Friday
Good Society Part II: Feeling the Goodness
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 there are humans, we form society. Therefore, it must be in our genes. The first part of this essay was basically a book review of Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, by Nicholas Christakis, a Yale professor.
Dr. Christakis proposes that encoded in our genes is a “social suite” that is common to all societies that are able to survive the test of time and circumstance. This “suite” includes : good leadership (and respect for that leadership), cooperation, learning from each other, befriending others, and valuing each person’s individuality. The genes encode possibilities: we make conscious choices as to whether to take advantage of these possibilities.
Buddhist practices that focus on kindness help to bring it to conscious awareness. Often, kindness practices focus on the heart. Sometimes, in visualization practices, there is a radiating sun, moon or seed syllable placed there. Here, radiation is a metaphor for kindness, and the visualization gives the mind something to focus on. The “Sadhana of Kindness” which is being practiced in many Shambhala Centres, has this basic structure. The post-meditation experience of this sadhana inspired me to write this essay. Continue…
Entries filed under Dharma Teachings
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
The Dharma Talk: Right Speech for Burma
INTRODUCTION: The Venerable Ashin Issariya is one of the few Burmese Buddhist monks speaking out against extremism and hate speech in his country. From his experience as a pro-democracy leader during the 2007 Saffron Revolution, Sayadaw views the current violence in Burma as an intentional obscuration ... continuePosted June 11, 2019 by alexvangils
Quel avenir pour le trésor de Shambhala ?
par l’Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown (Paru sur le site de Shambhala Times Community News Magazine) En ces temps de profond bouleversement, alors que nous nous efforçons de restructurer l’ensemble de notre communauté et de notre pratique, j’aimerais apporter une perspective historique à nos réflexions. Il ne s’agit certainement pas ... continuePosted March 19, 2019 by alexvangils
Sopesar el futuro del tesoro de Shambhala
En estos días desoladores en que estamos comprometidos a rediseñar toda la estructura de nuestra comunidad y de la práctica, quería añadir un elemento que quizá proporcione una perspectiva histórica a nuestras consideraciones. Esto no significa de ninguna manera dictar lo que decidamos hacer, porque esos ... continuePosted March 13, 2019 by luz_rodriguez
Considering the Future of the Treasure of Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
Este artículo ha sido traducido al español aqui. Pour lire cet article en français, cliquez ici. In these heartbreaking days, while we are committed to redesign the entire structure of our community and practice, I wanted to add an element that may provide some historical perspective for our ... continuePosted March 12, 2019 by alexvangils
Shambhala Day 2019 Broadcast – HIGHLIGHT
Dear Shambhala Community, Cheerful Year of the Earth Boar! Please enjoy this recording of our 2019 Shambhala Day Broadcast. continuePosted February 15, 2019 by alexvangils
What is Dathun? – HIGHLIGHT
by Dan Hessey Dathun is an important milestone in the path of the Shambhala warrior, and an invaluable experience for anyone interested in fundamentally making friends with who and what they are. For most people, it is the first extended program they attend that focuses mainly on ... continuePosted December 27, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
Human Drala – HIGHLIGHT
“Rowga” COLUMN: Dharma Teachings by Russell Rodgers, Nelson, B.C. 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 us ... continuePosted December 18, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
Yeshe Tsogyal: Woman and Feminine Principle – HIGHLIGHT
Yeshe Tsogyal banner, which now hangs in many of our shrinerooms. By Rita Gross and Acharya Judith Simmer Brown Yeshe Tsogyal has long been a key figure in the Nyingma lineage, important to the Vidyadhara and the Sakyong. In the “Supplication to the Shambhala Lineage,” she is paired ... continuePosted December 16, 2018 by
Seeing Depression – HIGHLIGHT
In this article, Acharya Michael Greenleaf dives fearlessly into the solidity of depression and offers insight into causes, describes what is happening in our minds, and shows how meditation practice can lead to the strength and composure of true tenderness Alone It’s hard to count on ... continuePosted December 13, 2018 by
Raising Our Children, Sharing Our World – HIGHLIGHT
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche holding Gesar Mukpo. Photo by James Gritz. By the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche Exclusive to the Shambhala Times, courtesy of Lady Diana Mukpo I have been the father of my own personal, physical children. I have also been the psychological father of many semi-grownup children, and ... continuePosted November 25, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
Queer Dharma: The Truth of Being Queer – HIGHLIGHT
Acharya Eve Rosenthal COLUMN: Dharma Teachings by Acharya Eve Rosenthal article courtesy of Shambhala Mountain Center What is queer dharma? There are people who are queer and there is dharma, but what is queer dharma? First of all, a person who is queer identifies as someone with a sexual orientation ... continuePosted November 15, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
Conflict in Enlightened Society – HIGHLIGHT
cherry trees along the Charles River, by Shastri Jennifer Woodhull Cape Town, South Africa Among those of us committed to building an enlightened society, there is a widespread perception that our failure to “fix” the personal conflicts that arise in our communities somehow takes us in the opposite direction ... continuePosted November 8, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
Uncommon Advice to Heal a Broken Heart – HIGHLIGHT
guest article by Susan Piver A few years ago, I traveled across the country giving talks based on my book, The Wisdom of a Broken Heart. I drove from Boston to Victoria, B.C. and back, giving talk after talk, hearing story after story, meeting person after heartbroken ... continuePosted October 21, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
The Magic of Lhasang – HIGHLIGHT
Lhasang with the Sakyong, Sakyong Wangmo and His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. COLUMN: Dharma Teachings by Acharya Daniel Hessey and Walker Blaine “When we do a lhasang to bring down the magic energy of enlightenment and drala, the smoke of the lhasang is said to purify those obstacles that ... continuePosted October 9, 2018 by alexandra_kalinine
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