Spring 2023 Letter from the Director

Cheerful spring! The crocuses, tulips, and daffodils are appearing… and the birds are singing (and mating)… new life is abundant everywhere, including at the Halifax Shambhala Centre. Laura and I are slowly taking our seats, with tremendous and gracious support from Aimee, as activity explodes all around us.  We cannot keep up with the requests for programs and events. Not only that, offers to make things happen are arising….. a true sign of community.

I am honoured, curious and excited to be walking into this unknown territory with you. How do our ancient teachings apply in this time?  Going forward includes looking back.

Let us open our hearts to each other’s pain, anger, disappointment, inspiration, and vision.  And most of all, let us not necessarily believe what we think!

Together we can move forward for the benefit of the earth and all beings.

“The ruler of the Great Eastern Sun views the world, the entire universe, with panoramic vision. They see what needs to be done, what needs to be conquered, what needs to be overcome, what needs to be destroyed, what needs to be cherished. When you join heaven and earth, you experience total unity, a total sense of That which is unshakable. You cannot be disturbed by cowardice of any kind at all. You are here, right here. You are riding your mind, and the rider and what is ridden are the same thing. They are one piece. It is the complete synchronization of body and mind.”

CTR – Smile at Fear

From the Advisory Council

The HSC Advisory Council continues to meet regularly. Main topics to-date have been Community Engagement & Local Governance, Mission, and the Affiliate Agreement.

Mission

The Advisory Council has been looking at the Mission statement, Vision and Values of the Halifax Centre.  Building on discussions of our last community gathering (January 2023) we would like to explore our mission and vision and where we, as a community, are on this journey. Please join us May 6th at 3pm in the Main Shrine Room at the Centre.

Affiliate Agreement 

There is concern about ambiguities and gaps in the current bylaws and charter. We are exploring these questions and concerns with the SG board, requesting clarification, and we’re awaiting their response. The HSC Advisory Council cannot recommend signing the documents until our concerns have been addressed.

You can view the current documents here: Charter and Affiliation.

Furthermore, the HSC Advisory Council has not yet been empowered by the Community to make such binding decisions on its behalf. The HSC Advisory Council is still exploring community governance structures and models and plans to engage the HSC Community in a discussion to see how we want to go forward. The agreements can be signed by the appropriate group once a governance model is approved by the Community and put in place.  More information will be shared at the Community meeting on May 6th.

The Advisory Council is meeting with the Shambhala Global Board to discuss our concerns on May 19th.

Your AC members,

Shari Vogler, Ron Stubbert, Mindy Moore, Bakes Mitchell, Ron Renz,
Richard Peisinger, Deborah Luscomb

 

 

Centre Activities

In honour of the Parinirvana of the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Shambhala Archives offered a wonderful exhibit of ritual items brought out of Tibet in the Tenno Room of A-Suite.

On the evening of April 4th, 75 folks, from three generations, came together in the Main Shrine Room for a Sadhana of Mahamudra feast, joining over 300 on Zoom, and gracefully guided through the practice by the Friedman sisters.

Everything and anything that is used for ritual practice was gathered up last November when we welcomed Kalapa Pubs and SGS Finance into the building, and when the Archives display room moved upstairs.  We are slowly in the process of unpacking, sorting, and properly storing, for ease of use, all of those items in the former Kasung Office, now affectionately called the Chopon Room.  If you are interested in helping with this ongoing process, please contact Deborah, [email protected]

Wouldn’t you love to sit at the desk in our beautiful reception room and greet arriving visitors and practitioners?  Shifts are open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, noon to 5 pm.  If you have the time and interest, please contact Deborah, [email protected]

Updates you may have missed!

Halifax joined the world-wide Shambhala sangha for the global lhasang on the vernal equinox as part of a powerful collective expression of Touching the Earth’s Mission Statement…

“Clearly seeing the need for an urgent response to human caused environmental degradation Touching the Earth warriors invite individual and collective action for the rebalancing, protection and celebration of a healthy living world.”

A short Gesar Lhasang was practiced to the four directions circumambulating the Citadel crest on Monday evening, March 20th.

Halifax celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd with a waterfront parade of indigenous and many community groups. Floats of rolling trees, stilt walkers, drummers, huge friendly animals in their paper-mache emanations, and a large STEC contingent with drala flags and banners, tiger’s whiskers and talking fish. KI KI SO SO!

Our dharma sister, Karen Ritchie (Jigme Datrön), passed away peacefully at home in Santa Fe on Monday, March 13. Her death came six months after her diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. Karen was a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who affectionately called her “Dixie Dayton,” and in recent years, a student of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. She was a healer with a huge heart and was full of love and compassion. She transitioned peacefully with her daughter, Hillary and her husband, Steve by her side. Please hold her in your heart and mind in a way that supports her journey.

Thank you!

While I can’t promise to keep these newsletter updates happening monthly, they will be sent out at least quarterly. In the meantime, please keep an eye on our weekly Sunspot Newsletter, to keep up-to-date with our programming and events for each week.  I invite you to join me for tea and chocolate on Friday afternoons between 3-5pm during my open office hours. Bring any concerns, requests and offerings to me at your convenience. Email to book a time or simply drop in!

Warmly,
Deborah Luscomb
Community, Care & Conduct Director