Supporting Each Other’s Practice at Seattle Shambhala

May 2, 2021

Dear Shambhala Community,

We are carrying so much these days, individually and collectively, globally and within the Shambhala community. Our hearts are tender.

With the coming of spring, we are easing into healing from grief along with new ways of interaction and engagement. Vaccinations are taking place. People globally are increasingly speaking up in protection of each other. We are collectively leaning into awareness of our interdependence with each other and our Earth, and deepening our understanding of holding complexity and both/and thinking.

It is in this spirit of growth and the Great Eastern Sun view that we are asking each of you to join us in putting our teachings into practice. Today we are highlighting the importance of the updated Shambhala Code of Conduct to the Seattle community. Stay tuned for announcements of orientation sessions we will hold on May 16th and May 27th; more context can be found below.

We come together as a Seattle Shambhala Center because we have faith in the power of sangha to deepen and enhance our understanding and practice of dharma, and to learn and live into our vision of Enlightened Society. We want each of us who walks through the doors (or Zoom rooms) of our Center to know we – you – are entering a space where we can focus on the teachings, hold and welcome each other fully, and know we are protected as we do this work, together. We believe the Code of Conduct can help us achieve these goals.

As former Acharya Holly Gayley recently reminded participants in her course on Gender Dynamics in the Three Yanas of Buddhism, we operate in a world filled with polarities. We can develop boundless compassion – and are best equipped to do so when we are also protected by healthy boundaries, and when we know our vulnerability is taking place within a set of agreements that allow us – and others – to be protected in the process. This is why we are grateful for the work of the Code of Conduct Support Group and the Shambhala Board as they invested significant time and consideration in crafting an updated Code of Conduct that now applies to all Shambhala activities.

In our view, the Code of Conduct is an opportunity for each of us to practice the dharma we study and the view of Enlightened Society that we aspire toward. It is our chance to show that we care for each other and for our individual and collective progress along the path. The agreements and practices are ways in which we can each participate in establishing the Seattle Shambhala Center as the caring, welcoming, and protective container that we know we are at our best.

As a community we are responsible for understanding and practicing the Code and associated policies. Currently, people in positions of authority (board members, teachers, guides and MI’s) will need to sign the policy to positively affirm their commitment to the protection of our shared container.

Topics the full policy addresses include Child Protection, the Policy for People Holding Positions of Authority, Sexual Misconduct, and Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Discrimination. Please read more about the policy and the Practices of Good Conduct in this blog post (https://seattle.shambhala.org/2021/04/29/seattle-shambhala-implements-new-code-of-conduct/) and on our website: https://seattle.shambhala.org/code-of-conduct/.

We are supporting this rollout with orientation events on May 16th and 27th; we will share updates and you can check our local calendar for details as we finalize times. We also encourage anyone who may benefit from additional supports to review a Seattle Mental Health and Crisis Resource List that Trevor Slocum, our Director of Societal Health and Wellbeing, prepared for our community.

Please send questions regarding the updated Code of Conduct to the board at [email protected]. We hope to see you at some of our events soon.

With care and gratitude for all that each of you contributes to our community,

The Seattle Shambhala Board

Veronica Borgonovi
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia
Tom Gaylord
Alan Ness
Michelle Ringgold