NEW YORK SHAMBHALA CENTER
Outreach
- Important to reach out, diversify
- Extension to broader ethnic base and groups such as those with
disabilities
- Many places looking for "ecumenical" dharma - eg
universities
- View that we need guidelines about when to use the Shambhala
imprimatur: how do we mix individual social and political statements
and lifestyles with Shambhala vision
Community
- Extending our community into new forms and enterprises - e.g.
assisted housing, schools, hospitals, co-housing - also, adopting
"best practices" from the outside
- Seniors/aging sangha—how to care for, medical, financial etc.
- Need more family programs and practice
- Pre-teens and teenagers—need more programming content for them
- Volunteer vs. paid staff, spirit of volunteerism, etc.
- Need some way to deal with internal conflict - conflict resolution
mechanism similar to Upaya Council
- Role of central organization and how it relates to large centers
that are fairly self-sufficient versus small centers that rely
on greater support
- Communications are key
Economic Models
- How we relate to money is a mandala-wide issue
- Desire to look at other models, e.g. Greyston, to see what
se can learn…also what we can learn from their internal processes
- Satellite centers vs one main center? Would multiple small
centers help alleviate costs, as well as invite more people to
participate?
- Would lower prices make dharma available to more people? How
to do so? Look at other meditation centers to see how they do
it.
- Fundraise to allow more people to attend programs who can't
afford them
Information Technology
- How to use IT to support and radiate the dharma
Practice & Study
- Lack of clarity and depth around the two paths (SSBS and ST)….
currently have to leave local center for more intensive studying,
teaching, and practice. Make post-seminary and post-assembly
curriculum available locally, not just at retreat centers.
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