Membership Policy Working Group

Chair Mary Whetsell mwhetsell@mindspring.com

Objectives

---

Reports

Community as Practice: Contemplating Shambhala Buddhist Culture [Web/HTML] [PDF]
Prepared by Mary Whetsell and posted on behalf of the Mandala Governing Council, August 6, 2004

Shambhala Membership Policy

Membership Policy Recommendations (PDF) (December 2004)

Interim Report

Membership Policy: View, History, Current Practices [PDF]

---

Minutes of Meetings

Working Group Meetings November 2, 2004 October 5, 2004 September 7, 2004 August 31, 2004 August 10, 2004 June 29, 2004 June 15, 2004 June 01, 2004 May 18, 2004 Meeting three April 15, 2004 Meeting one

Review Group Meetings June 05, 2004 May 22,2004 May 08, 2004

---

Objectives

• Facilitate a Mandala-wide discussion of view of membership, review the Vidyadhara’s teachings about membership in Shambhala society, review the Sakyong’s teachings about membership in Shambhala society, and consult with President Reoch concerning view of membership.
• Generate a written report which identifies core issues and key questions related to view of membership. I.e
  • What is a Shambhala Buddhist?
  • What does it mean to be a member of a Shambhala Buddhist group or Center?
  • Of what is one a member?
  • What is the role of Shambhala International in the development of membership policy?
  Identify core areas of agreement and disagreement regarding view of membership within our Mandala.
• Generate a report which describes current membership issues and policies at a representative sample of Centers and Groups throughout our Mandala. What are the differences and simliarites in membership policy across these groups? What are the view(s) that are reflected by these various policies?
  
• Based on the above, generate recommendations regarding Membership Policy. 

---

Updated 2004/12/30