The images in this post were captured by Kootenay Shambhala members on recent travels. Each image says something about appreciating―even celebrating―the richness of the world as it is. Accompanying text is minimal; the photos speak for themselves. More photos may be added as they become available. Thanks to all contributors for offering their work.

Presented here is the March 2010 dharma teaching from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s website.

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

It is absolutely possible to create a good human society here on earth. To do so, we need strong mindfulness and intention. As human beings, we are influenced by our environment. If we create an environment of aggression and disharmony, stress will become the norm. Conversely, if we create an environment of kindness, love, discipline, and generosity, we will all begin to feel a sense of peace.

One characteristic of this dark age is that we doubt our innate goodness. We look outside ourselves for fulfillment, which creates individualism, where we believe only in our own interests. We solidify our mind and consciousness—which are naturally fluid and harmonious—into material entities. We become hard individuals who communicate through anger and arrogance. We imagine that all that will satisfy us is material. With this view we create a hard, angry, and materialistic world.

At present, the world seems to be running on self-centeredness, speed, and aggression. As this pattern exacerbates, the possibility of peace, both personally and socially, will diminish. Materialism will never make us happy because it is of a different nature than consciousness. Even though material things are important, they are not fundamentally at the core of the human being. The antidote for this materialistic outlook is peace, the opposite of stress.

In creating peace, our relationship with the environment is critical, particularly our relationship with the inner environment—our consciousness. If we don’t have a peaceful and harmonious relationship with our own being, it will be impossible for us to create peace anywhere else. Without a personal experience of peace, we won’t even believe in the possibility. Therefore we must become mindful of peace. Read the entire teaching on the Sakyong’s website.

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Learn more on our Open House page.

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.