Monday
Ubuntu: “I had nothing but I believed in the power of my people.”
Photo Credit NaomiW25 on Wikimedia Commons
By Hans Kaufmann
Este artículo ha sido traducido al español aqui.
When I worked with children in the Shambhala Center in Vienna, stories were always an important and requested part of our meetings. During the last years they were around 10 and they manifested vivid inquisitiveness and interest in foreign countries and what happened in the greater world in general. I was always looking for stories, which might be interesting for them. Once I found the story of Kennedy Odede and his SHOFCO (“Shining hope for communities”) project in Kibera, a big slum in Nairobi (described in A path appears, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn). This was the story, the kids were most impressed of – and I think it’s not only a story for kids.
One question, which was amazing for them was: how could a human being who had grown up in an degraded environment, full of violence and drug abuse, who suffered from a lack of basic human needs such as food, healthcare and education, rise to become a powerful, compassionate and humorous leader and facilitating sustainable community change towards a more healthy, peaceful and dignified society? The children felt that to be heroic and almost incredible. It might as well read incredible for many of us, used to and bombarded every day by so many bad news. But there are obviously still good news in this world and this story is definitely one of them. As Shambhalians you might easily recognize: it is a story about basic goodness, confidence and principles of enlightened society, like a lotus, naturally emerging out of the mud. Continue…
Entries filed under Community Articles
Fostering Indoor Air Quality, with Shambhala Teachings and Practice – HIGHLIGHT
By Vinicius Amano on Unsplash By “Jackie Writing Jackie” The Dalai Lama once stated that there are two major reasons leading to the current environmental crisis: ignorance, and a lack of courage to take action to solve problems. The human connection to nature is a vital part of Shambhala Buddhism ... continuePosted February 2, 2020 by alexvangils
Celebrating Your Wedding Anniversary with Shambhala Ideas and Practice – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash By “Jackie Writing Jackie” The idea of loving one’s romantic partner and celebrating their individuality can be an important component of a Shambhala life, and connected to what Yale Professor Dr. Nicholas Christakis calls the ‘social suite’. These two considerations work well together, ... continuePosted January 7, 2020 by alexvangils
Love from Auschwitz: A Bearing-Witness Retreat with the Zen Peacemakers – HIGHLIGHT
By Sophie Leger What an amazing experience this Bearing-Witness Retreat with the Zen Peacemakers turned out to be: Ninety participants from many different countries and religious backgrounds, speaking different languages – people from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Canada, US, Israel, Brazil, Columbia, Belgium, England. Some ... continuePosted December 30, 2019 by alexvangils
Translating For Burma
Alinsek IR working in exile “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” — The Buddha “There is no religion higher than the Truth.” — H Hahn Blavatsky “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness” — Chinese Proverb by Larry Steele I have a ... continuePosted December 14, 2019 by alexvangils
Outer, Inner and Secret Levels Of Shambhala Center Design – HIGHLIGHT
Community Room in the Los Angeles Shambhala Center By Shastri Russell Rodgers A few years ago, the Kootenay Shambhala Centre in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, purchased a building. Because we had to acquire the services of a non-sangha architect for the renovations, it seemed like a good idea ... continuePosted December 6, 2019 by alexvangils
Creating A Safe And Serene Home Environment For Children – HIGHLIGHT
By “Jackie Writing Jackie” Every year in the United States, over three and a half million children experience injuries that commonly occur in homes. The teachings of Shambhala inspire compassionate care, and we all want to create a space for our children where they are safe to grow ... continuePosted November 29, 2019 by alexvangils
Good Society Part II: Feeling the Goodness – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash The second part of a two-part series by Shastri Russell Rodgers. For part one, click here. In Part I of this two-part essay, we looked at the genetics behind the universal human impulse to create good society. The logic was this: everywhere ... continuePosted November 15, 2019 by alexvangils
Good Society: Science, Basic Goodness, Laws and Joy – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by Robert V. Ruggiero on Unsplash The first part of a two-part series by Shastri Russell Rodgers All over the world, wherever there are humans, there are societies. We have evolved different languages, customs, and even skin colors, but always, there is society. Society has enabled us ... continuePosted November 8, 2019 by alexvangils
Buddha’s Teachings Regarding Cleanliness in the Home – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash By “Jackie Writing Jackie” Mental health professionals often encourage their patients to keep their homes clean and tidy. Cluttered, dirty interiors can interfere with mental health and wellbeing and hamper the peaceful, mindful state that is encouraged by the Shambhala way of life. One of ... continuePosted October 24, 2019 by alexvangils
Human Drala – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash By Russell Rodgers Sometimes one encounters people or places that cut through one’s habitual chain of thoughts. The Tibetan word for that is “drala”, which means “above the enemy”. In this case the enemy is our cocoon of gossipy thoughts that keeps ... continuePosted October 17, 2019 by alexvangils
The European sangha meets during its first ‘European Forum’ – HIGHLIGHT
The European sangha is composed of different regions with their own cultures and languages. The establishing of these regions and their collaboration takes time and is in process for years. Some regions exist for more than 20 years. Some others are relatively new. The European Regional ... continuePosted October 9, 2019 by alexvangils
Meditation Practice to Help You Through Dental Treatment – HIGHLIGHT
By “Jackie Writing Jackie” Anxiety about dental treatment and fear of the dentist affects 16% of people. For many, it causes so much worry that they avoid going for a checkup, or getting work done when they really need to. In the long term, this can be bad for ... continuePosted October 2, 2019 by alexvangils
Cutting Through Spiritual Puritanism – HIGHLIGHT
Illustration by Alicia Brown written by Gabe Dayley In the West it is difficult for the Dharma to take root. The soil is not fertile. The good and evil, fire and brimstone logic of puritanism has dried the ground and permeated our cultural and political institutions.1 Western Buddhists often ... continuePosted September 23, 2019 by alexvangils
Sitting For the Climate: From the Touching the Earth Collective (part 1) – HIGHLIGHT
This invitation comes from the Touching the Earth Collective, a group of Shambhala environmentalists. Part 2 will include photos and stories from this demonstration. Dear sangha, dear meditators, We would like to invite you and ask for your support during a full day meditation session on Rudolfplatz, that ... continuePosted September 18, 2019 by alexvangils
Windhorse in the Andes – HIGHLIGHT
Cajas National Park with alpacas Windhorse in the Andes – Vacation & Meditation in Ecuador, January 2020 Shambhala Cuenca Meditation Group invites you to visit us in Cuenca, Ecuador. Meditate and study as we offer Shambhala Studies Level 1 on January 11 & 12 and Levels 2 & 3 ... continuePosted September 3, 2019 by alexvangils
RSS feed for the Community Articles category
View all posts from authors in Community Articles: alexvangils John_Smith Travis_May Shambhala_Portland_1 AnnicaCrouse fredvanwelsem Kathryn_Rile Jennifer_Holder Claire_Crevey Sueschubel Thacher richxyz
