Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the "shrine" at the front of the meditation hall, and what is the significance of the pictures of "gurus?"

The shrine is not an object of worship. The pictures of teachers are meant to provide inspiration for one’s practice. Most of the objects reflect different aspects of "awakened mind." Ask your meditation instructor or a senior student to explain something to you if you are not sure.

What is the purpose of the "chants" done at the start and end of meditation practice?

These are also meant to be inspirational. They are actual "teachings" in poetic or devotional form. It is an old tradition in many Buddhist communities of practitioners to express their meditative realization in the form of devotional poems, called "dohas." Some of the chants we recite were composed within this tradition.

Where can I obtain the square meditation cushions most people sit on?

Samadhi Cushions in Barnet, Vermont, manufactures meditation cushions and also sells a variety of other meditation supplies. We have brochures available for you to look at if you are interested.

Who runs the Group?

The Group is led at present by a small number of volunteers. John Bermon is the coordinator, Randy Kaplan is assistant coordinator, Nancy Moore is the treasurer. Responsibility for leading practice sessions is shared among the Group leadership and other volunteers. A variety of members help with publicity, responding to inquiries, and so forth.

What is the difference between Buddhist Meditation and the "Shambhala" Meditation?

The technique of mindfulness that is taught is essentially the same. The context of how the technique is presented is different. In Buddhism, meditation discipline is presented as a method for achieving enlightenment by overcoming ignorance and experiencing the truths of impermanence and egolessness. Shambhala Training meditation is presented as a method for connecting with our inherent goodness and wakefulness. It is a discipline available to anyone, regardless of the cultural or religious tradition they belong to, who wishes to develop gentleness and open their "warrior´s heart." There is an emphasis on recognizing the sanity that exists in all peoples and societies. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has emphasized that the Buddhist and Shambhala Paths work in tandem, with the former emphasizing the development of enlightenment and the latter emphasizing the creation of a good society.

What is the relationship of HSMG to the other Tibetan Buddhist and Zen Buddhist Meditation Groups I´ve read or heard about? Are the meditation practices the same?

This is difficult to answer without providing an historical overview of the development of Buddhism in Asia over a 2500-year period. In brief, our group´s founder was a Tibetan Buddhist, and many of the practices and teachings we study are Tibetan in origin. However, Trungpa, Rinpoche also incorporated elements of Zen Buddhism, which originated in China and Japan, in translating Buddhism for American Culture. There are a number of "core" teachings that all Buddhist Groups share. Differences between "groups" tend to be more "stylistic" in terms of how various teachings or meditation practices are presented and how they developed in their culture of origin. Buddhism was transplanted from India to Tibet, China, Burma, Thailand, Korea and Japan, and in each of these countries blended in different ways with the existing belief systems and cultural practices. Trungpa, Rinpoche taught in English and used Western metaphors and psychology as methods for making the dharma more accessible.

What is "the path" and how do I get on it?

In Buddhism, the term "path" is used to refer to the ongoing process of practicing and studying the "dharma," which literally means "truth." There are many descriptions and metaphors for the path. In ordinary terms we can say that the purpose of the path is to cultivate wakefulness, leading to the development of compassion towards oneself and others.

What are the short and long-term goals of the HSMG?

The overarching goal is to provide opportunities for people in the Hartford area to learn about and to practice the dharma. In the immediate future we hope to expand our offerings to include open houses, public talks, workshops by senior teachers, and classes on a range of subjects related to Buddhist and Shambhala meditation. Over the long-term we would like to establish a larger center where people can learn about meditation and contemplative practice from multiple perspectives.