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
Wealth of Generosity – HIGHLIGHT
by Shastri Matthew Lyon Generosity is directly related to a feeling of abundance and confidence in our lives. On an inner level, in meditation practice, we rest the mind in the ground of basic goodness, the primordial confidence in our heart, our true nature. We can notice ... continuePosted September 10, 2018 by CGH
Fear, Anger, and Dignity – HIGHLIGHT
Reflections on the quality of dignity, especially in times of speed and aggression by Susan Firer I don’t think it would be a shock to anyone reading this, even anyone not reading this for that matter, that we are in a time of great fear and aggression. This ... continuePosted August 25, 2018 by CGH
The Three S’s – HIGHLIGHT
An opportunity to explore these three: Stillness, Silence, and Spaciousness by Brooke Binstock When the three of us (Kelly Lindsey, Marissa Knox and I) got together to talk about what to center our August retreat at Shambhala Mountain Center around, we easily settled on the theme of Stillness, Silence, ... continuePosted August 15, 2018 by CGH
The Truth of Interdependence – HIGHLIGHT
Rev. angel Kyodo williams: Why Your Liberation is Bound Up With Mine from “Meditation in the City,” the New York Shambhala Center podcast In the face of today’s political and social unrest, is it possible to create a wise, kind, and strong human society? Rev. angel Kyodo williams speaks ... continuePosted June 30, 2018 by CGH
Visit the Metta Sutta – HIGHLIGHT
Teachings on loving kindness and compassionate living by Larry Steele The Metta Sutta, the Buddha’s discourse on loving kindness, is a key teaching in the Pali Canon. It is chanted by Theravadan monks throughout the Asian southeast. During my recent visit to Myanmar, the social-activist monks Ashin Issariya and ... continuePosted June 14, 2018 by CGH
Suffering, Impermanence, Life – HIGHLIGHT
Reflecting on ways to respond to the many changes we inevitably experience by Susan Firer The world at large and our own personal worlds are always in transition. We can accept this truth or we can wish it were different – either way, the nature of reality is ... continuePosted May 17, 2018 by CGH
Warriorship in the World – HIGHLIGHT
Thoughts about the three gates (body, speech and mind), motivation, and warriorship by Susan Firer The Shambhala vision speaks of the inherent goodness and the innate wakefulness of human beings. The Shambhala teachings and our practices have the intention and power to open the door to compassionate care ... continuePosted May 5, 2018 by CGH
On Retreat – HIGHLIGHT
Reflections on the pleasures and value of retreat practice by Susan Firer Winter is such a beautiful time of year, especially in the country where the snow can stay white much longer than it can in the city. Winter is also a good time to slow down and ... continuePosted March 30, 2018 by CGH
Discurso del día de Shambhala
Sákyong, Mipham Rimpoche Discurso del día de Shambhala Centro de meditación Shambhala de Boulder 16 de febrero 2018 El Kongma Sákyong, Mipham Rimpoche: ¡Muy buenos días a todos! Tienen un hermoso aspecto, maravilloso… Quiero dar la bienvenida a todos los que se unen a nosotros en el mundo entero y en ... continuePosted March 5, 2018 by CGH
Shambhala Day Talks – HIGHLIGHT
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s Shambhala Day Address, and a greeting from the Sakyong Wangmo Boulder Shambhala Meditation Center, February 16, 2018 The Kongma Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche: Very good morning, everyone! You are looking beautiful, marvelous. I would like to welcome everyone joining us worldwide to this Shambhala Day. I know this is being ... continuePosted February 20, 2018 by CGH
The Community Will Thrive – HIGHLIGHT
Shambhala Day messages from the Sakyong and the Sakyong Wangmo “Mistakes happen because of the nature of humanity. If we create a community that can work with mistakes, and have enough depth to deal with those challenges, then the community will thrive. As challenges arise, we will ... continuePosted February 19, 2018 by CGH
Intention and Motivation – HIGHLIGHT
The second of two excerpts from An Ocean of Blessings, a book of teachings by Penor Rinpoche; this one emphasizes the practice of Dharma We already possess enlightened mind, buddha nature; it has been there from the very beginning, but we cannot see it because of our ... continuePosted January 4, 2018 by CGH
Wisdom of Staying in the Moment – HIGHLIGHT
Reflections on our tendency to escape whatever is actually happening, right now by Susan Firer The Wisdom of No Escape was the first Dharma book I read. It was written by Pema Chödrön, an American Buddhist Nun and Amazon has this to say as a summary of the ... continuePosted December 29, 2017 by CGH
Applying the Teachings – HIGHLIGHT
The first of two excerpts from An Ocean of Blessings, a book of teachings by Penor Rinpoche; this one emphasizes putting the Dharma into practice The most important thing is to have faith and trust in the Buddha’s words. The Buddha’s teachings were not taught to deceive ... continuePosted December 5, 2017 by CGH
Bravery and Basic Goodness – HIGHLIGHT
An excerpt from the book Basic Sobriety: Shambhala Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Eric Rainbeau Sitting with ourselves is the beginning of learning bravery, of learning to be with ourselves and the world without deception. This is the same bravery as learning to be in the world ... continuePosted November 29, 2017 by CGH
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