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
Right Speech in Myanmar – HIGHLIGHT
A look at the everyday lives of Buddhists in Myanmar, with the possibilities of courage and peace by Larry Steele Buddhists in strife-torn Myanmar suffer the blame for violence and oppression by their too-powerful military, as reported in the first article of this series, “A Monk Called King ... continuePosted May 19, 2018 by CGH
King Zero Is Not Retired – HIGHLIGHT
Part Two of an interview with Buddhist monk Ashin Issariya, from Wimoteti Thuka Monastery, Myanmar by Larry Steele At this point, there is no moderate coalition in Myanmar to speak up about peace, harmony, and diversity. Monks are traditionally hesitant to criticize other monks, so there is virtually no ... continuePosted May 15, 2018 by CGH
A Monk Called King Zero – HIGHLIGHT
Part One of an interview with Buddhist monk Ashin Issariya, from Wimoteti Thuka Monastery, Myanmar by Larry Steele The Buddhist monk Ashin Issariya is working to create an enlightened society in the confused and violent land of Myanmar. Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, has been in the news ... continuePosted May 13, 2018 by CGH
Earth Day 2018 – HIGHLIGHT
On an international day of environmental focus and action, contemplating the loss of my mother’s best friend by Irene Woodard My mother called this morning in tears; Joan Konner, her best friend of more than sixty years, had just died. Joan was the first and only female Dean ... continuePosted April 21, 2018 by CGH
Unproblematic Togetherness – HIGHLIGHT
How the vision of Shambhala may support the transformation and well-being of all South Africans by Michal George Here in South Africa, we are approaching 25 years of democracy. Nelson Mandela is gone, and on many levels, his legacy lies in tatters. The newly-elected president of the African ... continuePosted April 19, 2018 by CGH
Eye-Witness Report, Part Two – HIGHLIGHT
Tracing the origins of the current Rohingya crisis, and a call to action by Richard Reoch This crisis is far from over. Journalists inside Myanmar are facing harassment, even death threats, for independent reporting on this situation. Two reporters for Reuters news agency were arrested for violating the ... continuePosted April 13, 2018 by CGH
Eye-Witness Report, Part One – HIGHLIGHT
A Shambhala representative spends time among the Rohingya refugees by Richard Reoch I have just returned from the largest refugee camp in the world. It’s where the Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar, a Buddhist nation. No one knows exactly how many people are sheltering there. Perhaps ... continuePosted April 11, 2018 by CGH
April News Roundup – HIGHLIGHT
An assortment of stories from around the mandala, gathered into a special edition for April 1st Cat Lovers Were Right All Along Recent research by Professors R. U. Kittink and J. O. Kerz of the Central Austrian Transmeditative Research Academy (CATRA) has established what cat-loving meditators have known ... continuePosted April 1, 2018 by CGH
Mission to Myanmar – HIGHLIGHT
A letter from Richard Reoch about the Rohingya humanitarian crisis Dear Readers: I have been invited at short notice to join a high level inter-faith delegation to the Rohingya refugee camps on the Bangladesh/Myanmar border. That will be at the end of this coming week. This mission — an act of ... continuePosted March 23, 2018 by CGH
A Reflection on Diversity – HIGHLIGHT
Working toward inclusion and diversity as a fundamental aspect of my path by Danielle Loeb I felt I had to leave myself at the door and assimilate in order to fit in. And even then, I couldn’t change the way that I looked. I ended up feeling ... continuePosted March 21, 2018 by CGH
Vajrayana in Chile – HIGHLIGHT
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche gives teachings and empowerments in Chile by Pablo Coddou On his fourth visit to Chile, the Kongma Sakyong received a number of students into the Shambhala Vajrayana. During this monumental visit, he joined sanghas from the Southern and Northern hemispheres in receiving the precious preliminary practices ... continuePosted March 19, 2018 by CGH
New Institute at Naropa – HIGHLIGHT
Chögyam Trungpa Institute established at Naropa University Naropa University is pleased to announce the establishment of the Chögyam Trungpa Institute at Naropa. Chögyam Trungpa founded Naropa University in 1974 as a place to foster both intellect and intuition, and to spark curiosity and deep inquiry. His inspiration to create a ... continuePosted March 17, 2018 by CGH
Ansprache zum Shambhala-Tag
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche Ansprache zum Shambhala-Tag und Grußwort der Sakyong Wangmo Boulder Shambhala Meditation Center 16 Februar 2018 Der Kongma Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche: Einen schönen guten Morgen euch allen! Ihr seht gut aus, ganz großartig. Ich möchte alle, die weltweit zu diesem Shambhala-Tag zusammen gekommen sind, herzlich begrüßen. Da ich weiß, dass dies ... continuePosted March 5, 2018 by CGH
Allocution du Jour Shambhala
Le Sakyong Mipham Rinpoché Allocution du Jour Shambhala Année du Chien de Terre Boulder, Colorado, 16 février 2018 Bonjour à tous ! Vous avez l’air magnifiques… Je souhaite la bienvenue à tous ceux et celles qui nous rejoignent à travers le monde pour ce Jour Shambhala. Je sais que ce que ... continuePosted March 5, 2018 by CGH
Shambhaladag Toespraak Van de Sakyong 2018
De Kongma Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche: Een heel goede morgen allemaal! Het ziet er allemaal mooi, prachtig uit… Graag wil ik iedereen wereldwijd welkom heten op deze Shambhaladag, en ik weet dat dit meteen wordt vertaald, dus ik zal mijn best doen om langzaam te spreken. Ik wil graag ... continuePosted March 4, 2018 by CGH
RSS feed for the Featured Stories category
View all posts from authors in Featured Stories: jillian_johnson
