Social Engagement Advisory Group

Shambhala Path of Social Action Program
Dorje Denma Ling

June 23, 2004, Wednesday

Social Engagement Advisory Group to President Reoch

Minutes of first meeting of this advisory group.

Present:    Lance Brunner, Trudy Sable, David Wimberly, Barbara Blouin,
Tashi Colman, Laura Simms

The notes taken were not verbatim.

An informal agenda was read, taken from suggestions from members, then discussions became quite open.

Draft Agenda    - Proposed by  David and offered for amendment
Is there a more appropriate and powerful name for this group and this path?  One that does not lead to misunderstanding or limitations?  Greater Shambhala Society … Advisory Group.  Enlightened Society Advisory … Shambhala Path of Compassionate Activity

Possible members Gesar Mukpo, Christie Cashman.  Neither wants endless meetings.  Both want to be a part of ACTION. Need youth members.  Should inactive members remain?  Need an active member representing Naropa.

Need someone authorized to set up at web space and post documents at available part of Congress section of shambhala.org. Also to set up and co-ordinate email info and idea exchange/discussion.  Also conference calls.  Also Comment Group.

Report to The Dot, Iron Wheel, etc. on SPSA programs & on Advisory group process & ideas.

Does social action need a seat on the Governing Council?  President Reoch must maintain impartiality which limits or prohibits him from being and advocate.  Is “advisory” the status most likely to yield results and to magnetize energy?
Define role of the advisory group more thoroughly. 

“The Advisory Group exists almost more to put the brakes on action than to promote it.  Social action, more than any other issue, has the potential to do harm to our sangha.  And it has the greatest ability to do good.  We must take the time needed to consider carefully all the consequences and possibilities.” Richard Reoch

Ask Sakyong for advice and for sadhana
Call for any added agenda items.
Invitation to submit future agenda items.


Trudy proposed we look at the work in terms of Outer, Inner and Secret.  Categories talked about-

Outer-    The View-	Who is doing what? How are issues addressed?
Inner	Already existing activities in sangha
Secret	The offerings Root causes of problems

Discussion about title-  Tashi found “social action” a loaded term, discussion.  Laura suggested possible title “Shambhala Path of Compassionate Action.”

Inclusion and spectrum-
diversity of existing activities in sangha:  individual projects and groups
re-energizing Vidyadhara’s vision of creating Enlightened Society:  Activating this in all we do.

Tashi- our instruction in 2000 Kalapa Assembly “to create KOS (Kingdom of Shambhala), create a KOS centre” wanting to see a model community created.

Foundation

• Looking at Root Causes-    Based on Shambhala Principles
• Memoirs-     and other reading to be added to bibliography
  
• Do a Shambhala Survey – Taking “A hard look at ourselves.”
• Tashi’s understanding of what would constitute “Gross National Happiness”
• Processes of effect-    Social justice; environmental justice
• Barbara’s deep concern about the lack of diversity in our sangha:  predominately white, middle-class.  We are blind to qualities class division; need guidelines to explore consciousness of poverty, and other gender, ethnic, cultural differences.
  

Questions based on practice
    What distinguishes the Shambhala world and our potential for social action?

Want to develop possible scenarios of Shambhala Path of Compassionate (or Social) Action

Items from tabled agenda
1.         Create web-site-    add already existing articles; update; make it a forum for sangha.   David will manage this.
Facilitate communication within Advisory Group- David will undertake.
Have one or more persons report to the DOT.  Elsewhere as well?
Do we need new members on Advisory Board?  David suggests Gesar Mukpo who has expressed great interest to David in joining.  Christie Cashman also willing.
Request that Sakyong speak about this work; give it high priority, create Earth Sadhana
List the Principles (of what?)

Is the Compassionate Path separate path or gate? 
Or the umbrella of all activities in the sangha? 
Natural outgrowth or response?

Secret aspect-    Trudy and Laura
    The magic of situations
    Rigden Principle
    Offerings
    Auspicious coincidence
    (Not to forget the less tangible aspects.)

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Updated 2004/08/14