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This is the fourth in a series of Kootenay Shambhala member interviews conducted by Bobbie Ogletree to explore the notion of “creating enlightened society,” a central theme of Shambhala, and celebrate our community’s diversity.

STEVE CAUTHERS describes himself as “a semi-retired postal worker, father, husband, and aspiring meditator.”

Steve Cauthers

Steve Cauthers: Six years ago.

Did you have other practices or another path before you became involved with Shambhala?

In my early twenties, I was having a rough go of it emotionally, and I was abusing drugs and alcohol. So, I went to AA and learned about a higher power. I hadn’t been raised with any religion and I investigated this idea on my own. I became involved with prayer and I prayed on a daily basis for about twenty-three years.

What attracted you to the Shambhala Centre?

There was a man at work who went to the Centre. I was attracted to his centered energy. I was coming out of a divorce and my mind was very discursive. I really like to read, but my mind was so discursive that I couldn’t concentrate on reading. I also thought that I wasn’t getting enough out of prayer and that I needed a shift.

How has the Shambhala practice helped you?

I am a fairly anxious type of person and the practice has helped in this area. I can still be quite anxious, but the practice has reduced the level of the anxiety, if only a little at times.

What kinds of hindrances do you experience in your practice?

I tend to be very busy in my life. I wake up very early, go to work, stop off at home, get on the computer etc. I sometimes really fill up my life so that I feel I don’t have enough time to practice. Another obstacle I experience is maitri/self-love. I sometimes have trouble being gentle with myself. But the practice has increased my ability to do that. So that is also a benefit of the practice.

Do you practice regularly?

Kind of semi-regularly. I have a shrine set up, and I will go a few weeks practicing for an hour daily. I feel the positive effects of this quickly. But then I let the practice go for awhile and that can make it hard to resume it. I do try to remember to bring my practice into my day even if I am not sitting.

How do you apply your practice to living the Shambhala vision in our seemingly chaotic world?

I see people’s pain and suffering; I see their anger and their lashing out. I can be affected by this. However, more and more I can see where they are coming from. The practice has helped me develop more empathy. My outlook is that we are all on the planet together.

What is an aspect of your Shambhala vision?

I see Shambhala as a place where everyone opens doors for each other.

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On Thursday, September 9th, we’re launching this year’s fall semester with Enlightened World, a three-part video program featuring Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche introducing the Shambhala Buddhist path. Maria Stella will facilitate accompanying group discussion.

For a full program description click here.

Stay tuned in the days ahead as we add other programs to the fall calendar.

A Nelson community meeting about refugee sponsorship is set to take place at the Shambhala Centre on Wednesday, July 7th, at 7:00 PM.

The meeting’s organizer, Kootenay Shambhala member Candace Batycki, invites everyone to come and meet Karen refugees from Burma now living in Kimberley, and to discuss whether we have the collective wherewithal to help refugees resettle in our town. Free snacks will be offered.

For more information contact Candace at 250-352-3830.

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This post is part of a series intended to enhance the accessibility―and potential benefit―of key Shambhala leadership resources. It features an excerpt from the document Tenets of Shambhala Governance available on Shambhala’s Governance webpage.

DECISION MAKING AND PARTICIPATION IN SHAMBHALA GOVERNANCE

In Shambhala governance, natural hierarchy includes genuine participative consultation.

A distinctive feature of mandala structure as expressed through our social monarchy is the fact that decisions of major significance to the mandala at any level may be taken by the Sakyong, President and others empowered by the Sakyong and the Kalapa Court. A further aspect of mandala principle is that decisions making includes an appropriate balance of participative consultation. If there is too much authority, the energy, involvement and creative insight of the community is stifled and community needs are not sufficiently expressed or understood. If there is too much “democracy,” a confusing level of complexity develops and there is little forward motion.

Good decision process involves finding a balance. One role of leadership is to facilitate this balance, to make sure that in all important decisions those impacted are free to speak and be heard. Decision making should be informed by this consultation. In return, it is important that our leaders are properly empowered with sufficient authority to make informed decisions. Read the rest of this entry »

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We’re happy to announce that Shastri candidate Ben Hines is coming from Seattle to teach Shambhala Training Level V: Open Sky on the weekend of September 10th to 12th.

The role of the Shastri (literally in Sanskrit, “teacher learned in the texts and commentaries”) is primarily to represent and teach the integrated Shambhala Buddhist curriculum, The Way of Shambhala.

For a full program description click here.

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Compiled by the Governance as Path Working Group, Third Shambhala Congress, and available from Shambhala Media, the book The Six Ways of Ruling: A Resource for Leaders contains commentaries and contemplations on the six ways of ruling, a key principle of Shambhala governance.

Presented below is the text from a corresponding wallet card file posted on Shambhala’s Governance as Path webpage.

THE SIX WAYS OF RULING

Heaven

Benevolent
Benevolence is rooted in patience. Our mind is spacious. We understand that people suffer. Our patience results in gentleness, absence of aggression. Benevolence requires the steadiness of an elephant―a sense of trusting ourselves and remembering the suffering of others. When others are acting out of aggression and speed, they can’t quite trust benevolence. The wisdom ruler often encounters blame and criticism. If we feel cornered in the hallway by irritation, it seems overwhelming, and we’re likely to react aggressively. Our mind becomes a little box. We begin to panic because we have no room for maneuver. At that point we don’t need to be less gentle―we need to be more gentle. Gentleness is always the best whip. It is devoted to the welfare of others. Read the rest of this entry »

Click here for all leadership-related posts

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The chart shown at the left is a handy depiction of elements that lead to good meetings. It is posted here for anyone who might benefit.

Shambhala President Richard Reoch fleshes out the chart in an accompanying talk, available as a transcript (along with the chart and a wealth of other leadership resources) on Shambhala’s Governance as Path webpage.

For the latest monthly digest of current Centre news, see the July 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 nelsonbuddha@gmail.com. (An unsubscribe link is included at the bottom of each message.)

This video might raise questions about karma. Or it might just make you want to get up and dance!

Hey Nelson Downtown Local Market visitors and vendors…

You can take a break from the market by joining us for Wednesday Public Meditation any Wednesday between 12:00 and 1:00 PM.

Look for our sidewalk sign (enlarge image) and c’mon up and rest your feet and minds.