[Alicia Hundley]

               GRASS VALLEY MEDITATION GROUP
Thursdays at 7p.m. at the corner of Highway 49 and Newtown Road across from the Wilo Restaurant
Contact Alicia Hundley at 530-913-7898 for more info or a ride to the sit.


August  2011

Dear and Noble Sangha,
Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying the blissful weather and getting to the river!!!! It's one of the best things about living here....yes?
Below is all kinds of info. We have been reading Making the Mind an Ally by the Sakyong at Sangha. It has given some good meditation instruction and generated much conversation! Good stuff.
The info below is about the Shambhala Lineage festival in Davis.As I am going, I am more than happy to carpool with those who would like to go. It looks to be an auspicious occasion. Even if you can't attend, I urge everyone to really check out and contemplate what the Sakyong is presenting, to really think about what Trungpa Rinpoche taught, the core teachings around Basic Goodness in view of Enlightened Society.

I have also included some info at the end for you joggers. The Sakyong has written a book about running and the mind of meditation. It is even getting published in China! So peruse away my friends.

From Acharya Adam Lobel:

View of the Shambhala Lineage Festival
The Sakyong's intention for the Shambhala Lineage Festival is to create a community-wide event focusing on the vision of creating enlightened society.  Everything that we do in Shambhala-from meditation practice to running a centre to raising our children - can be understood as part of a social movement to create enlightened society based on a deep understanding of basic goodness.  The Sakyong would like us to work together to bring this vision to life and thus "make the impossible possible."  After reading many of the responses to the Letter of the Morning Sun, he feels that our community is longing to manifest this social vision with increasing confidence. 
In order to support this longing, the Sakyong has composed two new vows that will help us deepen our commitment to creating enlightened society:  The Shambhala Vow and the Enlightened Society Vow.  Many Shambhalians have essentially already made this commitment; this Festival will be an opportunity, as a global community, to deepen and celebrate this spirit of dedication. The Sakyong has said he envisages the Festival having a sense of celebration and community.
The Festival is also an opportunity to collectively explore what it means to focus on "creating enlightened society."  In addition to taking the vows, the other intention is to invite the community into a collective contemplation: "What do we mean by enlightened society? How can we use the richness of our teachings and practices to accomplish this vision? What do we need to learn in order to go forward?"  The Festival will include opportunities for us to reflect on these questions and talk with each other about them. We want to extend this spirit of inquiry and dialogue to all Shambhalians, and anyone connecting with our community. Each of our centres and groups is already a local community of dedicated practitioners that can work together to embody this vision and radiate confidence in it.  At the same time, the Festival will be a global event, bringing all our centres and groups together in a common, shared experience.  Our aspiration is to build a greater sense of collective responsibility and belonging as we explore these questions and seek to offer confidence, vision, and gentleness to our world.
 
In the Vision of Enlightened Society,
 
Adam Lobel,
Kalapa Acharya

Below is an invitation from Rebekka, director of Davis Shambhala; we met at the Director's meeting in San Francisco last weekend, and she sent this along at my request-
 
Dear Sangha,

You are warmly invited to participate in the first annual Shambhala Lineage Festival, which has evolved from the Harvest of Peace we have traditionally celebrated around the time of the fall equinox.  This letter contains the (tentative) schedule for the weekend, as well as plans for opportunities in advance of the festival to learn about the vows that will be offered during the festival.

Saturday, September 24:
9 a.m.-noon: Practice and talk with Shastri Charlene Leung in preparation for offering the Shambhala Vow and Enlightened Society Vow
12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Lunch break
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Recorded talk by an Acharya regarding Shambhala and Society, community discussion
4 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Wine and cheese (and juice) reception, local fundraising party
5-8 p.m.: Family potluck hosted by Barbara West

Sunday, September 25:
9 a.m.: practice
10 a.m.: Online broadcast of vow ceremony with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Mandala-wide fundraising with President Richard Reoch online
noon: closing reception and celebration


   
Running with the Mind of Meditation with Jon Pratt

Sat September 17th: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PMSun September 18th: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Price: $125
Distance running or walking is often the exercise of choice for reducing stress, bringing us greater perspective and connecting us directly to the wisdom of the body. The practices of meditation offers similar benefits, helping us cultivate stillness and nonjudgmental awareness of the mind’s activities. Join us for an extraordinary weekend of exploration as we discover a deeper experience of peace through meditation and running in San Francisco. The program will include meditation instruction and practice, group discussion, and contemplative group runs. This program is designed for runners and walkers of all levels.
Location: Sharchen Dzong/San Francisco
Presenter:  Jon Pratt is a close student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and has traveled and trained extensively with the Sakyong.  He has also run 20 marathons, seven with the Sakyong.
When the Sakyong taught his Running with the Mind of Meditation programs in 2006 and 2007 at Shambhala Mountain Center in northern Colorado, Jon was his assistant.  Beginning in 2008, at the Sakyong’s request, Jon took over as director of these weekend retreats.
Jon ran his first marathon in 1980 and continues to delight in running the trails around Boulder, CO.  He began formal meditation practice in 1992, becoming a student of the Sakyong a year later.
For more information: contact Kay Peterson at ncs...@gmail.co


Okay, so there it is! Again, hope you are enjoying happiness and the cause of happiness!
Warmly,
Alicia