Strive onward with care
By Greg Wolk Just after the Buddha became enlightened, he walked past some people who were very impressed with his presence. Knowing he was special but not knowing why, they asked if he was some sort of angel or god? He said no. They kept asking him questions. Finally, they asked him, “Well, what are … Continue
Exploring the Protector Principle
by Kaitlyn Hatch Next month Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls and Dr. Claudelle Glasgow (Dr. G) are giving two offerings the weekend of December 13-15. Friday evening and all day Saturday will explore the relationship between the Protector Principle and habitual patterns of power and privilege. This offering is open to Dharma practitioners of all levels … Continue
The Generous Present
by Matthew Lyon Recently I read a book by Dr. Joe Dispensa, a well-known author and motivational teacher. A certain phrase jumped out at me from the pages. In describing the qualities of a relaxed and healthy state of mind, he referred to “the generous present moment”. The words sparked something in me, and I … Continue
Regard All Dharmas As Dreams
by Larry Steele Walter Parker’s favorite Lojong slogan is #2: “Regard all dharmas as dreams.” “It speaks to emptiness,” Walter said recently. “It reminds us that ultimately we are making everything up. All that head tripping! Our monkey minds never seem to stop projecting our own neuroses on the world.” Walter Parker will offer his … Continue
The Inner Path
by Matthew Lyon The power of generosity is invoked as we establish a path of inner development in our life. This means that as we acquire skills in our external life, such as training for a job or learning to play an instrument, we are also attending to our state of mind and being. In … Continue
Finding the Balance
By Matthew Lyon In discussions about a generous life, I am most often asked about the right balance between taking care of ourselves and our desire to help others. There is no easy answer to this, but we can contemplate some basic principles. For example, good parents need to put a lot of energy into … Continue
Welcoming the Teacher
A noted teacher’s upcoming July 2019 workshop in Kyudo inspires a personal reflection on the long, braiding path by Brad Warren I learned early that a truly qualified teacher is precious. As a boy, during a turbulent time in life, I found refuge in a rigorous daily practice of archery. A small 12-year-old could gather … Continue
The Fundamental Virtue
By Matthew Lyon In Buddhist wisdom, generosity is regarded as the ground, the basis, of all other virtues. Why is this so? We can understand this by exploring the state of mind which allows beneficial actions to arise and flourish. In other words, generosity is defined by an approach to life, a way of being, … Continue
A conversation with Acharya Susan Chapman and Elesa Commerse, teachers of “End of Suffering”
The Seattle Shambhala community is excited to welcome Elesa Commerse and Acharya Susan Chapman this April for a weekend program to strengthen our connections with one another: The End of Suffering: Claiming our Vulnerability as Strength. These two women have spent many years experiencing and understanding the cycles that we find ourselves in that cause … Continue
Kindness to Oneself
By Matthew Lyon Many of us are well attuned to the virtues of generosity. I know many people within spiritual communities – and outside of them – who give greatly of their time, money and resources to worthy causes. In the course of writing my columns, which explore the benefits of a generous life, I’ve … Continue
