So I've been practicing for around 2 years now and all I've ever really known is Soto Zen; the simplicity/minimalist nature of it was what drew me in. While I may know the academic differences between the schools of Buddhism I've never encountered anything out of my Soto bubble. I'm home in Colorado on break I thought I'd see what the sangha situation is like and I realized that Shambhala is very well represented here in the Rocky Mountains. I've signed up for a weekend meditation retreat at their mountain center (it looks AMAZING), and realizing I know nothing about Shambhala I went to a public meditation last night with a beginner's mind and see what it's all about.
I had some very subtle... culture shock? If that's the right word. Obviously in Zen sitting is everything, it's our bread and butter. To hear a group be so lax about meditative practice came across as odd to me, same with all of the nuances of Tibetan Buddhism that are so foreign to me. The whole organization is lead by a guy who isn't there and there wasn't any sort of local leadership. What really struck me about the whole thing is the pragmatic nature about it. From what I understand so far, the raison d'être in Shambhala is to create an "enlightened society" and the main path for this is through a series of trainings that often feature ironic, warrior themes. Growing up evangelical at a megachurch it just felt strikingly similar. "Attend our weekend seminar for $150 and receive phase one training so you can work your way up the ladder." And yet, even though they've been able to break it down into pragmatic pieces and market it really well I can't help but feel it's a bulky, complex system with its Tibetan roots and its boot camp feel to create a better society rather than pointing at the moon for individuals to overcome suffering and realize reality.
While I really enjoyed meeting people who just like to sit together in silence and be present in the moment, the whole experience reminded me even though we're an online sangha everything about our practice is incredibly accessible. All you have to do is speak up and return to the cushion. Anyways, just some thoughts I've been working through.
Does anyone else have any experience with Shambhala? Any advice for my first weekend meditation retreat?
Sat today,
Josh
I had some very subtle... culture shock? If that's the right word. Obviously in Zen sitting is everything, it's our bread and butter. To hear a group be so lax about meditative practice came across as odd to me, same with all of the nuances of Tibetan Buddhism that are so foreign to me. The whole organization is lead by a guy who isn't there and there wasn't any sort of local leadership. What really struck me about the whole thing is the pragmatic nature about it. From what I understand so far, the raison d'être in Shambhala is to create an "enlightened society" and the main path for this is through a series of trainings that often feature ironic, warrior themes. Growing up evangelical at a megachurch it just felt strikingly similar. "Attend our weekend seminar for $150 and receive phase one training so you can work your way up the ladder." And yet, even though they've been able to break it down into pragmatic pieces and market it really well I can't help but feel it's a bulky, complex system with its Tibetan roots and its boot camp feel to create a better society rather than pointing at the moon for individuals to overcome suffering and realize reality.
While I really enjoyed meeting people who just like to sit together in silence and be present in the moment, the whole experience reminded me even though we're an online sangha everything about our practice is incredibly accessible. All you have to do is speak up and return to the cushion. Anyways, just some thoughts I've been working through.
Does anyone else have any experience with Shambhala? Any advice for my first weekend meditation retreat?
Sat today,
Josh
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