting, I was left a little bewildered when I was told that I did not have an alcohol problem because, despite my daily drinking, I was not experiencing blackouts and was able to enjoy healthy family relationships and ...continue
no responses - Posted 05.23.23
Interview with John McQuade On June 3, 2023, John McQuade will begin the five-session summer course Contemplative Photography and Liberation: The Outer and Inner Teachings with Shambhala Online. Participants of all levels will take a deep dive into the world of Miksang Contemplative photography exploring the liberation aspects of ...continue
no responses - Posted 05.17.23
By Holly Gayley Holly Gayley discusses the power of Padmasambhava’s foremost disciple and consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, and the life of one of her modern emanations. Yeshe Tsogyal is the preeminent lady of Tibetan Buddhism. While most—if not all—of what we know about her life is highly mythologized, she ...continue
no responses - Posted 05.12.23
Mary Lang An Excerpt from the Touching the Earth Collective Mai Newsletter Every month, we offer a space for one of the Collective’s members or friendsto share their work, art, or passion… Artist Statement My photographs are visual records of a sentient being, standing on the earth, expressions of grief ...continue
no responses - Posted 05.02.23
Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective By Paul T. Wegner What the teachings offer to overcome our environmental damage. People ask: What does it say in the Buddhist teachings about our actions and climate change? In the teachings of the Hinayana we are taught not to cause harm. The path ...continue
no responses - Posted 04.25.23
A Shambhala Blog Post Denise Blanc, MA teaches, coaches, and writes at the intersection of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and conflict transformation. Her new book is Riverlogic: Tools to Transform Resistance and Create Flow in all of our Relationships. In this interview, Denise discusses how she drew inspiration from Pema Chödrön, ...continue
1 response - Posted 04.18.23
Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective Every month, we offer a space for one of the Collective’s members or friends to share their work, art, or passion… Artist Statement The elements of earth, water and fire are intrinsic when working with ceramic materials. Clay is a wonderful, luscious, malleable, strong ...continue
no responses - Posted 04.07.23
Spring Newsletter Ice in Yarne 2023 The Abbey community has recently emerged from another Yarne retreat. This monastic retreat, which dates back to the time of the Buddha, is one of the essential elements of a monastic community. “Yarne” means the rains retreat…generally observed in the summer months ...continue
no responses - Posted 03.21.23
By John McQuade “ When the warrior-students experience an environment where the dralas are present , where reality is present, where the possibilities of sanity are always there they can appreciate the mountains, the clouds, sky, sunshine, trees, flowers, brooks…intensely bright red and blue, brilliant white and ...continue
no responses - Posted 03.14.23
By David Takahashi The story of Buddha’s enlightenment goes like this. Tired of the same kind of search you’re on, he sat down under a tree, and he didn’t get up. He sat there, night and day, until he found the meaning of life. In the early ...continue
no responses - Posted 03.07.23
A Touching the Earth Collective Book Review by Gregory Webster Dougald Hine has a knack for timely interventions. In 2009 he collaborated with Paul Kingsnorth to write Uncivilisation, the manifesto that launched the Dark Mountain Project – soon to be described by the New York Times as ...continue
no responses - Posted 02.27.23
This year, Shambhala Day was on February 21. Centres, Groups, and Members joined from around the world to share in a moving and joyful live broadcast. The theme for the Shambhala Day 2023: Year of The Water Rabbit Live Broadcast was “Reflecting on the Practice of ...continue