The document linked here―Practices for the Earth (PDF)―contains an essay written by senior Kootenay Shambhala Centre teacher Russell Rodgers outlining the teachings he presented at last summer’s Kootenay Public Weekthun 2009: Touching the Earth meditation retreat, and describing the approach used to deliver the teachings.

He submitted the document for the possible benefit of Shambhala teachers, environmentalists and others.

Topics include:
• Container Principle
• The Root of Ecological Problems
• The Senses: Our Gateways to the Natural World
• Making a Heart Connection to All Living Beings
• The Eco-dharma of Emptiness
• Drala: Working with Presence
• Introduction to the Lhasang

An “Afterthoughts” section provides additional material.

You can offer feedback by leaving a reply below, or by emailing Russell Rodgers at info@nelsonbuddha.com.

“The success of our community, and its future, is going to depend heavily on the visible and ‘feelable’ kindness that is in our mandala,” said the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, at the concluding session of the Fourth Shambhala Congress, which took place in Halifax in November. “We can be doing a lot of things right when it comes to programs, but if there is not a feeling of kindness, nothing is really going to stick.”

The Sakyong’s Council has now formally decided that the key strategic objective for the immediate period, in line with the Sakyong’s wishes and the aspirations expressed by the Congress, would be to “deepen community and manifest a culture of kindness.”

The aim of this post is to invite anyone in the Pacific Northwest Shambhala community (or beyond) to participate in a collective contemplation of what it means to deepen community and manifest a culture of kindness.

What inspires you about your local Shambhala community? How does kindness manifest there? What do you find challenging―or even alienating? What else…? Join the discussion in the comments section below. All respectfully expressed thoughts and feelings are welcome.

For related pre-Congress discussion, see the post Exploring community.

View Michael Foster’s stunning photo of Mount Loki in the January 2010 issue of Kootenay Shambhala eNews.

To subscribe to eNews, go to the “Email News Sign-Up” section on our home page or contact us at info@nelsonbuddha.com. (An unsubscribe link is included at the bottom of each message.)

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Looking for something a little different this New Year’s Eve? Join us for our New Year’s Eve Sadhana of Mahamudra & Potluck Dessert Feast, starting at 7:00 PM. The name of the event sums it up. For more information click here.

RSVP to Maria Stella or Jim Northcote at info@nelsonbuddha.com.

Shambhala Media (formerly the Shambhala Shop) has just launched its new online catalogue at shambhalamedia.org.

To celebrate, they’re offering free shipping, free gift certificates, and 25% off all items in their Gift & Music section.

The mission of Shambhala Media is to communicate the vision, teachings, and culture of Shambhala and the Sakyong lineage through books, recordings, news, information, and other media.

Transition Nelson, part of a global movement to address this century’s converging challenges by enhancing community resilience, is organizing the Imagine Transition festival to give everyone a chance to communicate their vision of Nelson’s future.

Click on the image below for details.

Cameron Wenaus, one of our Centre’s senior students, sent us this poem and photo today, along with his love and this message: “Here is something I wrote on the plane flying over the Andes to visit my bro. The attached image is one I took at Machu Pichu.”

73 hour bodywoke
Stinging eyes wondered open
To Andean sunscraped razor peaks
Oh lha of lha is this your domain?

Mind pushed and pulled to awake
Heart softened by clouds and broken by
Shrinkwrap sugar and orange drink.
Oh lha of lha is this your domain?

Chest beats Ashe black
Snow lions trumpet clouds
Garuda cam soars through space-homeless happy
Alseep in his masters lap
Oh lha of lha how wonderful to arrive!

Machu Pichu • By Cameron Wenaus

The image of the acrylic painting shown below was submitted by Kootenay Shambhala member Bonnie Jackson. Bonnie says, “I call it ‘Ignorance’ because the fish appear to be oblivious to the dangers of the open mouth of the baboon―looking in every direction but that of the gaping fangs…”

Ignorance • By Bonnie Jackson

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Please join us for all or part of our annual pre-Shambhala Day practice intensive, set to run from February 3rd to 12th, 2010.

This program coincides with the end of the Tibetan lunar calendar year. According to Tibetan tradition, the year’s end tends to be cluttered with accumulated personal, social and environmental chaos. So it’s the perfect time to slow down, intensify awareness and reconnect with our fundamental nature in the company of other practitioners.

For a full program description, go to our Polish Your Mind, Pacify Chaos: Winter Practice Intensive page.

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Learn more on our Open House page.