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
Gongter Empowerments Begin – HIGHLIGHT
Namkha Drimed Rinpoche conducts Gongter empowerments at Rigon Tashi Choeling monastery, in Pharpeng, Nepal by Walker Blaine Greetings to all Shambhala and Ripa sangha, near and far, from here in Pharpeng Nepal. The Gongter Empowerments of His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche are now underway. There are well over a ... continuePosted November 15, 2015 by CGH
Local Harvest at Casa Werma – HIGHLIGHT
A day of practice and celebration brings together expatriates with Mexican nationals by Reina/Ryn Armstrong Kai and I hosted our second Harvest of Peace here at Casa Werma this year; it was a delightful evening with wonderful people, full of open-heartedness, humor, mutual appreciation, good food, and shared practice. And ... continuePosted November 14, 2015 by CGH
Finding Freedom Inside – HIGHLIGHT
Being with Jampa Pawo by Norma Harris Buddha image by Jampa Pawo Last year Atlanta Shambhala received an email from Les Ste. Marie at Gampo Abbey. He was passing on a request from a man on death row in Georgia who had been meditating and studying Buddhism. His wish ... continuePosted November 12, 2015 by CGH
Reclaiming Prajna – HIGHLIGHT
A new structure rises in a drala-rich space at Shambhala Mountain Center by Jamie Woodworth Early photo of Prajna It’s a widely agreed upon sentiment, among both newcomers and veteran Shambhalians, that this mountain valley has a quality of spaciousness beyond its physical boundaries. It opens up and unfolds more ... continuePosted November 10, 2015 by CGH
Full Moon over Boulder – HIGHLIGHT
On the night of an extraordinary full moon, Boulder Shambhala Center offers the Shambhala Sadhana by Elaine Logan I walk into the main shrine room at the Boulder Shambhala Center on the full moon, Sunday, August 30, for the Shambhala Sadhana practice. Achary Dan Hessey sits up front, surrounded ... continuePosted November 8, 2015 by elainelogan
Celebrating the Indigenous Dralas – HIGHLIGHT
E kore a ngaro he takere waka nui: the keel of a great canoe cannot be lost. by Susie Vincent Just as all of you in the northern hemisphere decide that it’s autumn or fall, the leaves turn red and gold and the year’s cycle starts drawing into ... continuePosted November 6, 2015 by CGH
The Warriors Who Are Meek – HIGHLIGHT
The Shambhala Monastic Order’s first temporary monastic training program comes to completion by Shastri Loden Nyima, Monastic Secretary to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche Summer is passing and fall arriving at Gampo Abbey as we conclude our first year of residential monastic training, The Warriors Who Are Meek, from the ... continuePosted November 2, 2015 by CGH
Harvest at Dechen Chöling – HIGHLIGHT
A seasonal contemplation on energy, connectedness and change by Simon La Haye Today is a beautiful fall day. The trees are dancing in the crisp energy of the wind, leaves have already changed colors and are flying about, everything is clear and vivid. It is slightly nostalgic, it ... continuePosted October 31, 2015 by CGH
The Compassion of Unconditional Love – HIGHLIGHT
What Karuna Training Offers Story and photos by Miriam Hall Update: application deadline for the upcoming training has been extended, and a few spaces may still be available I signed up for the very first North American Karuna Training series with lots of planning and very little expectation. ... continuePosted October 29, 2015 by CGH
Conducting Ourselves & Caring for Others – HIGHLIGHT
An Interview with Societal Health & Well-being Director Mary Whetsell Beginning on October 20, 2015, a suite of three policies providing guidelines for kindness and care will be introduced to the Shambhala mandala by the Office of Societal Health & Well-being. The newly revised Care and Conduct ... continuePosted October 20, 2015 by CGH
Contemplating Action on Climate Change, Part II – HIGHLIGHT
Calling for Meditation in Action on Climate Change –A Further Exploration by Acharya Marty Janowitz Part Two photo of an Earth Rise by astronaut William Anders From our Buddhist teachings and more vitally our meditative experience, we do have means to traverse the seeming abyss between our path as practitioners ... continuePosted October 18, 2015 by CGH
Contemplating Action on Climate Change, Part I – HIGHLIGHT
Calling for Meditation in Action on Climate Change –A Further Exploration by Acharya Marty Janowitz Part One A year ago many of us were looking forward to the People’s Climate Mobilisation which was timed to coincide with the United Nations Summit on Climate Change. While the New York and ... continuePosted October 17, 2015 by CGH
The Sakyong brings ancient wisdom to Krakow – HIGHLIGHT
Teachings on Basic Goodness offered to an appreciative audience in Sakyong’s visit to Poland. by Mio Sylvester Krakow has always been a spiritual and intellectual center for Poland. Legend states that the city was founded by Krakus, a Polish prince, who built the famous Wawel palace over the ... continuePosted October 16, 2015 by CGH
In Charge of Making Peace Possible – HIGHLIGHT
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche gives a public talk, and speaks at a leadership gathering in Berlin. Story and photos by Katja Aßmann Photo by Katja Assmann More than two hundred people filled the beautiful hall at Villa Elisabeth in the heart of Berlin for a public talk by the Sakyong ... continuePosted September 28, 2015 by CGH
Householders Harvesting Peace
From everyone here at the Shambhala Times, Cheerful Harvest of Peace! Each year at the time of the fall equinox, we celebrate the Harvest of Peace, coming together as a community to mark the changing of the seasons. This year’s theme is the concept of household, particularly ... continuePosted September 21, 2015 by CGH
RSS feed for the Featured Stories category
View all posts from authors in Featured Stories: jillian_johnson
