Note on Now from Sandra
Wednesday March 18, 2020 Note on Now from Shastri Sandra Ladley Dear Berkeley Center Friends, As I sit here sheltered, ingesting rapidly changing news, and adapting to a new normal I wanted to share a little ‘Note on Now’ and a reminder from the Buddhist teachings. I invite others who may want to share a … Continue
Resolution from the Northern California Shambhala Board of Directors and Leadership Regarding the Separation of Children from Their Parents at the United States Border
Family is sacred to Shambhala Buddhism. Family holds the wisdom of our ancestors, a wisdom that enriches us and that can be handed down to future generations. Family is kin, the root of the word “kindness.” Shambhala Buddhism takes as its path the creation of an enlightened society, the most intimate form of which is … Continue
New Center and Practice Leadership Announced
The Berkeley Shambhala Director Search Committee announces with great delight the appointment of Arelly Sanchez-Shackett as new Center Director. In addition it is announced that Elena Oxman has been appointed Interim Director of Practice and Education by outgoing Center Director Rees Sweeny-Taylor. Ms. Oxman steps up after six months of brilliant service as Way of … Continue
People of Color Meditation Launching June 12th!
When space is created for People of Color to come together in community and friendship it can be healing and restorative. In collaboration with Oakland Shambhala, we are excited to offer such a space where in addition to fellowship, POC might find nourishment and inspiration in the Shambhala teachings and practice of meditation. This evening … Continue
Update on Harvest of Peace and Our Firebird Fundraiser
This is an important time for Shambhala: we are actually manifesting many of the principles that we have so long held dear. But it is a time when these principles seem to be more and more needed in the world. I invite all of you to take these principles into your own life as your … Continue
What Is Contemplative Social Engagement?
By: Kelsey Blackwell and David Kahane We live in a time of social, political and environmental turbulence: political division, natural disasters, economic polarization, climate change, refugee flows, hatred and intolerance toward foreigners, people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ and indigenous people. Many of us are asking, “what can I do?” “What does contemplative resistance look like?” … Continue
What Makes a Deleg Work?
It’s the evening of Shambhala Day, and nine people are gathered around the dining table of Dekyong Barbara Creech in Walnut Creek. She asks each of us to share, one by one, our aspirations for the Year of the Fire Bird. There are a couple of typically Western resolutions, such as working out more, but … Continue
Dancing with Self-doubt Uncovered a Valuable Audience
My body and I have not always been on the best of terms. For most of my life, ignoring the anxiety, fear and self-doubt that I faced in my day-to-day was a second full-time job. I constantly looked to my colleagues to determine which face to put forward in different settings. Work meeting? That’s confident, … Continue
I-Ching Reading for 2017 – Year of the Firebird
I-Ching reading for the Berkeley Shambhala Center, 2017, year of the Firebird Following Sakyong Mipham’s Shambhala Day address, March 27, 2017, eight of us walked from Inspiration Point in Tilden Park to Wildcat Peak for the annual I-Ching reading for the Berkeley Shambhala Center: BSC Director Rees Sweeny-Taylor, Shastri Charlene Leung, Andrea Roth, Christine Nesbitt, … Continue
Harvest of Peace 2016
Dear Sangha, On Sunday, September 25th, we held our annual Harvest of Peace at the Berkeley Shambhala Center. About forty community members gathered to mark the end of summer, celebrate what we have accomplished, and look ahead to the coming months. The Sakyong addressed us in a short talk, which you can watch here. We … Continue
