The 100 Mile House Shambhala Meditation Group has just launched a blog, and they’ve wasted no time putting it to work. One post publicizes the Great Eastern Sun - Drala - Windhorse retreat they’re hosting at Mahood Falls, BC from August 30th to September 5th, 2010; another features Mahood Falls photos from a recent retreat.

To follow the Group’s activity, visit their blog: 100 Mile House Shambhala Meditation Group.

May basic goodness continue to flower in central BC!

Retreat at Mahood Falls

In this six-minute Shambhala Sun Audio clip, Wired magazine writer Steve Silberman speaks about the increasing power and reach of the Internet, and the challenge of bringing mindfulness to our online activity.

To listen to the clip, click here.

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The wait for this program is almost over!

For a full program description click here.

Signs of vibrant life at the Kootenay Shambhala Centre are everywhere. Find out what’s going on, in the March issue of Kootenay Shambhala eNews.

You can subscribe to eNews in the “Email News Sign-Up” section on our home page or by contacting us at info@nelsonbuddha.com. (An unsubscribe link is included at the bottom of each message.)

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Get all the info on our Movie Night page.

This year’s “Year in Review” video features footage from the Rinchen Terdzo, the Fourth Shambhala Congress, and the Tenshuk Ceremony, plus interviews with the Ashe Acharya John Rockwell about the opening of the Scorpion Seal and Jennifer Holder about the launch of the Shambhala Times.

To watch the video, click here.

In his Shambhala Day address this year, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche delivered a potent teaching on manifesting love and kindness.

“At this particular time, it is love that is the message. We don’t need to give into hate, but rather we should have the power and maturity to express our love. I believe that this maturity to express love and kindness is what will save our mind and will save our planet. Love is believing in our basic goodness.”

To listen to an audio recording of the address, click here.

One of the wonderful surprises at our Shambhlala Day celebration yesterday was a message and video greeting from Kootenay Shambhala Centre Director Lynn Dragone, who is about six months into a nine-month stay at Gampo Abbey.

The images below, featuring Changchup Garma (as Lynn is known at the Abbey), were selected from the video. Lynn’s message follows.

Dear Precious Sangha,

A glorious and peaceful Shambhala Day to all of you! Greetings from the vast expanse of Gampo Abbey on the cliffs of Cape Breton Island. The ice has come and filled the horizon, and a huge moose galloped across the snow early this morning. We just completed our closing ceremony for Yarne, the seven-week winter retreat yesterday.

It has been a satisfying time to practice diligently and celebrate with immense joy and tenderness for this path so well established by the practice lineage. Ani Pema [Chödrön] is keeping me out of trouble here, as her dedication to awakened heart knows no bounds.

A highlight of Shambhala Day (besides our trip to the hotsprings) has always been recognizing the worldwide sangha we are a part of. In this spirit I am happy to celebrate with practitioners from the breadth of the globe. We send you all heartfelt greetings this year from the extended family at the Abbey that I am a part of this year.

I’m learning a lot about living in a community at close range. As it turns out, it seems that our imperfections are the perfect path to reflect what we most need to learn. So we don’t have to worry, we all have something to offer! I miss all of you perfectly imperfect people. I am so grateful to have been nourished by the sanity of the Kootenay sangha.

There is too much to share now so I’ll wait until I come home and have a feast of relating then. The Yarne guests are leaving on Monday and we are having threeee―count ‘em: THREE―days off when we have to break the boundaries of the retreat. I haven’t been outside the boundaries for 4-1/2 months so I think it’s time. I’ll try to go to the little town nearby to have a donut or something.

On Thursday we will begin a self-designed silent retreat for seven days. This turns out to be a very spacious ‘cooker’ and I should be quite well done when I return in June.

I’ll say goodbye for now… May you all experience deep happiness… Yes! Enjoy your LIFE! in whatever way that expresses itself for you.

With deep appreciation and joy,

Changchup Garma / Lynn

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Have fun with earth, space and flowers (and train your mind and discover the richness of the present moment), April 10th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM. Everyone is welcome.

Learn more on our Ikebana Workshop page.