Feminine Principle and Great Eastern Sun

Contacts: Candlin Dobbs candlin@bitstream.net Janet Romaine rjromaine@earthlink.net To promote harmony and peace in the kingdom, we feel that there is great value in paying more attention to the intangible aspect of life: both in how we relax, relate and care for each other and in how we practice, study, work and celebrate together. To promote gentleness, space, and insight, we encourage the administration to actively and formally invite the wisdom of the sangyum into their activities; let us remember we have several women in our community, the sangyum of the Druk Sakyong, who embody this wisdom principle and could act as valuable resources. To promote a deeper understanding of the importance of balancing the tangible and intangible aspects of out being, we encourage that as we study, teach and develop curricula, we thoroughly explore both the feminine and masculine principles that are inherent in our teachings and practices. Deeper understanding could be the basis of manifesting these principles in a balanced way. The group expressed great longing for a sadhana to invoke the mother lineage. There was a great sense of pain expressed about how often the feminine principle is not acknowledge, honoured or allowed voice and impact. Poem: If the cup is upside down, The milk of wisdom spills on the floor. The dancing ground of joy and sadness, Compassion and wisdom fills the upturned cup. The group is currently in the process of exploring ways to continue working together. (any of you have ideas? Please contact us: Candlin Dobbs (candlin@bitstream.net), Janet Romaine (rjromaine@earthlink.net) . Feminine Principle and Diversity This group was concerned with the lack of diversity in our Shambhala centres. They came up with 3 recommendations: In accommodating people who are "different", we need to take an active interest and be more curious. Another issue is to look at the location of the centres and who are the frontline people seen by newcomers. In Halifax, there are now activities taking place in the North End, which is a poor area relative to where the centre is located. People who probably wouldn’t go to the centre will attend something taking place in their own neighbourhood. There needs to be more mentorship by MIs, to the level of personal friendship, actually helping people with their problems. There could be a group in each centre to address diversity issues specifically.