Shambhala Guides and Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors – The who, what, why, and how, by Shastri Kim Kelso
Shambhala Meditation Centers welcome everyone to learn and practice meditation, regardless of background or previous experience. Free meditation instruction is available from Shambhala Guides and Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors – but who are they? Our local Shastri (senior teacher) Kim Kelso explains.
Shambhala Guides (Guides for short) are Shambhala members who have traveled the Shambhala path through Shambhala Training Level V and who have meditated with a group for a week-long retreat. In addition, they have been recommended for Guide Training and undergone extensive study and training before being authorized to serve as a Guide. They are also expected, as Shambhala Educators, to partake in ongoing development by completing courses and participating in Educator practice sessions to remain current.
Guides represent the Shambhala culture in and beyond the Shambhala Center. Their principal role in a Shambhala Center is to be a greeter, guide, and friend and to newcomers and to offer initial meditation instruction. Outside the center they may offer initial meditation instruction to family, friends, and workmates. Their training also equips them to offer information and answer questions about the Shambhala center and about Shambhala culture, traditions, history, and decorum. They may follow up with people they have met and may have a second meeting to clarify outstanding questions or to have a further discussion. If the person would like to have further meditation instruction or discuss issues arising from their meditation practice, the Shambhala Guide will introduce them to a Shambhala Path Meditation Instructor.
Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors (SPMI or MI for short) have traveled further along the path and have had longer and more extensive personal experience with meditation practice and with how it affects their daily lives. They have had progressed further along the Shambhala Path, attending the Sacred Path series of Shambhala Training weekends and Warrior’s Assembly. Once they have completed that, received a recommendation for SPMI training, and undergone that further training, they may be authorized as an SPMI. This enables them to focus on meditation practice and to help create and support effective and safe practice containers for students. SPMIs may meet with meditation students on a regular basis and discuss their meditation practice and decisions regarding how to progress along their path. Like the Guides, they are expected, as Shambhala Educators, to partake in ongoing development by completing courses and participating in Educator practice sessions to remain current.
Beyond Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors. Since Shambhala is a living tradition, it is constantly changing, growing, and improving to meet the needs and growing complexity of our culture and our world. Consequently, a new category of support for students is currently being developed. Its focus will be to work with the whole individual in an on-going relationship with regard to how meditation practice is affecting their lives, their view, their feelings and their relations. Serving in this capacity will require further experience and skills and will be by authorization only.
How to engage a Meditation Instructor. As a visitor to a Shambhala Center, you may have initially met a Guide or MI; you may begin practicing meditation, perhaps dropping in regularly to meditate with the group or join in the celebrations and events offered. Then eventually, you may want to strike up an ongoing relationship with someone who is a fellow traveler on the path but a bit further along. If that is the case, you could peruse the list of qualified Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors (posted at the Center) and see whom among them you feel you resonate with – someone whom you feel could be a good match for you. This is not a teacher/student relationship as much as it is a companion/mentor relationship. If you are having difficulty or can’t find the list, contact a Shambhala Guide for assistance.
Once having chosen, you would approach that person and ask them to be your Meditation Instructor. (They usually say “yes.”) This implies you are entering into a formal relationship – one of mutual commitment and understanding. It would then be between you and your Meditation Instructor to arrange for regular meetings as you see fit. Sometimes there is a regular schedule set; other times it is “as needed.” Sessions with your Meditation Instructor are considered special and are usually a little bit formal. They can be on the phone or Skype if a face-to-face meeting cannot be arranged.
Changing Meditation Instructors. If at any time, you would like to change Meditation Instructors, that is completely fine. As we change and grow along the path and discover more of ourselves, our needs change. You may meet a teacher or Meditation Instructor that you feel would be more helpful at this stage in your practice. You are free at any time to tell your Meditation Instructor that you are ready to change instructors and then approach another.
Care and Conduct Guidelines. Shambhala has very clear guidelines about conduct. All Guides and Meditation Instructors have taken a vow and have signed the Care and Conduct Guidelines. If you feel your Guide or MI has violated your relationship, you may take your concerns to the Director of the Center or the Rusung (listed at the Council page) or the Shastri for your Center. They will find support for you to work through the matter and will deal with the conduct according to the guidelines.
Continuity in Change. Shambhala is always looking to how to best meet the needs of the growing diversity and complexity of our community and our world. The evolving role of Shambhala Guides and Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors is one way to maintain continuity while remaining flexible; to protect the ancient teachings of meditation while presenting modern contexts for its application and natural evolution.
