When we meditate we are practicing synchronizing mind and body.  We are giving ourselves a chance to collect ourselves.   Often our body is ahead of our mind or our mind is ahead of the body, or our body is sitting in the room and our mind is in yesterday or tomorrow or a fantasy.  So … Continue →

Once in a while I discover things reminiscent of Buddhist teachings in unexpected places. Viral, a collection of short stories by Emily Mitchell, is another one of these examples. Like most short fiction in this literary style, the stories in this collection deal with the truth of the human condition, but the selection “Guided Meditation” … Continue →

Shambhala vision is rooted in the principle that every human being has a fundamental nature of basic goodness. This nature can be developed in daily life so that it radiates out to family, friends, community and society. This vision offers possibilities for a culture in which life’s challenges are met with kindness, generosity and courage. … Continue →

I recently had an opportunity to do tonglen, the practice of breathing in others’ suffering and breathing out what would relieve their suffering. Pema Chodron has some teachings about doing tonglen on the spot, when you encounter something in the world that upsets you.   “If you’re in a jealous rage and you have the … Continue →

As the current Membership Coordinator for the Phoenix Shambhala Center, I have been considering this question: What is the connection between membership and sangha? The three jewels of Buddhism are: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. The Sanskrit word, sangha, translates to “assembly” or “community.” Originally a sangha was a monastic community of ordained Buddhist monks or nuns. … Continue →

  Sometimes interesting coincidences happen. I was browsing the Phoenix Shambhala Twitter feed and came across this posting from Lion’s Roar: The photographer included this comment: “In this monochromatic moment, as birds take flight, dark lines dissolve into textures. It’s a rich example of fresh seeing.” Here’s the interesting coincidence: I happened to be taking … Continue →

I recently had an opportunity to visit the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum, a collection of modern art in Washington, D.C. While viewing the exhibits, trying to find a good way to look at them, a thought occurred to me: there’s something remarkably Buddhist in the approach I ended up using. Some of the Shambhala training I’ve … Continue →

“The Good Luck of Right Now” – a book review by Michelle Welch Bartholomew Neil is a thirty-eight-year-old man who has never lived away from his mother’s house when he is suddenly confronted with her death. Though he claims not to be grieving, he gathers a group of unlikely friends around him in the attempt … Continue →

The Courage to Feel: An Introduction to Shambhala Meditation with Kalapa Acharya Adam Lobel September 27, 2015 at the Phoenix Shambhala Meditation Center! “At this time, great confusion and suffering exist because humanity cannot simply be.” —Sakyong Mipham The lead teacher of the Shambhala lineage, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, wrote these words in the context of … Continue →

Upcoming Fall Celebration events at Phoenix Shambhala Center Please join us for our fall celebration activities at our new center at 7024 E. Osborn Rd, Suite A Scottsdale 85251. Harvest of Peace Trosong and Decorating- 9:30 – 12:00 pm, September 19th, 2015 – Semi annual community cleaning of center.  Cleaning the Shambhala Center is an … Continue →