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Letter to Shambhala Transition Team

283 Comments

L
Llew Watkins
8 years ago

As a practitioner strongly connected to the Kagyu school, a broader more inclusive Sangha is something I have been longing for with all my heart for many years!

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Bill sennett
8 years ago

I want more Buddhism in Shambhala.

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Patti Chenis
8 years ago

Thank you for a thoughtful, heart felt letter expressing the concern and deep and pain many in the community have felt for several years. We have had the wake up call! With the deep aspiration that the wake up will be authentic, inclusive and healing for all!

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Mark Allen
8 years ago

Thousands of new students have come to our centers drawn by the Vidyadhara and Pema's buddhist teachings. Many have had to go elsewhere. This petition is especially important for them. Others are inspired by the secular path of Shambhala warriorship, which draws upon the buddhadharma, but is not "buddhist". It is essential that we maintain and preserve the integrity of both of these paths: two different sides of a single coin. Whether or not this will be possible within "Shambhala International" at this point is an open question. It feels that organizationally a completely fresh start is needed--a system governance and leadership that supports not only those who are inspired to pass on all of what the Vidyadhara gave us, but also students who are deeply committed to the Sakyong and the SS path as he has presented it. The Shambhala umbrella can encompass both. One of the real risks I feel, is the strong tendency towards essentially rewriting the buddhadharma into an Ashe framework, which is contrary to what the Druk Sakyong very clearly laid out. Thanks very much Bakes for creating this petition. Very good to feel everyone's presence here.

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Lanny Harrison
8 years ago

thanx so much! yes, elders & young ones & those in the middle - w/eyes & hearts open, we can really work it: "everything is workable"!

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susan allen
8 years ago

The fall-back reference to "old dogs" being the only real students of CTR is, itself, outdated and growing old fast. There has been an ongoing stream of young people over the years who experience an immediate, unquestionable connection to CTR thru his now very accessible teachings and even consider him their root teacher. We're not just talking about the whimpering "old dogs" anymore. Many of them, in need of a path forward, have become students of SMR and are greatly appreciative of his teachings. Still, they are haunted by Kagyu dharma, or what brought them into our mandala in the first place. This is a timely petition that addresses that undeniable truth. As a "society", all people with no exceptions need to be offered a path that is suitable to them. In this case, one size does not fit all. Thanks for bringing this about.

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Olivia Parry
8 years ago

Thank you!

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Matt DiRodio
8 years ago

Ken Friedman's book "Backward Ati" (for those that received pointing out) quotes VCTR "the vidyādhara’S Practice Path One night at the Kalapa Court, the Vidyādhara said to me: “I want you to know—in terms of the path I have presented, nothing has been random. I haven’t given you many practices, but each practice is there for a reason. There has been nothing random, and in the future nothing should be changed.” (VCTR in conversation with the author, Boulder, Colorado, May 17, 1986) We did not receive many practices; we were not presented with any choices. This doesn’t mean that there are not other ways to approach the path—of course there are. But in terms of what Trungpa Rinpoche gave us, it was very specific.

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nancy craig
8 years ago

yes, Kagyu and Nyingma

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Matt DiRodio
8 years ago Featured

Acknowledge what the name Karme Choling means...Practice place of the Karma Kagyu or remove the name. I sunk my dharmic baby teeth at KCL, it breaks my heart as a practitioner of our Kagyu-Nyingma path to not feel welcome.

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Anonymous
8 years ago

A very long time coming. I fully support this!

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Helen Williams
8 years ago

Bring the Loppon back!

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Ginny Guthrie
8 years ago

Or, have the Sakyong explain to us his reasoning on the separation. I think we would be stronger together- dharmically and financially.

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Ames Esler
8 years ago

This is important.

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Gil Figueroa
8 years ago

It's about time! And now.

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James Sacamano
8 years ago

I suggest all acharyas take leave of absence. Job well done, time to move on. Bring back the Kagyu and Nyingma teachings

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Agness Au
8 years ago

A reunion would be such a blessing.

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Darcy Colby
8 years ago

Many of us have been drifting away and finding it harder and harder to connect because we haven’t felt valued or represented. This could be potentially beneficial in bringing renewal.

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Simone Lavoie Jigme Latso
8 years ago

I agree with this petition and I would like to see Kaygu shrine rooms set up once more in the centres so practitioners can do their vajrayana practises, feast practises and study again within the centres.

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Jeff Rubin
8 years ago

I also would like to see not just old CTR dogs on this interim Board but some from outside our mandala. We need some folks who are sympathetic to our situation, but also with real world experience running an international non-profit organization. We have had loyal but inexperienced administrators for too long. We need something sustainable going forward.