Aiding as a Practice
They say it’s better to give than to receive, and I had done a lot of receiving. The beautiful, potent teachings and tools I’d received at the DC Shambhala Center were helping me work with stress, gain clarity, face fears, and re-order my life, and I was profoundly grateful. I decided that I wanted to … Continue
How Should a Buddhist Respond to “Merry Christmas”?
For those of us who have formally taken refuge and changed our religious affiliation to Buddhism, the end of the year holiday season can pose some interesting challenges—one of which being, what to say in response to the myriad wishes of “Merry Christmas” that are bestowed upon us during the season. Naturally, each individual takes … Continue
Radical Compassion: A Report from Naropa’s 40th Anniversary
Imagine my surprise and delight to run into Jayne Sutton in Boulder, Colorado last month in the hallways of Naropa University. We had both come to participate in a symposium celebrating Naropa’s 40th anniversary. I was on home leave from my job in Vietnam, and Jayne was there with Rich Ann and Ariana Baetz and … Continue
Remembering a Precious One
My husband and I often refer to members of the original Washington, D.C., sangha as “POs” or Precious Ones. This is not just because they were special in their own right, but because they received their initial meditation instruction directly from the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. We recently lost a Precious One, Kathie Wykowski Paul, … Continue
Contemplating the Lotus
I am surrounded by lotus flowers. They are everywhere in Vietnam. Every pagoda has statues and paintings of the Buddha or other deities seated or standing on a lotus and usually a small pond where the flowers are growing. The lotus is a crop cultivated in large ponds to harvest the seeds that are used … Continue
Turning Toward Conflict with Fearless Compassion
In June of this year, the DC Shambhala Center will join with the Baltimore Shambhala Center to present a weekend workshop on Restorative Circles, a powerful process for working with conflict or trauma. Ann McKnight will lead this experiential program designed to provide a working basis for those who wish to establish this process in … Continue
The ‘Mindful Journey’ of Writing a Children’s Book
One of our members, Rob Cimperman, wrote an article for a recent issue of Shambhala Times in which he details his experience authoring a poetic, illustrated children’s book, introducing themes inspired by the legend and teachings of Shambhala — mindfulness, karma and duty to society — to seven to ten year-olds. As Rob notes: “Writing … Continue
Bodhisattvas
My Shambhala friends of course know about Bodhisattvas. For other friends who don’t, I tell them it’s a being who has attained a high level of spiritual realization, is just on the verge of ultimate enlightenment, but who chooses, instead of going beyond, to stay behind and help relieve the suffering of other beings. Perhaps … Continue
Shambhala Times Article – Dathun on Wheels by Robert French
One of our members, Robert French, wrote an article on his experience at a dathun at Shambhala Mountain Center and the challenges and opportunities of being in a wheelchair while on retreat. Read the article: Dathun on Wheels by Robert French
A Modern Yogi
In May I did a 10 day solitary retreat among the mountains in Northeast Vermont at Karme Choling, one of Shambhala’s land centers for group and individual retreats. This was an opportunity for me to deepen the practices that I have learned in the four years that I have been with Shambhala, participating in their … Continue
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