Shambhala Day, Year of the Water Rabbit at the Halifax Shambhala Centre, Tuesday, February 21

As ever, our Shambhala New Year celebrations will be a way for us to connect to and support one another – and to celebrate this important transition into a new energetic cycle and year. We aspire to share a Shambhala Day broadcast that will feel inclusive and that will celebrate the richness of our common heritage.

Please join us at the Halifax Shambhala Centre for any or all of the following activities:

• 8am – Main Shrine Room – Kalapa Dawn (restricted to authorized Werma Practitioners) 
• 8am – Upper Shrine Room – open sitting
• 9:15 – Main Shrine Room – Sadhana of Mahamudra practice
• 10:15 – Invitation to visit the refreshed upstairs rooms, including the new VCTR Ladrang Project Archival space
• 10:30 – A sampling of samosas and chai tea for a social in our Community Rooms
• Break for lunch – bring your own or visit one of the nearby lunch spots!
• 2pm-3:15 –  Live broadcast from Shambhala Global Services in the Main Shrine Room. 
• 3:15 – Announcements and closing remarks

*Masking is encouraged and appreciated.

**We are offering the broadcast as a family-friendly event, with colouring sheets and fort building for children in an Upper Shrine Room and/or Community Rooms. Supervision provided – please connect with Aimee Silver at [email protected] by Feb 16th with the names and ages of your children.

***We will also offer a table sale of gently used books and practice materials.

The theme for Shambhala Day 2023 : Year of The Water Rabbit is Reflecting on the Practice of Community and will include joining together in group practice, sharing Shambhala culture, and greetings from throughout our worldwide community. Barbara Märtens will lead community practice and there will be musical and other artistic offerings. Hosting Centres for the broadcast this year include Cologne, Germany, and Lexington and Birmingham in the Southeastern Region of the U.S. It will be a time of celebrating community, our shared love of practice, and the Shambhala teachings and culture.  If you wish to tune in from home, please visit Shambhala Online to register for the link!

 

Year End Practices Online 

Shambhala Online will again offer year-end practices from February 10-19. These FREE daily one hour gatherings comprise a brief talk, meditation practice, and Recitations of the protector chants and the Pacifying of the Turmoil of the Mamos chant. On Tuesday, February 14, this will be broadcast from the Halifax Shambhala Centre and you are most welcome to join in person, 4pm.  

Presenters for these end of year practice gatherings are: Lodrö Dorje, Daniel Naistadt, Tillie Perks, Eve Rosenthal, John Rockwell, Jeff Scott, Judith Simmer-Brown, Alfonso Taboada, and Scott Wellenbach.  Click here for more information and to register. 

 

Neutral Day Pizza Party!

HSC is looking for volunteers to help refresh the Centre in preparation for Shambhala Day. Monday, February 20th, 11am – 3pm. Interested parties, please sign up here! We have a list of tasks we’d love to see accomplished before opening the doors to the community on the 21st!

 

Other ways to Celebrate the New Year

Since the weather can be unpredictable this time of year, or if gathering in person is not something you wish to do, here are some suggestions for alternative activities to celebrate:

• Small group in-person or online community “dinner parties” where people cook and eat together, with your family, neighbours or study group
• In areas where the weather permits: a nature walk in a local park, hike with a picnic, or an outdoor lhasang;
• Special storytime, crafting or baking activities for children 

Shambhala Day Fundraising

This year, Shambhala Global Services is particularly encouraging donations to local Centres. We hope you will consider making a donation or raising your ongoing contributions. A percentage of local donations is given to Shambhala Global Services to support their efforts on behalf of the Halifax Centre. You can click here to view a comprehensive overview of Shambhala Global Services. Please also consider supporting Shambhala Global Services individually.