Sep 29
Friday
Beauty and Balance
A goldfish pond creates a haven for nature, and also builds friendship and community
by David Zurick
The frogs discovered my goldfish pond on the first day I filled it with water. The pond hadn’t yet settled into the garden. Its rubber liner showed like an embarrassing exposure, spilling out of its hole and onto the bare ground, and the rocks on the bottom glistened like the glossy stones of an empty, store-front aquarium. The pond looked like it had just been off-loaded from a delivery truck. Still, the frogs must have liked it when they came upon it because some of them stayed and made the pond their home.
I recall it being a dry season, so maybe the frogs had been lying in wait all along, patiently watching me work and wondering when I might finish, and then just hopped in once I had provisioned the hole with water. Or perhaps they were passing by on their way to another destination, sensed its deliquescence, and got distracted. I’ll never know for certain what those pioneer frogs were thinking when they came upon my goldfish pond. They were its first settlers. Continue…
Entries filed under Featured Stories
Drala Regional Encampment – HIGHLIGHT
Members of the Dorje Kasung gather for fellowship and practice; the forms and precision of military life allow for alert relaxation, tender wakefulness by Harrison Holmes Day One: Water We arrived at Drala Point just as Hurricane Mathew was making its way up the coast. Quickly setting up camp ... continuePosted February 15, 2017 by CGH
Mary Sehlinger Retirement – HIGHLIGHT
Shambhala’s Director of Societal Health and Well-being retires: “I see the Shambhala Community engaging in a long cultural shift.” by Kalapa Envoy Richard Reoch After six years as Shambhala’s Director of Societal Health and Well-Being, Mary Sehlinger is retiring. Known to many by her former married surname, Whetsell ... continuePosted January 30, 2017 by CGH
Time to Stand Up – HIGHLIGHT
Inspired by online course EcoSattva 2016, offered by One Earth Sangha, which is still available and strongly recommended by the author. Thanissara is one of the principle teachers of the course. The title and final paragraph are paraphrased from her book Time to Stand Up. by Camilo ... continuePosted January 22, 2017 by CGH
Terma in Dark Times – HIGHLIGHT
An interview with Holly Gayley on the recent publication of her book, Love Letters from Golok: A Tantric Couple in Modern Tibet. It chronicles the lives and letters of a contemporary tantric couple, Khandro Tāre Lhamo and Namtrul Rinpoche (pictured here with Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok), who ... continuePosted January 20, 2017 by CGH
A Fresh Start – HIGHLIGHT
Starting with ourselves, and learning to appreciate many ways that human goodness is expressed every day by Susan Firer I’ve had an idea running through my mind for almost a year now, I would guess. It has to do with appreciation, humanity, suffering, and compassion. So often I ... continuePosted January 16, 2017 by CGH
Unraveling Oppression – HIGHLIGHT
Unraveling oppression and white privilege starts here by Kelsey Blackwell Dad and Me “But all our phrasing—race relations, racial chasm, racial justice, racial profiling, white privilege, even white supremacy—serves to obscure that racism is a visceral experience, that it dislodges brains, blocks airways, rips muscle, extracts organs, cracks bones, ... continuePosted January 13, 2017 by CGH
Genuine, the Podcast – HIGHLIGHT
A long-time Shambhala practitioner (and previous editor of the Times) starts a creative new venture by Sarah Lipton I am thrilled to release this preview episode of Genuine, a fresh new podcast produced by The Presence Point. I’m so happy to be sharing it with all of you, ... continuePosted January 11, 2017 by CGH
Circle of Light – HIGHLIGHT
Children journey to the spiral’s center in Karmê Chöling’s traditional midwinter Festival of Lights photography by Philip Campbell Between December 25th and New Year’s Day, practitioners of all ages gathered at Karmê Chöling for a warm and lively week of programs to support and celebrate families and children. A highlight ... continuePosted January 9, 2017 by CGH
Beautiful Ornaments – HIGHLIGHT
In the community of Dönda, Tibetan region of the Yushu Prefecture, a new stupa rises above the roof by staff at the Gesar Fund The new shrine room at the Gesar Community Centre now has a new stupa and a new prayer wheel. The older “before” picture was taken ... continuePosted January 6, 2017 by CGH
Progress at Surmang – HIGHLIGHT
An update on Konchok Foundation activities in the Surmang region of Tibet by Lyndon Comstock The Children’s educational program at Surmang is starting its winter 2016-2017 program this month. Last year more than 150 children participated; a similar number is expected this year. Donors to the Konchok Foundation provide all of the ... continuePosted December 29, 2016 by CGH
Why, When and How to be Generous – HIGHLIGHT
An exploration of the daily practice of generosity in a Shambhala household by Walker Blaine If people understood the benefits to themselves of generosity, they would not be able to contain their joy at seeing opportunities to give. Saints and sages from all spiritual traditions have spoken words ... continuePosted December 25, 2016 by CGH
Spinning Mind – HIGHLIGHT
Changing the small, egoistic “Spinning Mind” to Big Mind view by Irini Rockwell It has been hard to avoid the turmoil that the long buildup and painful conclusion of the United States election of 2016 has brought forth. I have never been a political person, both growing up ... continuePosted December 23, 2016 by Carol
Launch of the Aging Hub – HIGHLIGHT
by Ann Cason The Aging Hub (http://aging-hub.shambhala.org), a new project of the Shambhala Working Group on Aging, is due to launch today: December 17, 2016. It has been funded by the Shambhala Trust and by donations from the sangha. All of us on the Working Group on Aging ... continuePosted December 17, 2016 by CGH
December Awakening – HIGHLIGHT
Contemplating presence in the moment, while preparing for retreat by Susan Firer This past week I was preparing for a week-long silent retreat sending out emails, cooking, cleaning and the like. I had one of those moments where a feeling arises spontaneously and it has weight to it, ... continuePosted December 16, 2016 by CGH
At the Crossroads – HIGHLIGHT
As Buddhists, should we avoid the aggression and confusion of politics, becoming islands of peace? by Daniel Phillips At my family’s Thanksgiving dinner, some of us were sympathetic with white supremacist views, some were appalled, and some wanted to not make any waves. Some were Evangelical Christians who ... continuePosted December 4, 2016 by CGH
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