Friday
Nourishing our Winter Garden
A Message from the Director and the Team at Gampo Abbey
The year 2023 was a period of retreat and renewal for our monastic community. We repaired buildings, fixed lots of plumbing problems, improved landscaping features, and trimmed trees — all while maintaining our commitment to the Dharma and using our monastic forms and training to hold the practice strong.
We’ve weathered trying times within the community. We also faced challenges because of extreme environmental conditions that severely impacted most of our buildings. Yet we finish this year of the Water Rabbit infused with more enthusiasm and belief in what we are doing here.
Each year we pay special attention to preparing the garden for “over-wintering”. We plant a cover crop that continues to nourish the soil and replenish it ready for another productive season. A fallow garden is not inactive — magic is happening in the richness of the soil. In the spring, the cover crop is gently dug into the beds, enhancing the soil’s capacity for productive growth. Likewise, in our monastic community, we have used 2023 as a period to sow seeds for new growth.
In just a few weeks we will welcome Ani Pema Chödrön for another Yarne winter retreat. Soon after we will begin a new cycle of the three-year retreat. I can feel the excitement building, bring on the Wood Dragon!
—Trinkar Ötso (Director) and the team at Gampo Abbey
A Monk’s Journey to Nepal
Karma Lodro Kalsang, a long-time resident and Preceptor at Gampo Abbey, shares the searching questions, awakenings and tribulations he experienced while attending a momentous event in an otherworldly location — the cremation of our Abbot, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, in Nepal.
Gardening Can Grow Your Spiritual Practice!
Lucas Kovacevich, the former Head Gardener at Gampo Abbey, explains how to deepen a contemplative practice in your garden.
Pema Chödron Offers Reflections on Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
During the 49 days following the parinirvana of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche our friends at Karma Changchub Ling in Halifax hosted daily practices. On July 17, 2023 in the Mahasangha room of KCCL, they invited Ani Pema to speak about her long relationship with KTR, Abbot of Gampo Abbey. Her words were loving and candid.
*****
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER
Entries filed under Regions
Seattle Bound – HIGHLIGHT
New Shastri brings a feminine perspective to Seattle by Andrea D’Asaro Our new Shastri, Trinley Busby, is relocating to Seattle from her home in Vancouver as our center’s first female Shastri. She brings a deep passion around opening Shambhala to greater diversity, including the power of the feminine. Her ... continuePosted July 10, 2017 by CGH
Peace Now! – HIGHLIGHT
Preparations for a symposium with the Sakyong in Vienna by Michael Anderson Taste might be the word best attributable to a Viennese evening of food, drink, and cultural performance. That was indeed the case on the evening of May 5th, as local sangha and guests of the Vienna ... continuePosted May 19, 2017 by Michael
New Orleans Event – HIGHLIGHT
A collaborative group comes together to host Shambhala programming in New Orleans–and beyond! An interview with group member and Ziji Collective participant Fred Meyer. by Carol Henderson Shambhala Times: I’m curious about how all of this came about, so maybe you could start by sharing how your working ... continuePosted February 25, 2017 by CGH
Inspired to Engage – HIGHLIGHT
A Shambhalian’s Experience of the Women’s March in Los Angeles by Allison Conant Just as in over 670 cities and towns across the globe, Los Angeles held a women’s march. It was the biggest civil demonstration in the history of the city. The Shambhala Center of Los Angeles ... continuePosted February 11, 2017 by CGH
Remembering Steve – HIGHLIGHT
A warrior tribute to long-time Shambhalian Steve Armbruster: 21 April 1950 – 14 January 2017 Surrounded by family and friends, Steve Armbruster died peacefully in Halifax on January 14 following respiratory problems. His wife Rita, son Erik, daughter Melissa, and other dear friends provided loving care and warriorship ... continuePosted January 24, 2017 by CGH
Race, Love, and Liberation – HIGHLIGHT
A coalition of meditation centers sponsors community conversation around race, power, and unity in North Carolina by Catherine Neill A long time ago, though it’s only been two weeks, we were in church on a Friday night in Durham, North Carolina to hear Rev. angel Kyodo williams. Everything ... continuePosted November 22, 2016 by catherineneill
Karmê Chöling Seen and Heard – HIGHLIGHT
A new video puts the spotlight on Karmê Chöling Meditation Retreat Center If you have ever been to Karmê Chöling, this video will bring back all your memories. If you’ve never been there, it can give you a sense of what it’s like, and encourage you to visit. ... continuePosted November 18, 2016 by CGH
Marching with Pride – HIGHLIGHT
Shambhalians in Halifax make a splash of Great Eastern Sun with a float for the local Pride Parade by Dan Corbett How do we show pride in our community? What could be the biggest, most outrageous display we could cast forth before an audience of tens of thousands? ... continuePosted August 28, 2016 by CGH
Summer Heat at Windhorse – HIGHLIGHT
Reflecting on hot weather and the wisdom of simplicity, at Windhorse Retreat Center by Susan Firer We have just experienced about a week of hot and muggy weather, and it took me right back to being a kid on summer break – just hanging out with friends, going ... continuePosted August 20, 2016 by CGH
Sakyong appoints first South American acharya
The Office of the Sakyong is pleased to announce that the Kongma Sakyong has formally appointed Ms. Magali Meneses Ibañez to the position of acharya. A native of Santiago, Chile Ms. Meneses is the first South American acharya. Magali has been a key leader in the ... continuePosted June 13, 2016 by David_Brown
A Million Miles Away – HIGHLIGHT
Reflections on a Shambhala Training retreat at the Karmê Chöling land center by Michal George The time I recently spent at Karmê Chöling in Vermont taking Shambhala Training Levels I–III was so filled with teaching and opportunities to practice that I left the center with the sense I had ... continuePosted March 9, 2016 by CGH
Work Together and Rebuild – HIGHLIGHT
KTC meditation center in Columbus, Ohio, severely damaged by fire News of this weekend’s fire has been spreading quickly through the Shambhala community, gathering support for our friends and fellow practitioners at Columbus KTC. The following story originally appeared on their fundraising page, as they reached out ... continuePosted February 4, 2016 by CGH
Teaching and Learning at Surmang – HIGHLIGHT
News from the Education Project Just before Christmas, the Gesar Fund received a message from the Konchok Foundation, which is supported by the Gesar Fund with some 5000 euros per year. In the Gesar Fund 2014 Summary we already reported that things would change in the education programs ... continuePosted January 14, 2016 by CGH
Voting for Enlightened Society – HIGHLIGHT
Your vote can help Shambhala San Francisco share Enlightened Society through Wisdom 2.0 By James Beange & Marty Behrens The San Francisco Shambhala community is aiming to share the message of Enlightened Society at the upcoming Wisdom 2.0 conference. The community has entered a video submission in an ... continuePosted December 22, 2015 by
Shambhala Job Opportunities
We are pleased to announce three employment opportunities within our community. The following positions are currently accepting applicants: Shambhala is seeking to fill a new position of Shambhala Help Desk to be the first point of contact for individuals, centres and groups. The Shambhala Center of Seattle ... continuePosted November 10, 2015 by David_Brown
RSS feed for the Regions category
View all posts from authors in Regions:
