Home     Contact Us         Log in

Community Articles - Category Archive

Mar 21
Thursday

Gratitude for Human Resource

Filed under Community Articles, Editorial Staff

An Excerpt from the March 2024 Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective Newsletter

by Irene Woodard

There is a group of us in the Collective studying Joanna Macy’s Active Hope. And the start of her spiral is gratitude.

And so this is coming from that place, where someone has been so important to the Collective, that it needs a display of gratitude that goes beyond the customary or even special thanks.

I am speaking of the human resource, named Richard Peisinger.

Richard said yes when asked to be on the inaugural Steering Committee of the Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective. So, in October 2018 he was one of the Co-Founders of the Collective.

He quickly established himself as our facilitator of the weekly meetings. In order to get the idea of the Collective off the ground, or grounded so to speak, we met weekly and 5 plus years down the road we have continued to meet 3 of 4 weeks a month. He created the agendas and led the meetings.

He was instrumental in creating the Mission Vision and Values Statement the Collective has etched in its inner and outer expressions. He insisted we have a pin, and so we do. He provided a sounding board for editing the Newsletter. He kept a steady beat of the drum of discipline reminding us of prior commitments, budgets, and building membership. He maintained lists.

But most of all, for me anyway, he became my friend. He was sturdy to my wispy dreamy…

He was an ear that was always there. And through time, I softened to his bristle, and appreciated his deep voice…and what I slowly recognized as an important voice.

The Collective must appreciate this human resource. Richard Peisinger. He served on the Steering Committee for 5 and a half years, and is now stepping away from the post. The Collective is surely what it is today due to his passion and exertion for the sacred earth…

All the thanks sent in were read out loud, on the Feb 17th Collective New Year Meeting.

This sonnet was written for the occasion…

On the Steering Committee for five years

You brought order to the environment

You lead our meetings with such precision

You helped create values, mission vision

The Newsletter cemented our friendship

Our minds let loose on our monthly zoom calls

Crack the whip on the hourly calls you ruled

And kept to sixty minutes, we were schooled

Smiling Dorje Dradul above your head

Your orders from Makkyi your daily bread

A voice so deep, may be scary to some

But there is a joke, you too can be fun!

Thank you Richard, you never let me down

Master of all agendas you wear the crown!

LOVE

Irene

***

To read the full March 2024 Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective Newsletter please click here.

Entries filed under Community Articles


Right Livelihood

Right Livelihood – HIGHLIGHT

Shambhalians taking mindfulness to work by Andrea D’Asaro In Buddhist terms, “right livelihood” is a traditional teaching about living a dignified life and working in an ethical way. The Shambhala path inspired one Seattle member to consider this teaching, leading to a transformation in interactions at work, as ... continue
Posted May 7, 2018 by CGH
The Possibilities of Butterfly

The Possibilities of Butterfly – HIGHLIGHT

Appreciating a Level II for teens recently taught by Shastri Nick Kranz at Karmê Chöling by Anne-Marie Keppel Often adults are afraid of teens. I get it. Teens can move in tight omnivorous packs, with untamed hormones and swift tongues that may whip out an uncomfortable truth or ... continue
Posted April 17, 2018 by CGH
Shambhala's Bank

Shambhala’s Bank – HIGHLIGHT

An interview that tells us what Shambhalians really ought to know about the Shambhala Credit Union with Bob Sutherland, CEO Times:  What is the Shambhala Credit Union? Bob:  We are a fully functioning financial institution whose mission is to serve people in the Shambhala community. Times: How does that work, and ... continue
Posted April 15, 2018 by CGH
At Home in Oregon

At Home in Oregon – HIGHLIGHT

Open Sky Shambhala Group finds a new home by Mia Coltrane Members of the Open Sky Shambhala group in Eugene, Oregon are very happy to announce that our center has moved to a new location. We completed our auspiciously-timed move in early February, just prior to Shambhala Day. Open ... continue
Posted March 27, 2018 by CGH
Gardening at Dechen Chöling

Gardening at Dechen Chöling – HIGHLIGHT

Gardening as a path to enlightened society, through sustainability practices by Guy Mosel For Simon Bertin, Head of Garden at Dechen Chöling, gardening is about more than just growing food – it’s a crucial element of an enlightened society. “Gardens should be places of contemplation,” Simon says. “They should ... continue
Posted March 25, 2018 by CGH
Community Update

Community Update – HIGHLIGHT

From the Kalapa Council of Shambhala Dear Community – You may have seen the recent media coverage in The Guardian and Newsweek about the Kalapa Council’s February 12 letter to the community regarding harm and abuse. The Kalapa Council was aware that these articles would be published, and would like ... continue
Posted March 9, 2018 by CGH
Shambhala Is A Culture

Shambhala Is A Culture – HIGHLIGHT

Contemplating culture and decorum in Chicago by Akiba Barberousse Throughout Shambhala, a member of the leadership team at every center worldwide holds the position of Delegate to the Office of Culture & Decorum. Generally, this person is appointed by the director of the international office via nomination from ... continue
Posted February 14, 2018 by CGH
Family Overnight

Family Overnight – HIGHLIGHT

  Imagery from a beautiful trip to Dash Point by Anisha Prasad I felt energized as I took in a sip of the crisp winter air and looked up at the grey skies. What a delight to follow children gaily skipping along a forested trail during an overnight outing ... continue
Posted February 11, 2018 by CGH
Confidence, Inspiration, Vulnerability

Confidence, Inspiration, Vulnerability – HIGHLIGHT

Reflections from the leadership program “Magnetizing Enlightened Society” by Larry Steele Sunlight pouring through the windows lights the bamboo floor of Seattle Shambhala Center shrine room. Green leaves shimmer with life outside. And, of course, it is raining. Thirty-five straight-backed meditators breathe out, flowing with Shastri Trinley Busby’s guided ... continue
Posted February 9, 2018 by CGH
Women's March Los Angeles

Women’s March Los Angeles – HIGHLIGHT

Shambhalians participate in the LA Women’s March, offering a meditation flash mob to accompany the main event by Jason Elias On Saturday, January 20, 2018,  hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the Women’s March in downtown Los Angeles (local news station KTLA estimated participation at 400,000). ... continue
Posted February 1, 2018 by CGH
Moment to Moment

Moment to Moment – HIGHLIGHT

A few thoughts that pop to mind by Susan Firer I’m experiencing writer’s block again. I was on a roll with easy flowing topics the last couple of months, but not so right now. I think I may just write briefly about ideas that pop into my mind…like ... continue
Posted January 30, 2018 by CGH
Protecting the Space

Protecting the Space – HIGHLIGHT

Reflections on the role and purpose of the Dorje Kasung by Larry Steele John Gilvar, commander of Seattle Shambhala’s Dorje Kasung, recently was telling me about the Container Principle. It’s the Buddhist idea that people meditating together naturally create a zone of heightened awareness: a container. As he talked, ... continue
Posted January 28, 2018 by CGH
New Year Limbo

New Year Limbo – HIGHLIGHT

Preparing for the Tibetan New Year by Max Roberts-Zirker This time of year is a sort of ‘new year limbo’ for Shambhalians, having just started a new Gregorian calendar year while still wrapping up the Tibetan year of the Fire Bird. Instead of trying to think of which ... continue
Posted January 26, 2018 by CGH
Heartfelt Practice of Generosity

Heartfelt Practice of Generosity – HIGHLIGHT

Shambhala Trust provides funds for four projects at Fall 2017 meeting by Gregory Lubkin On the weekend of December 1-3, 2017, the Shambhala Trust held its semi-annual meeting at the Los Angeles home of Trust member Gregory Lubkin.  During the weekend, the Trust invited some of the Southern California ... continue
Posted January 24, 2018 by CGH
Teen Retreat in Winter

Teen Retreat in Winter – HIGHLIGHT

Teens gather for practice and conversation in the depths of a cold and snowy Vermont winter by Anne-Marie Keppel Through guidance, inquiry and activities built from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s new book, The Lost Art of Good Conversation, the Winter Teen Retreat at Karmé Chöling was an incredibly rich program. Seventeen ... continue
Posted January 12, 2018 by CGH

RSS feed for the Community Articles category

View all posts from authors in Community Articles: Jillian_Johnson



Website Development by Blue Mandala using Wordpress MU.
All content and source Copyright © 1994-2024. Shambhala International (Vajradhatu), Shambhala, Shambhala Meditation Center, Shambhala Training, Shambhala Center and Way of Shambhala are registered service marks of Shambhala USA
Privacy Policy
Translate »