An Evening of Fellowship and Concern

by Jayne Sutton The DC Shambhala Center (DCSC) recently hosted From Crisis to Community, an event to inform and educate participants about the challenges faced by political asylum seekers in the Washington Metropolitan Area. A local nonprofit organization, the Asylum Seeker Assistance Project (ASAP) presented their approach to helping asylum seekers overcome obstacles and empower … Continue 

Teaam Shambhala DC group photo

“Together We Can Solve Hunger”: An Outing to the Capital Area Food Bank

On a rainy Saturday afternoon in December, 13 members of the DC Shambhala Center met at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) on Puerto Rico Drive, N.E. for a 3-hour volunteer shift sorting donated food. CAFB is the largest organization in the Washington metro area working to solve hunger and its companion problems of undernutrition, … Continue 

Shambhalians Manifest at the Peoples Climate March

by Mark Rasmuson and Gabe Dayley “A sacred activist is someone who knows that the world’s profound crisis is challenging everyone to act from our deepest compassion and wisdom, and who is committed to ‘being’, in the face of growing chaos, suffering, and violence. In Shambhala terminology we call this the way of warriorship.” – … Continue 

Lhasang at the White House

On Sunday, January 29, as part of a special workshop “Creating Enlightened Society: From Sacred Outlook to Sacred Activism,” Acharya Marty Janowitz led members of the DC Shambhala Center in a lhasang ceremony as a practice of sacred activism in front of the White House. A traditional Tibetan practice of offering juniper smoke, a lhasang … Continue 

How Letting Ourselves Off the Hook Leads to Change

Written by: Jonathan Kirkendall ~~ In January, I was teaching a meditation program here at the DC Shambhala Center and was reminded of a very important concept that arises out of the teachings on mindfulness. During that first month of the Gregorian New Year that is usually awash with New Year’s resolutions to meditate more/smoke … Continue 

The Magic of Conflict

Written by: Sharon Doetsch-Kidder ~~ A student asked, “Why do I need to practice? I have a good life. I have a good job, a happy marriage, a wonderful wife and kids, a great car and nice house. I’m happy!” The teacher responded, “If you lose your job, your car gets totaled, your wife leaves you, … Continue 

Buddha Fest 2015: One Practitioner’s Take

Written by: Mark Rasmuson ~~ For the last 3 years living here in Vietnam, I have eagerly anticipated the annual offerings from Buddhafest, a 4-day splurge of Buddhist films, speakers, and music held in Washington in the early summer. For a few extra dollars, as a subscriber to Tricycle magazine, I’ve been able to access many … Continue 

A Silent Passage of Time

Written by: Julia Burger ~~ “If we open our eyes, if we open our minds, if we open our hearts, we will find that this world is a magical place.”  Choygam Trungpa Rinpoche Third Monday of the month. 7:00 pm. The reception room is buzzing with new students. I bow and quietly close the door. The … Continue 

Silhouette of a person with a question mark above their head.

Basic Goodness? Get Real.

Written by: Cafini Z ~~ Have you ever had this reaction to learning about Shambhala’s foundational principle? There was a time when I certainly did. At that time in my life it just seemed preposterous to think that anyone, especially me, or anything, except maybe babies, was purely basically good. Anyone who believes that is seriously … Continue 

Crocus

20s-30s Dharma Gathering: I Believe in Ambiguity

Written by: Sarah Harris ~~ I used to listen to the radio show This I Believe on National Public Radio, and I was sad to see it end some years ago. What struck me about this show is that each five-minute episode featured one person speaking his or her truth about something meaningful. I found it … Continue