Autumnal Director Newsletter
Burning Bush in front of HSC
Thanksgiving…. giving thanks…. living in gratitude. We, as a Community, have much to be grateful for. We have heard the dharma from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and a multitude of other revered teachers. We live in Kalapa. We get to practice together in powerful shrine rooms in a beautiful building.
And we have each other… to remind us that we are not the centre of the universe. Sangha…. the beloved thorn in our sides!
Let us continue to encourage each other on the path, share our disappointments, our insights, our joys, and frustrations. What fun!
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Centre Activities
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
We are delighted to host Ringu Tulku Rinpoche on October 13th – 15th for a weekend program on The Sadhana of Mahamudra by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Ringu Tulku was born in Kham, in east Tibet, and recognised by His Holiness the sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa as the incarnation of one of the tulkus of Ringu monastery, a Kagyüpa monastery in his home province. In the late 1950s his family escaped ahead of the invading Chinese and eventually settled in Sikkim, India. He first met Trungpa Rinpoche at the Young Lamas School and has shared some stories from that time on the Chronicles site. He was one of the first people to receive the abhiseka for The Sadhana of Mahamudra from Trungpa Rinpoche in India.
For more information, and to register, go to the website.
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September 3rd – 7th
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Miniature Ikebana Arrangement
Sept 14 – 16 & 30th
The HSC Ikebana group hosted a Sogetsu Ikebana teacher from Montreal and even a hurricane didn’t stop them from learning more of this wonderful contemplative art!
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Global Equinox Lhasang
Harvest of Peace
At least three generations of Shambhalians (perhaps four!) came together on September 23rd to celebrate our community and the equinox, enjoy each other’s company, eat pie and drink cider, and shop at the silent auction. And, miraculously, the Centre was restored to Sunday Sitting style seemingly without any instruction in record time!
Apple Crisp!
The Silent Auction was quite successful, although there are a few items remaining like this Miniature Samurai Armour…. the perfect holiday gift for someone?!
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from Archives
Jeanne’s gift from HSC (SMR photo by Julie Dubose)
Xixi enjoying (or not) the festivities
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Upcoming
Community Meeting
Sunday, October 29th, 3-5 pm
Participatory Governance
“Many hands make light work.”
Holiday Weekthuns
Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, the Halifax Shambhala Centre will host two practice retreats: Mahamudra and Shama
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Food Bank Donations
Once again, HSC is collecting food for the food bank. Please leave your donations in the green bins near the elevators on the main floor. Thank you for your generosity.
MOST NEEDED FOOD ITEMS: soups and stews, peanut butter, cereal, canned vegetables and fruits, canned meat, fish, and beans, rice, pasta and pasta sauce, baby food and formula, meal replacement drinks, canned and powdered milk. We especially appreciate nutritious food donations that help make up part of a main meal. We also accept new, unopened personal hygiene and household items. NO HOMEMADE FOOD, PLEASE.
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Satellite Staff – Request!
Receptionists Needed: Mondays & Tuesdays, noon to 4 pm
Email [email protected]
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Ruth Whitehead
In loving memory.
October 10th, 1947 – August 29th, 2023
Ruth authored or co-authored eighteen books of non-fiction, created exhibits and documentaries, and contributed to numerous journals and magazines. She wrote fiction for fun. In 1989, she took Buddhist vows in the Karma Kagyu/Nyingma lineages. In 1995, she was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, by St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS. In 2014, Dr. Whitehead was inducted into the Order of Nova Scotia. She is missed.
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Departure of Aimee Silver
Since 2002, Aimee Silver has been immersed in bookkeeping and administration in various capacities within Shambhala, either as employee or contract or on projects for SCAN, Pubs, Archives and HSC. She has been at the Centre since 2017. In fact, she is the glue that has held us together through the recent traumas.
Now she is moving on to pursue a dream career as a Postpartum Doula. Although, we will miss her efficiency, skill, and dead-on accuracy ….not to mention her ‘institutional memory’… and bright smile, we are most delighted that she has this exciting opportunity.
Perhaps we can convince her to become ‘satellite staff’ whenever we cannot find something or figure out how to do something or know who to call for a repair or…..!
Now Hiring: Bookkeeper and Administrator
The ideal candidate must be able to work in Canada and be able to multitask; working independently and also collaboratively in the following areas:
Finance: Timely and accurate bookkeeping, including sharing of monthly financial reports with the Director and Advisory Council. Managing a Projected and Actual budget comparison. Tracking and reconciling recurring and one-time donations, as well as program income. Full-cycle accounting, using Zero software: daily entries, payroll, bank reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable. Submits year-end financial package as requested by the parent organization, Shambhala Canada.
Administration: Oversees ambiance and well-being of the building and staff. Main point of contact for any staff/tenant/member conflicts or concerns before escalating to the Director of Community & Culture. Ordering of office supplies, managing the auto-attendant phone greeting, website updates and coordinating network and other building system maintenance as necessary. Proficient in Social Media – Facebook and Instagram.
Part time, 20-25 hours per week, $25/hour. Health benefits available.
Start date January 3, 2024, with the option to start earlier.
This is not suitable as a remote position.
Please send your resume to [email protected] prior to November 15th.
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Financial Update
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Mission
The Halifax Shambhala Centre celebrates the inherent goodness of humanity and the natural world, and provides opportunities for everyone to practice the Buddhist teachings of the Kagyu, Nyingma and Shambhala traditions.
Vision
The Halifax Shambhala Centre offers meditation and contemplative practices that are an expression of the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings. The Centre is dedicated, through a variety of methods and forms, to kindle the best true nature in individuals and sow the seeds of good human society.
Chögyam Trungpa founded the Halifax Shambhala Centre and many other centers worldwide. He inspired and transmitted a path to study and practice these teachings so as to awaken innate awareness and gentleness, thus recognizing one’s own inherent awake qualities. Wisdom, strength, confidence and dignity emerge so that we are able to compassionately and genuinely respond to an increasingly volatile, uncertain and complex world.
The Halifax Shambhala Centre is composed of and continues to welcome people of all generations, circumstances, and outlooks who together create an enriching community and support for one another on their spiritual paths. The Centre is inclusive of families, youth, seniors and genders – any and all who are dedicated to openness and attentiveness to the variety of life’s circumstances. We aim to provide access and opportunity to the means and tools to deepen caring and kindness as a practice of
meditation in everyday life.
The Halifax Shambhala Centre provides encouragement and offers a host of pursuits in many areas of life within a container of meditation and awareness practices. Arts, education, health and healing, care for the environment, service, social justice, matters of commerce, and the raising of families are some of the many areas of interest.
The Halifax Shambhala Centre is part of the global Shambhala organization whose entities include Dorje Denma Ling Land Centre in Tatamagouche, Milk Lake Retreat Centre on the South Shore and Shambhala Archives based in Halifax. The Centre is also fortunate to engage with other Nova Scotia groups including Gampo Abbey, Karma Changchub Ling (KCCL), Kalapa Ikebana, Kozan Kyudojo, Ocean, Nalanda Translation Committee, Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective, Suncamp, Yukoan Tea Group and others.
Harm & Healing
The Halifax Shambhala Centre acknowledges that harm, misconduct, and misuse of power has occurred within our worldwide community over the past 40+ years. This has left many feeling alienated and marginalized. Abuse and trauma are part of our history and need to be addressed and worked through.
Together, we can do better.
Our community is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone wishing to practice meditation and study the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings. Assistance will be offered in whatever ways we are able to help.
To report a concern, contact the Halifax Shambhala Centre, Director of Community and Culture at [email protected].
Shari Vogler, Ron Stubbert, Mindy Moore, Bakes Mitchell, Ron Renz, Richard Peisinger, Joanne Fordham, Deborah Luscomb
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Thank you for your attention, energy, support and participation!
Gratefully submitted by Deborah Luscomb, Director of Community & Culture
