Thursday
Father as Ancestor
In this reposted article from 2011, Bill Scheffel reflects on both the passing of his father and the Shambhala teachings of Chogyam Trungpa (whom Bill refers to as “Lord Mukpo”, his family name and the name he often used when teaching Shambhala Training). This essay and collection of poems was inspired by the anniversary of his father’s death, extended periods of time Bill spent in Cambodia between 2004 and 2007, and his connection with Trungpa Rinpoche. It is part contemplation, part travel writing, and also an homage to lineage.
Originally published on The Drala Principle, all photos are courtesy of Bill Scheffel.
Our sangha brother Bill passed away in July of this year in Boulder, Colorado. We are so grateful to be able to appreciate this beautiful article.
Chogyam Trungpa, or Lord Mukpo, is my spiritual father or root teacher. My own father, William S. Scheffel, died exactly one year ago, on August 2nd. In the memory and living presence of both of my fathers, I offer the following prose poems, poems I wrote in three different countries and in three different years. The pieces are not about my fathers per se, but about their imprint, their echo, their request.
Faith
Unconditional faith is not something to believe in but something to know. It is not forcing myself to believe but encountering something believable, something undeniable, something innate. The encounter itself is intangible, a substance I cannot collect, bring home, or experiment on. I cannot prove its existence or even that it happened. Faith is packaged intangibility as terrain, an invisible homeland we emerged from, or once crossed over, or slept on for a night – that continues to exist as a spiritual echo or postcard.
Continue…
Entries filed under Arts and Poetry
The Whole Act of Perceiving
“The realm of perception is limitless, so limitless that perception itself is primordial, unthinkable, beyond thought. . . . Perception here is not just what you perceive but the whole act of perceiving—the interaction between consciousness, the sense organs, and the sense fields, or the objects ... continuePosted April 4, 2018 by
Travels in Tibet – HIGHLIGHT
A book excerpt from My Search in Tibet for the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel by Peter Mt. Shasta As the monks chanted over and over I joined in. Spiritual energy filled my mind and body. As my eyes were closing, the naljorpa who had given me the slip earlier suddenly ... continuePosted March 11, 2018 by CGH
Natural Flowers 3 – HIGHLIGHT
Part three of a three-part series exploring the broader meanings of ikebana by Marcia Shibata, with guest editor Crystal Gandrud When Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche discovered ikebana, he immediately perceived the profound potential of this discipline that can teach people about the five elements, natural hierarchy, and constant flow and ... continuePosted March 5, 2018 by CGH
Natural Flowers 2 – HIGHLIGHT
Part two of a three-part series exploring the broader meanings of ikebana by Marcia Shibata, with guest editor Crystal Gandrud Many westerners shy from, even reject, the idea of hierarchy. It is irritating and threatening because the human world has seen so many examples of destructive human hierarchal leadership ... continuePosted March 3, 2018 by CGH
Natural Flowers – HIGHLIGHT
Part one of a three-part series exploring the broader meanings of ikebana by Marcia Shibata, with guest editor Crystal Gandrud Sometimes I’m asked why Shambhala Centers have Asian style flower arrangements. After all, we are in the west, right? We could make western arrangements much faster. We could copy ... continuePosted March 1, 2018 by CGH
Shambhala Day Poetry Entries – HIGHLIGHT
Full submissions for the 2018 Shambhala Day Poetry Contest In these complicated days, we’ve decided to publish all of the poems submitted to this year’s Shambhala Day Poetry Contest. Click here to see the winning poem and the three runners-up Winning Entry and Runners Up Below are the other ... continuePosted February 23, 2018 by
Loyalty and Joy – HIGHLIGHT
2018 Shambhala Day Poetry Contest, Winner and Runners Up We were honored to coordinate the annual Shambhala Day Poetry contest again in this, the year of the Earth Dog. As in years past, we enjoyed entries from the United States, Canada, and several European countries. The “prompt” for ... continuePosted February 17, 2018 by
Shambhala Day Poetry Contest Call for Entries 2018 – HIGHLIGHT
We are delighted to announce the Annual Shambhala Day Poetry Contest for 2018. The theme of this year’s poetry contest is “Loyalty and Joy.” As in past years, the editors of Poetry Space will select one winning poem to be read aloud as part of the Sakyong’s ... continuePosted January 18, 2018 by
The Snow Man – HIGHLIGHT
by Wallace Stevens One must have a mind of winter To regard the frost and the boughs Of the pine-trees crusted with snow; And have been cold a long time To behold the junipers shagged with ice, The spruces rough in the distant glitter Of the January sun; and not to think Of any ... continuePosted December 31, 2017 by CGH
Poetry Space, Late Fall 2017 – HIGHLIGHT
Winter is upon us across the North country. What better time to settle into some new work. With gratitude for all who support our modest efforts here at Poetry Space… continuePosted December 1, 2017 by
The Sweeper, A Buddhist Tale – HIGHLIGHT
Writing a dharma story for children by Becky Hazell Writing about dharma for children can be tricky. The story can’t be too simplistic or moralistic because it won’t engage a child, but you also want to offer something meaningful. I remember a sweet book someone gave us when ... continuePosted October 25, 2017 by CGH
Finding Vastness – HIGHLIGHT
Joining painting, photography, and meditation by Karen Iglehart Some of you have seen my paintings at Karme Choling and know of me as a painter. Many of you reading this may know me through Shambhala programs. I would like to share the photographic aspect of my artistic endeavors. As ... continuePosted October 13, 2017 by CGH
Visiting Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
A five-act comedy that takes us to the court of the Rigden by Walker Blaine A year ago in the spring, I had the most surprising thought: I could write a five-act Shambhala comedy. It was as though a light physically turned on in my head, and within ... continuePosted September 14, 2017 by CGH
Poetry Space- Short Pieces of Late Summer – HIGHLIGHT
It’s Summer, when our submissions slow and our massive volunteer staff, Shambhalians all, head off on retreat. For those who might have wondered if we’d ever publish again (or for that matter, respond to a submission…) our apologies! In any case, we’re delighted to offer three ... continuePosted August 19, 2017 by
Without Beginning or End, Part 3 – HIGHLIGHT
A multi-part series on the trans-temporal art of Yeachin Tsai by Robert R. Shane The Heart Sutra, 2016, sumi ink on Chinese rice paper, 18×30 in V. The Time of Compassion This profound interconnection of all things is expressed in the Buddhist notion of dependent origination (pratīyasamutpāda). This thesis that ... continuePosted July 30, 2017 by CGH
RSS feed for the Arts and Poetry category
View all posts from authors in Arts and Poetry: Alexandra_Kalinine davidbrown Philip_Karl Ellen_Pearlman Dan_Glenn cghenderson carolecrea Jeffrey_Fink charizzzard Claire_Crevey AnnicaCrouse kateyschultz Karen_Smith
Sites with content in this category: https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ kalapacouncil.shambhalatimes.org https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ boston.shambhalatimes.org https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/ https://shambhalatimes.org/
