Tuesday
Warrior in World
Sacred Path of the Warrior Presented at Youth Conference
Rev. Alexander Garbera, a member of the Pioneer Valley Shambhala Meditation Center, presented concepts from Chögyam Trungpa’s Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior at True Colors SOGIEcon (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) last March.
The workshop was crafted to help build attendees’ resilience to weather the onslaught of anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, policies, and actions leaving youth and parents bewildered, afraid, and frustrated by introducing Trungpa’s concepts of bravery, courage, and fearlessness — as well as using Windhorse and the vision of the Great Eastern Sun to fortify resilience. Meditation was presented as a way of uncovering the source of bravery and courage while engaging with the world with compassion to create a more enlightened society. Each attendant received a free copy of the book.
The workshop was applauded by attendees who resonated with the need for more wisdom, love, compassion, and understanding in what seems to be increasingly dark times.
The unsolicited feedback of one attendee captured many of the comments after the short meditation: “I have often found this subject to be a little out of reach, and [it was] presented in a way that felt more approachable. One of the big takeaways for me was the idea that meditation is not intended to be a form of escape or detachment, but rather to be better connected. I like that it’s not about fixing something that’s broken, it’s just a kind of tool that can help people. I am going to just give it a try and start small, because even just doing a few deep breaths feels like a big change.”
Rev. Garbera feels that the Shambhala dharma is sorely needed now and encourages all of our members and friends to revisit and share the profound gifts we have received.
Held on the campus of the University of Connecticut, it is the largest LGBTQIA+ youth conference in the USA. The conference brings together LGBTQIA+ youth, their peers, allies, family members, educators, social workers, clinicians, clergy, and community members to educate themselves, promote connection, and support the next generation of LGBTQIA+ leaders. With over 200 workshops, performances, and activities organized around specific groups and audiences, there were about 1,850 attendees. A PDF of the PowerPoint can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aRgcFeuWaups2MYLAbOGS-5mrnlUK5Pf/view?usp=drivesdk.
Entries filed under Featured Stories
Leaders at Awaken Chicago – HIGHLIGHT
Social activists and leaders in justice, peace, and enlightened society gather to offer teachings and workshops in Chicago, starting April 29 by Sai Wei Rev. Father Fleger; Awaken Chicago features key teachers at the center of the mandala, Pema Chodron and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, as well as Acharya Gaylon ... continuePosted April 27, 2016 by CGH
Wake Up Chicago! – HIGHLIGHT
An upcoming event with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Ani Pema Chodron and other wisdom leaders plants the seeds of enlightened society by Sai Wei Many of us have followed the media as it documents the violence in our country and the world. The protests in Baltimore, Laquan McDonald, Black ... continuePosted April 24, 2016 by CGH
Climate and Wabi Sabi – HIGHLIGHT
Earth Day 2016 in Shambhala by Irene Woodard Wabi-sabi is the quintessential Japanese aesthetic, the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. At least, this is how it is defined on the back cover of Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren. This philosophy has nurtured my understanding of myself, family, community ... continuePosted April 22, 2016 by CGH
A Vigil for Jampa Pawo – HIGHLIGHT
A letter about Jampa Pawo, addressed to the Shambhala Sangha from Norma Harris It is all but certain, though not certain, that Jampa Pawo, a member of the Atlanta Shambhala Sangha, will be executed on Wednesday, April 27th. We will not know if clemency will be granted until ... continuePosted April 20, 2016 by CGH
Tours on Death Row – HIGHLIGHT
Shambhalian Jampa Pawo writes to us from prison, sharing the experience of visits by prison tour groups by Jampa Pawo Dear Shambhala Brothers and Sisters, Here on death row, we are frequently visited by tour groups. These tour groups usually visit the prison once a week, sometimes they come ... continuePosted April 18, 2016 by CGH
Meal Blessings and Great Eastern Sun – HIGHLIGHT
A natural foods chef looks at how meal blessings can fundamentally change our relationship to food, and help repair our relationship to the natural world by Marcella Friel Several months ago, I was visiting a dear sangha friend who read to me the following excerpt from Acharya ... continuePosted April 10, 2016 by CGH
Connecting with Copiapo – HIGHLIGHT
During the Chilean Garchen, the Sakyong made an especially strong heart-connection with a group from Copiapo by Pablo Coddou Copiapo Nestled in the stunningly beautiful Atacama desert of the north, this small yet potent sangha found itself at the front lines of a devastating natural disaster, with an amazing ... continuePosted April 8, 2016 by CGH
Sakyong Speaks in Santiago – HIGHLIGHT
The Sakyong attracts large crowds at two talks in Santiago during his visit to Chile by Pablo Coddou After the South America Garchen concluded, the Sakyong spent a couple of days exploring the magical port city of Valparaiso. He then went to Santiago for the two final events ... continuePosted April 6, 2016 by CGH
Transformation is Possible – HIGHLIGHT
With his execution date now set for April 27, practitioner Jampa Pawo sends this letter to his brothers and sisters in Shambhala by Jampa Pawo Painting by Jampa Pawo Hello! My name is Jampa Pawo. I am 37 years old and have been incarcerated for eighteen years for the ... continuePosted April 4, 2016 by CGH
Special News Releases for April – HIGHLIGHT
Breaking news on climate change submitted by Ira Phlado Glaciers receding in wake of meditative upswing Climatologists have confirmed that not only is Global Warming a true phenomenon but is in fact a man-made occurrence. The gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and its oceans is ... continuePosted April 1, 2016 by CGH
Wealth and Community: Part I – HIGHLIGHT
An exploration of how wealth and prosperity are linked to community and openness by Layth Matthews Consciously or sub-consciously, wealth in our world is synonymous with legitimacy and success. And yet, even material wealth is not just one thing. Is it higher net worth? or higher income? And higher ... continuePosted March 30, 2016 by CGH
New Dawn for Business in Austin – HIGHLIGHT
An invitation to participate in the Awake Business Conference, coming in the spring of 2017 by Iektje Stephens The year of the Fire Monkey will be a busy year for the Shambhala community in Texas as we prepare for the Awake Business Conference. This will take place from March ... continuePosted March 27, 2016 by iektje
Remembering Don Owen – HIGHLIGHT
September 19, 1931-February 21, 2016 by Donald Eckler, with love and admiration On Milarepa Day, February 21, film-maker, poet, painter, father, and magnificent creative force Don Owen died in Toronto, at the age of eighty-four. Don was one of the original members of the Toronto Dharmadhatu when it began in ... continuePosted March 25, 2016 by CGH
Simple Morning – HIGHLIGHT
A Shambhalian responds to a friend who asked her to write about how to have a simple morning. by Sarah Lipton Sunshine peeks in the window earlier now. Spring is not yet here in Vermont, but it is coming soon, I can feel it in the tender increase ... continuePosted March 21, 2016 by CGH
Making Diversity Personal – HIGHLIGHT
A Shambhala Center responds to the death of a black teenager in their neighborhood, killed by a white police officer. by Shastri Mark Blumenfeld and Miriam Hall On March 6, 2015, Tony Robinson, a nineteen-year-old black teenager, was fatally shot two blocks from the Madison Shambhala Center. This ... continuePosted March 19, 2016 by CGH
RSS feed for the Featured Stories category
View all posts from authors in Featured Stories: jillian_johnson
