November 30, 2018 View this email in your browser Dear Shambhala Community, We recognize that this is not a time to proceed with business as usual as our community continues to work with heartbreak and uncertainty with brave and noble hearts. We therefore offer the 2019 Shambhala Assemblies Calendar with humility, knowing that these assemblies are not for everyone at this time and yet are vital for some. We have taken great care in considering whether or not it is appropriate to offer assemblies in 2019. We have asked: What is kind? What is needed? What can we support? Even during this difficult time, we have confidence in the Shambhala teachings on transforming aggression and creating enlightened society. We in Practice and Education are committed to providing support for those who are inspired to participate in Shambhala assemblies. Our colleagues in the Dorje Kasung will provide support as possible, and Garsung staffing may look different than it has in the past. We encourage each person to contemplate whether engaging in an assembly is right for you. This is a deeply personal decision. Assemblies are not the only way to proceed on the path of dharma or to be a Shambhalian. If you need support in making this decision, consider speaking with a trusted confidant. We also are offering some questions that you might find helpful to reflect on as you consider possible assembly participation; those questions follow the 2019 Shambhala Assemblies Calendar below. If you decide not to participate at this time, please know that there will be additional (non-assembly) opportunities to gather and practice at city and land centers, many of which are offering new ways to gather and explore our connection to the Shambhala dharma and to heal and change our societal cocoon. We also would like to acknowledge a gap in offering Regional Enlightened Society Assemblies in North America in 2019. We have received feedback that these programs are enriching for regions and more accessible for some participants. We aspire to have more Regional ESAs in North America in the future, fueled by the development and strengthening of regions. Finally, it is with deep appreciation and joy that we celebrate the phenomenal service of Ms. Maggie Colby, who left her position as International Programs Manager (IPM) for Shambhala on October 31, 2018. Ms. Colby served as the IPM for the last seven years, managing dozens of Shambhala assemblies and making countless improvements to the assembly experience. From creating program staffing mandalas, to material orders, to financial support, Ms. Colby has touched many aspects of the Shambhala mandala. Ms. Colby has supported the practice path of thousands of Shambhalians over the years, and her insightful contributions will be sorely missed in the assemblies realm. Ms. Colby has an intuitive and fierce connection to the dralas of assemblies. She saw the basic goodness in everyone who applied for, attended and staffed the retreats under her care. She often would offer little acts of kindness such as sending people acceptance letters on their birthdays. May the merit she has gained in service bring her fresh opportunities to better the world with her impish sense of humor, style, and love for all people and animals. We wish her great happiness and success in her future endeavors, knowing that she will always be an integral part of our Shambhala community. KI KI SO SO! We look forward to engaging further with you on the path of warriorship. Yours in Shambhala, Shodie Lyon, North American Programs Manager Joanna Francis, European Programmes Manager Kate Raddock, International Programs Assistant Charlie Goetzl, International Director of Practice and Education International Shambhala Assemblies

Information for 2019 The Advanced Program Site, where you can find further information and program specifics, can be found here: https://apas.shambhala.info/

Application Process All applications open January 3, 2019. Applications close 8 weeks prior to the start date of each program. Enlightened Society Assembly and Warrior Assembly require that you both (1) apply and be accepted through the Office of Practice and Education and (2) register with the host center. For Enlightened Society Assembly at Shambhala Mountain Center, you may register prior to being accepted. For other Enlightened Society Assemblies and for Warrior Assembly, you must be accepted prior to registering. Please go to the Advanced Program Site to apply and for more information about recommendations.

Staffing Opportunities - Supporting the Paths of Others At this time in Shambhala, it is critical that we take care of each other. The success of these programs is dependent on the volunteer efforts of the program staff who exert extra energy to set up, maintain, and dissolve the containers within which our assemblies are created. We deeply appreciate your generosity and commitment to our community. In order to staff your program of choice, you must already have completed that program as a participant. Scorpion Seal Assemblies after SSA 1 are an exception, as they are primarily “self-staffed” by first-time participants; however, if you wish to staff an SSA as a repeater, you are heartily welcome to do so. Once the staff applications are available, we invite you to submit an application to staff at your earliest convenience. Staff application links will be posted on the host land center’s program information page. Garsung staff applications, as well as View, Practice and Action, will be available on the Dorje Kasung website in 2019. All inquiries should be directed there and not to host land centers or to Practice and Education.



2019 Shambhala Assemblies Calendar* *All dates include arrival and departure days. The Advanced Program Site, where you can find further information and program specifics, can be found here: https://apas.shambhala.info/ Enlightened Society Assembly Land Center ● Dechen Chöling, France: June 9 - 20 ● Shambhala Mountain Center, Colorado: July 1 - 11 For more information and to apply, go to the Advanced Program Site . Regional In 2019, Shambhala is pleased to offer two Regional Enlightened Society Assemblies. Regional assemblies are geared towards the regions in which they are held and are open to any applicant who is fluent in the language. ● Holland -- Regional ESA -- June 7-15 in Dutch For more information and to apply: willemiendorleijn@gmail.com ● South Africa -- Regional ESA -- January 3 -12, 2020 For more information and to apply: michal.j.george@gmail.com Warrior Assembly ● Dorje Denma Ling, Nova Scotia: August 7 - 18 For more information and to apply, go to the Advanced Program Site . Note: Sacred World Assembly, Rigden Abhisheka and Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 1 will not be held in 2019. A survey is being conducted to gauge the interest in a possible Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 9 in 2019. A separate email will go out to potential Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 9 participants with further information.

Scorpion Seal Assemblies The following Scorpion Seal Assemblies, Years 2 - 10, do not require a program application. If you have finished the necessary practice requirements for your SSA or are planning to finish them before the assembly begins, you may register directly with the host center once their registration page goes live. Some Important Reminders Scorpion Seal practitioners are asked not to attend more than one Scorpion Seal Assembly each program season, in order to allow ample time to accomplish one’s practice while mixing it with daily life. Importantly, keep in mind that it is completely worthwhile and appropriate for you to rest and deepen wherever you are on the path, should you choose not to attend a new assembly annually. Aside from individual, group retreat practice, or solitary retreat practice, there are other possibilities available to you. You may wish to participate in an earlier Scorpion Seal Assembly as a repeater (the land centers typically have a discount repeater rate) or, for that matter, you may wish to staff an earlier Scorpion Seal Assembly. Good repeater staff are always sought, especially for the earlier levels. Whether you choose to attend a Scorpion Seal Assembly consecutively each year, or take more time to deepen your practice, please enjoy wherever you are on the path. Thank you to those of you who participated in the Scorpion Seal interest surveys. The following calendar reflects the results discovered in those surveys, as well as many other factors that go into SSA scheduling. 2019 Scorpion Seal Assemblies Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 2 Shambhala Mountain Center: July 13 - 24

Dechen Chöling: October 22 - November 2 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 3 Shambhala Mountain Center: July 13 - 24 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 4 Dechen Chöling: June 24 - July 5

Dorje Denma Ling: July 5 - 16 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 5 Shambhala Mountain Center: July 13 - 24 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 6 Shambhala Mountain Center: July 13 - 24 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 7 Dechen Chöling: June 24 - July 5 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 8 Karmê Chöling: October 8 - 19 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 10 Dechen Chöling: September 4 - 15 Scorpion Seal Assembly Year 10R (for SSA10 repeaters only) Karmê Chöling: May 22 - June 2

Shambhala Assembly Practice:

Personal Reflection Dear Shambhala Warrior, Attending an assembly is a deeply personal decision. Assemblies are not the only way to proceed on the path of dharma or to be a Shambhalian. If you need support in making this decision, consider speaking with a trusted confidant, including but not limited to friends, teachers, meditation instructors, therapists, and others who have been to assemblies. Prior to attending any assembly, it is worthwhile to examine and refine our motivation and view of practicing in an assembly, knowing that every assembly is different. We offer these reflection questions and quotes with the aspiration that we engage in our lives with clarity to recognize things as they are, and with huge hearts full of intention towards creating a world full of peace and dignity. With care and support, The Practice and Education Assemblies Team

Reflection Questions



(There are no right answers, and not knowing can be good.) What is “being friendly to myself” and “taking care of myself” right now? How am I feeling? What is healthy for me?

What is my personal ground right now?

What patterns am I working with personally? What do I need at this time to support my path? What does it mean to have a spiritual path?

What does it mean to progress on the path and what would be a sign of progress?

Is the path linear, circular, spiral, all of these, or some other shape? What is my motivation for attending or not attending an assembly this year? What is special to me about gathering with other Shambhalians? How do I feel about the teacher-student relationship and about studying teachings offered by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche? Do I need more material to work with right now?

Do I want to continue to study the Shambhala teachings at this time? What would it mean to me to view the assembly itself as a practice, and how might that be different than other group practices? What might the term “assembly practice” mean to me?

What might assembly practice have to do with creating culture, with enlightened society?

What roles and responsibilities do I have as an assembly participant? What are the personal and social challenges and rewards for me of engaging in assembly practice in the Shambhala community at this time? How might working with these affect me personally?

Are these challenges and rewards the same or different than in the broader society?

What societal habitual patterns are Shambhala, my country, the world working with now? What questions do I have prior to making a decision? What would be a sign that I am ready to make a decision?

What would be a sign that I should wait and rest in space?





Reflection Quotes “If we do not know the material with which we are working, then our study is useless; speculations about the goal become mere fantasy. These speculations may take the form of advanced ideas and descriptions of spiritual experiences, but they only exploit the weaker aspects of human nature, our expectations and desires to see and hear something colorful, something extraordinary. If we begin our study with these dreams of extraordinary, “enlightening” and dramatic experiences, then we will build up our expectations and preoccupations so that later, when we are actually working on the path, our minds will be occupied largely with what will be rather than with what is. It is destructive and not fair to people to play on their weaknesses, their expectations and dreams, rather than to present the realistic startng point of what they are.” — Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, The Sanity We Are Born With , Chapter 9

“Within humanity is goodness that is alive and fully intact but, in these times, it is surrounded by the darkness of uncertainty and fear. If, by taking a moment to self-reflect, we realize the preciousness of our life and our connection with others, we can begin to feel the goodness that has sustained us throughout all time. In this seemingly insignificant moment when we feel our own goodness, a seismic shift occurs. Liberated of doubt regarding our nature, we see a vast, new horizon of human possibility.” — Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, The Shambhala Principle , Chapter 1

“Two thousand five hundred years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha proclaimed that the next Buddha will be named Maitreya, the “Buddha of Love.” I think Maitreya Buddha may be a community and not just an individual. A good community is needed to help us resist the unwholesome ways of our time. Mindful living protects us and helps us go in the direction of peace. With the support of friends in the practice, peace has a chance. “If you have a supportive sangha, it’s easy to nourish your bodhicitta, the seeds of enlightenment. If you don’t have anyone who understands you, who encourages you in the practice of the living dharma, your desire to practice may wither. Your sangha—family, friends, and copractitioners—is the soil, and you are the seed. No matter how vigorous the seed is, if the soil does not provide nourishment, your seed will die. A good sangha is crucial for the practice. Please find a good sangha or help create one.” Thich Nhat Hanh, Tricycle Magazine, Summer 2008 If you have requested a preferred language other than English, you may receive this e-mail twice: Once in your preferred language and once in English.



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