Saint Margaret’s Bay Shambhala Centre 
Community Meeting July5/03

Deleks Represented: Gyatso West ( Alan Kimberley – Dekyong) Gyatso East (Mark Russell – Dekyong)

Thoughts and Suggestions re: Sakyong’s Treatise, Town Hall meetings, Recent Reorganization at Shambhala International and the proposed Shambhala Congress.

1. SI And Communication:
1. Arrogance about working at SI is a barrier to communication. To work better with volunteers SI must emulate Kalapa Court and radiate out. The motivation to be at the centre of everything may undermine the ability to radiate out and benefit others.
2. Other sanghas don’t like us (Nova Scotia). We’re not successful at interpersonal relations
3. Malcolm and Margaret  (Web Sites) could be helpful

2. Organization and Society
1. The organization cannot solve society’s problems. We always look to the top for answers; we have to look to each other

3. Connection:     
1. Is it necessary for every member to feel connected? 
2. There are two levels of connectedness(1)as a society or a church; and (2) practice.
3. If the heart connection doesn’t manifest as generosity, it doesn’t help
4. The role of Court staff is to invite and serve volunteers
5. Connectedness – how to get there? Dharma art and maitri practice may help people at the Congress to answer these questions.

4. “Inviting”
1. Concern about “practical” in the Treatise. How to be functional and pragmatic and other hand have the heart necessary to invite people in and serve them.
2. Inviting seems to be happening in random ways. Not missing but could be developed. Volunteers and administrators need some recognition.
3. Generosity manifests according to how shinjanged we are
4. Centre is everywhere. Each of us is Kalapa Court.  Staff have the responsibility to invite people into their world.

5. Shambhala International
1. What should SI do? What are its values? What is critical to maintain?
2. Our (SMBSC) centre functions well without SI.
3. Smaller, outlying Shambhala Centres and Dharma Study Groups will be the ones most adversely affected by the changes at SI.
4. Strong lines of communication and support must be maintained to these smaller centres.
5. Support for them will come from everywhere, not just SI. It helps to have a point person who can share knowledge and contacts
6. Perhaps the larger centers could adopt or mentor smaller centers.
7. Acharyas could be helpful to serve outlying centres.
8. Major practice centres are important for people to spend some time in a dharma environment.

6.  Congress
1. Need to understand how Shambhala Society can serve the world in an active or useful way?
2. There should be one theme to the congress not many,
3. How about sharing success stories – how individuals work with the system?
4. Congress might be a “feel good” event but that’s not enough to provide any movement or meaning unless there is a plan, something for delegates to sink their teeth into.
5. It’s too vague; let’s find out what the Sakyong wants from the Congress vs. let’s hope something might happen there
6. Our sangha has a history of hierarchy, which is necessary to join heaven and earth. Want to see more formalized leadership to provoke response from the delegates. The Sakyong has to be at the centre of the congress demanding, leading
7. The congress may be the beginning of Shambhala government but legislation must be brought into it. Now is the time for engagement

7.  The Treatise
1. The Treatise was “soft” – a Mahayana flavor but lacking and substance, so it was disappointing. We are on a long downhill slide away from the Druk Sakyong’s original teachings on Shambhala world. We have not been able to put any teeth into it.

8. The Sakyong
1. Sakyong’s basic message has always been to be kind to each other.  This has been missing especially since the regent controversy.
2. What became of the Sakyong’s challenge to establish a Kalapa Centre?