A Sukhavati Ceremony for Robert Bartlett

Our Dharma friend, Robert Bartlett, passed away suddenly in February 5th. Robert was a valiant soul and devoted to his work teaching autistic children. He was connected to San Francisco Shambhala for a number of years and attended and staffed events from time to time. Robert lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over … Continue 

Bruce Dal Santo

Bruce’s Medical Support Fund

Many of you know Bruce dal Santo as a beloved friend, meditation teacher, dharma practitioner, father to Rosie the dachshund, and all-around good soul. A challenging cancer diagnosis implies some necessary lifestyle changes for a while, and we want Bruce to have the support he needs going forward. Please contribute what you can to a … Continue 

NorCal Shambhala Response to COVID-19

Dear Sangha,  We send this message in care and concern for the wellbeing of all of you as we navigate this health challenge together. The Northern California Shambhala Board of Directors has asked the centers and groups in the region to close all public programs for the remainder of the month of March due to … Continue 

Resolution from the Northern California Shambhala Board of Directors and Leadership Regarding the Separation of Children from Their Parents at the United States Border

Family is sacred to Shambhala Buddhism. Family holds the wisdom of our ancestors, a wisdom that enriches us and that can be handed down to future generations. Family is kin, the root of the word “kindness.” Shambhala Buddhism takes as its path the creation of an enlightened society, the most intimate form of which is … Continue 

What Is Contemplative Social Engagement?

By: Kelsey Blackwell and David Kahane We live in a time of social, political and environmental turbulence: political division, natural disasters, economic polarization, climate change, refugee flows, hatred and intolerance toward foreigners, people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ and indigenous people. Many of us are asking, “what can I do?” “What does contemplative resistance look like?” … Continue 

The Razor’s Edge

By Lulu Strongheart. Reprinted with permission from Ziji Blog. How do we stay awake and engaged while at the same time not get swept into the waves of fear, anxiety, and collective outrage? Where is the razor’s edge between staying active and aware and at the same time staying soft and joyful? Lately, I’ve felt … Continue 

Unraveling Oppression and White Privilege Starts Here

 By Kelsey Blackwell . “But all our phrasing—race relations, racial chasm, racial justice, racial profiling, white privilege, even white supremacy—serves to obscure that racism is a visceral experience, that it dislodges brains, blocks airways, rips muscle, extracts organs, cracks bones, breaks teeth. You must never look away from this. You must always remember that the … Continue 

The Compassion of Unconditional Love

What Karuna Training Offers Story and photos by Miriam Hall Originally posted as a Shambhala Times Featured Story Update: A few spaces may still be available for the current cycle. I signed up for the very first North American Karuna Training series with lots of planning and very little expectation. In this article from last … Continue 

The Vibrancy of Ziji – Report from Mexico City

by Rianne Pelleboer Diverse, vibrant and alive are the words that best describe the Ziji Summit in Mexico City from May 15 to 17th. We created a beehive atmosphere in the neighborhood of Roma Norte for Ziji friends to gather from around the world. In the breaks in the program, we spread out across the … Continue 

Making Peace Possible: The Shared Wisdom of the Human Heart

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche spoke live from the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Below is the raw recording in two parts. His remarks begin 48 minutes in to the first recording. We will upload a clean and edited recording as soon as possible. There is some streaming interruption towards the end of the first recording, resulting … Continue