All entries filed under this archive
The Boundary Issue – HIGHLIGHT
By Joseph Pascutazz There’s a lot that goes into making your solitary retreat a seamless container… Spacious as it is, Karmê Chöling is a tightly knit community. We mind each other’s business. Boundary issues abound. In a good way, I think, as in: “The boundaries are dissolving.” The walls here are paper thin and seemingly transparent. ... continuePosted May 22, 2025 by Jillian_Johnson
Warrior in World – HIGHLIGHT
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 ... continuePosted May 6, 2025 by Jillian_Johnson
Heart of Recovery at the Montreal Shambhala Center – HIGHLIGHT
By Laurence Corman When I attended my first AA meeting, I was left a little bewildered when I was told that I did not have an alcohol problem because, despite my daily drinking, I was not experiencing blackouts and was able to enjoy healthy family relationships and ... continuePosted June 6, 2023 by Jillian_Johnson
The Intersection of Dharma and Addiction by Dave Garton – HIGHLIGHT
The Intersection of Dharma and Addiction by Dave Garton There is a strong tie between the Dharma and recovery from addiction. In the traditional Buddhist Path we must first start with ourselves. The Hinayana Path requires a deep dive into the fabric of creating the separation between “ME” ... continuePosted September 13, 2022 by Jillian_Johnson
Sharing Our Gardens – HIGHLIGHT
By Mimi Valiulis Although I garden, I don’t consider myself a gardener. I plant tomatoes and herbs, and sometimes lettuces, beans, and zucchini. I planted radishes once, and the leaves grew lush and abundant. Sadly, there were no radishes when I went to harvest. We keep most of ... continuePosted June 2, 2022 by Natasha West
Virtual Cushion – A Resource for Meditators Around the Globe – HIGHLIGHT
Photo Credit Dan Horak This week’s Featured Centres: Prague, Czech Republic + Sky Lake Lodge View the full Virtual Cushion calendar for December here. All are welcome at any session. *Does your Centre or Group offer virtual sessions that you’d like to have featured? Email Camren at [email protected] to have your ... continuePosted December 12, 2020 by archives-staff
Sacred World – HIGHLIGHT
The world is filled with power and wisdom, we’ve just forgotten how to see and feel it. By Halleluiah Strongheart With all of the challenges going on in the world today it’s easy to feel like everything is doomed and that humanity is to blame. From the mishandling ... continuePosted December 9, 2020 by archives-staff
Windhorse: How to Harness the Energy of Life – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by Bhaskar Agarwal on Unsplash By Halleluiah Strongheart With so much going on in the world and in our lives it’s easy to feel a lack of energy. We go through our days managing work, relationships, health, kids, school, and “life admin” and by the end of ... continuePosted November 13, 2020 by archives-staff
Mudra Musings: Its Reasons and Its Beings – HIGHLIGHT
by Vicky Moyle Chaos and Vastness Mudra’s connection to a sense of chaos is very interesting. A system is called chaotic if small changes in the initial conditions at some initial time lead to large differences at some later time. That seems to very much apply to a ... continuePosted October 13, 2020 by archives-staff
Preparing to Die by Andrew Holocek – HIGHLIGHT
Reviewed by Christine Heming Recently several books have appeared written by well-regarded teachers on the Tibetan Buddhist approach to death and dying. These add to a growing collection of teachings, practices and guidance for the dying and for their caregivers. One might ask if we need yet ... continuePosted September 18, 2020 by archives-staff
Mudra: A Tool for Chaos – HIGHLIGHT
By Craig Warren Smith “Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news…Chaos is the great space of emptiness that occurs before genesis. … This space provides an opportunity to reconnect with what lies under the chaos and negativity — inherent awakened nature. Another way chaos is good ... continuePosted September 11, 2020 by archives-staff
A Few Thoughts About Karma and Reincarnation – HIGHLIGHT
Photo by Anastasia Zhenina on Unsplash by Bob Siegel The Buddhist law of karma emphasizes cause and effect. Our actions have consequences and these consequences in turn affect who we are. This does not negate free will. We can change those consequences by changing our behavior and thereby ... continuePosted August 25, 2020 by archives-staff
Primordial Grace by Robert and Rachel Olds – HIGHLIGHT
a book review by Don Beamish In 1997 artists Robert and Rachel Olds felt the call to enter into a meditation retreat that lasted for nine years and changed their lives forever. It is quite clear that they emerged from retreat with profound realization. Primordial Grace: Earth, ... continuePosted July 10, 2020 by archives-staff
Spacious Minds by Sara E. Lewis – HIGHLIGHT
From Cornell University Press Review by Shastri Steve Gleich Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow up and live in a Buddhist culture? Would you view the truths of the dharma as common sense? One would be indeed fortunate to be part of a ... continuePosted June 16, 2020 by archives-staff
Dakini Power by Michaela Haas – HIGHLIGHT
A review by Christine Heming Michaela Haas has shared with us her “labor of love” by honoring the lives and accomplishments of twelve female pioneers of Buddhism in the West . . . and these are remarkable women. As individuals they are direct, determined, sharp, humorous, courageous ... continuePosted May 4, 2020 by archives-staff