Seattle Shambhala Center COVID-19 Updates

March 23, 2020: Letter to the Community –  Center Closure Update and Online Offerings

Subject: Seattle Shambhala Closure Update and Online Offerings

Reply to: [email protected]

March 23, 2020

Dear Noble Sangha,

We have been holding you in our hearts and minds this month as we collectively move deeper into the unknown territory of the coronavirus. It was wonderful to see and reconnect with many of you at Zoom open houses. Below are updates on our Center closure, community care, and Zoom offerings. 

Center Closure Update: 

Earlier this month we sent notice of closing our Center through March 31. As the end of the month approaches, it is quite clear we must extend this date. Given the uncertainty of the coronavirus timeline, we will remain closed for the foreseeable future until we receive word from federal, state, and local health officials that it is safe for us to reconvene. We will also make sure we can comply with any precautions that must be taken before we do re-open. 

As your Center Co-Directors, we commit to keeping you informed on developments as does our newly appointed Board of Directors. You can reach us at [email protected] or [email protected].

Community Care: 

As the Board indicated in their March 16 letter, we are re-instituting the “Deleg” neighborhood system where we can both ask for and offer help.  Please consider if you can help support your Deleg (i.e., people in your neighborhood who are members of our Center). This could include phone calls to check on people and/or getting essential supplies (assuming you are not in a high-risk group). If you can offer support or need help, reach out to our Director of Societal Health and Well-Being, Terry Jaworski, at [email protected].

More Offerings Online:

And, there is good news! We have established an ongoing Zoom schedule for both our Sunday morning and Thursday evening open house events. In addition, Contentment in Everyday Life starts March 30th on Zoom! Like all our classes, we have a “pay-what-you-can” policy. This class is open to all, so we encourage you to attend as well as to share this opportunity with family and friends. 

Heart of Recovery is back to meeting every Wednesday evening and the  BIPOC meditation group will restart their “first Sunday of the month” schedule in April. Zoom space is also  available for the Families and Children program and the Ziji young meditators group as they desire. 

Our satellites in Tacoma and Port Angeles are quickly moving to Zoom. Updated information about how to join will soon be posted in the “Location” tab of our website. 

Our upgraded Zoom capacity also includes space for feast and sadhana practices to resume. These practices are in our second-tier of implementation once we get a bit more rhythm with the open house offerings.  However, if your feast group is interested in going online, start now to identify people in your group who are tech savvy and able to learn about the Zoom program with minimal assistance. Also think about how to establish the proper virtual decorum and container for your practice. Contact [email protected] if you are ready to move forward. Open Sadhana practices (e.g., Shambhala Sadhana and Sadhana of Mahamudra) involve sharing practice materials with those who do not have the texts.  This is more involved and may come later. 

Finally, we invite you to take advantage of additional online programming that currently exists, such as Shambhala online and Ocean: The Vast Teachings of Chögyam Trumpa Rinpoche who offer both classes and online practice sessions.

Zoom Hosts Needed:

For each of our open houses and all of our classes we need a Zoom host to help control settings and create a welcoming container. We want to free our teachers, discussion leaders, and MI’s to focus on their offering and not the technology. If you are familiar with Zoom hosting technology (different than just being on a Zoom call) or believe you could quickly learn, let us know if you would like to help. You need access to a computer with a camera, headset/earbuds with microphone, and a good internet connection.  

Stay Informed: 

Heeding the advice of public health officials is a bodhisattva act. It helps us care for ourselves and be of benefit to others by not spreading the virus. To stay up-to-date with the latest coronavirus information you can refer to:

Finally, during this unsettling time, our practice is essential to help us maintain equanimity, an open heart and skillful action. Please engage in whatever practices bring you peace and clarity as well as those to relieve the suffering of others. 

To the health and well-being of our community and all beings, 

JoAnn Schindler & Annica Holder, Co-Directors

on behalf of the Seattle Shambhala Board of Directors & Leadership Team

March 15, 2020: Letter to the Community – Virtual Thursday Open House including Tonglen Practice and Meditation Instruction

Dear Members and Friends of the Seattle Shambhala Community,

On Thursday, March 19 we will dedicate our evening open house to online instruction and practice of tonglen. This practice, from the wisdom tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, is a method for connecting with suffering and awakening our strength and compassion so we may be of benefit. Many people have been requesting practices that are beneficial during this pandemic crisis. Like many practices, its benefit is often enhanced when done in community.

This session is open to all who would like to learn or strengthen their tonglen practice. It’s recommended that participants have established a basic meditation practice to get the most from this session. If tonglen is new to you, you can read this short article by Pema Choödrön.

Due to the contemplative nature of this session, please help us hold a strong container by being mindful of the timing of your arrival as well as the decorum you bring to the online experience. Treat this virtual environment as sacred space.

Schedule:

6:15 – 6:30 PM Arrival for those who want shamatha meditation instruction and are less familiar with Zoom

6:30 – 7:00 PM Meditation Instruction

7:00 – 7:10 Transition Time (Arrival for those coming after the meditation instruction)

7:10 – 8:30 Tonglen Instruction and Practice; Q&A

Since we are pioneering virtual offerings we are bound to have technical hiccups, so bring your patience and sense of humor. Here are the login instructions:

Zoom Information:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/360979520Meeting ID: 360 979 520One tap mobile
+16699006833,,360979520# US (San Jose)
+16468769923,,360979520# US (New York)Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 360 979 520
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adcszEZv0l

Technical Advice and Decorum Notes:

  • In order to create smoother virtual arrivals, your camera and audio will be turned off when you enter Zoom. Once you are settled, you can turn your camera on. During the discussion, we ask that you stay muted until you’d like to speak.
  • If possible, get and use a headset with headphones + microphone
  • Be on reliable wifi rather than data (unless data is more reliable for you)
  • Use video and plan to be seen by others (not just audio) – if possible. If you have weak wifi/data, turning video off will help
  • Put your screen/camera at eye level so you can sit up straight and not hunch over
  • Treat the call as you would the shrine room: for example, plan not to get up and get water during the instruction and practice
  • Sit in a room where you can close the door; if that’s not possible, please ask those in your home to give you space for the duration of the session
  • Be open to the possibility of intimacy and community at a distance!

 

New to Zoom? For a quicker entry to the program, download the free software here. If you do not have the software you will be asked to download it when you click the link to join above. You do not need to download any software to dial in by phone.

Look for future announcements about additional online offerings. We are expanding our capacity to continue to serve Thursday and Sunday Open Houses, and as well as to serve upcoming classes, our affinity groups, satellite locations and more. Check our Seattle Shambhala Center homepage for updates.

It is our intention to continue offering opportunities to gather in community for practice, study, and support. Working with our hearts and minds is essential during this time of crisis. Community can help us access our innate goodness, wisdom, kindness and strength so that we can take care of ourselves and each other.

We look forward to seeing you in the virtual realm,

Annica Holder and JoAnn Schindler
Co-Directors, Seattle Shambhala Center

March 12, 2020:
Letter to the Community – Virtual Sunday Open House Practice Announcement

Dear Members and Friends of the Seattle Shambhala Community,

We are pleased to offer our Sunday, March 15 open house online via Zoom. On March 5 we announced the need to close our Center due to the coronavirus outbreak. Since that time a small group has been working to activate more online capacity for our many offerings. We are delighted to have Sunday morning open house as our maiden voyage.

Our schedule is as follows:

10:00 – 10:30 Meditation Instruction
10:30 – 10:40 Transition Time
10:40 – 11:10 Opening Chants and Sitting Meditation
11:10 – 11:45 Facilitated Discussion

Please come for any or all segments and leave when you wish. Since this is our first virtual offering we are bound to have technical hiccups, so bring your patience and sense of humor.

Here are the login instructions:

Zoom Information:

Join Zoom Meeting by Video
https://zoom.us/j/256864044

Meeting ID: 256 864 044

Joining by Phone (audio only)
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,256864044# US (San Jose)
+16468769923,,256864044# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 256 864 044
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adcszEZv0l

Technical Notes: In order to create smoother virtual arrivals, your camera and audio will be turned off when you enter Zoom. Once you are settled, you can turn your camera on if you’d like during the meditation. During the discussion, we ask that you stay muted until you’d like to speak.

New to Zoom? For a quicker entry to the program, download the free software here. If you do not have the software you will be asked to download it when you click the link to join above. You do not need to download any software to dial in by phone.

Look for future announcements about additional online offerings. We are expanding our capacity to also serve Thursday Open House, upcoming classes, our affinity groups, satellite locations and more. Check our Seattle Shambhala Center homepage for updates.

It is our intention to continue offering opportunities to gather in community for practice, study, and support. Working with our hearts and minds is essential during this time of crisis. Community can help us access our innate goodness, wisdom, kindness and strength so that we can take care of ourselves and each other.

We look forward to seeing you in the virtual realm,

Annica Holder and JoAnn Schindler
Co-Directors, Seattle Shambhala Center

March 5, 2020:
Letter to the Community on COVID-19 Response

Dear Noble Sangha,

It is with a tender heart that a decision has been reached to suspend all activities at the Seattle Shambhala Center through March 31. Representatives from the Board, Leadership Team, and the Children and Families program met last evening, March 4, to discuss the emerging situation with the novel coronavirus. We agreed to: 

  • Suspend all activity through March 31*
  • Reassess the situation later this month
  • Actively work on virtual options for ongoing practice, programming, and community connection during this time (more information to follow about these opportunities)

 

This decision was reached after taking into consideration the updated March 4 King County Public Health advisory recommendations made in consultation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Regarding community gatherings the advisory states, “If you can feasibly avoid bringing large groups of people together, consider postponing events and gatherings.”  It also notes, “This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in King County when such measures can potentially impact the spread of the disease.” (There has now been a subsequent March 5 update). 

In addition the following considerations factored into our decision: 

  • Our Center’s lack of capacity to properly and consistently implement cleaning protocols if we continued offerings.
  • Feedback from open house volunteers (hosts, MI’s, speakers) where one-third of the group indicated they would be staying away from the Center until the coronavirus situation was clearer and more controlled.
  • Measures being implemented by businesses and other community groups in our region. 
  • The fact that so much is still unknown about this virus. 

 

*This suspension of activity includes all activities, including open house, feast and sadhana practices, affinity group meetings (Ziji, Heart of Recovery, BIPoC, Children and Families programming), individual and small group practice and meditation instructor meetings. If you are registered for any March programming, look for a follow-up email from Sydney Munger, Director of Practice and Education.  General questions or concerns should be directed to [email protected]rg. Please regularly check the Seattle Shambhala Center website for programming updates. 

The health and well-being of our community is important to us, therefore we are sharing best practices for minimizing risk for yourself and others. The practices are familiar as they are common protocols for any cold and flu season. Below are helpful standard precautions from the CDC and King County Public Health.

To minimize your chances of contracting a cold, influenza, and COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces 1-3 times a day (e.g., faucets, door handles, etc); viruses can live up to 48 hours on surfaces.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick and we recommend minimizing unnecessary close contact with others. During this time we strongly suggest “more bowing and less hugging and hand-shaking.” 

 

If you are not feeling well and believe you have a cold, influenza, or other respiratory illness:

  • Stay home, monitor your symptoms, and call your medical professional if symptoms persist or worsen.
  • Avoid public areas.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 
  • Avoid sharing household items such as dishes, eating utensils, towels, and bedding.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
    • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
    • Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).

 

Taking these simple precautions can go a long way toward staying healthy during this time. If you’d like to stay up-to-date with the latest coronavirus information you can refer to:

 

Finally, during this unsettling time, our practice is essential to help us maintain equanimity, an open heart and skillful action. Please engage in whatever practices bring you peace and clarity as well as those to relieve the suffering of others. 

To the health and well-being of our community and all beings, 

JoAnn Schindler & Annica Holder, Co-Directors

on behalf of the Seattle Shambhala Board of Directors & Leadership Team