Comments for Shambhala Mountain Center Blog http://www.shambhalablog.org Buddhist Meditation, Yoga and Group Retreats - Experience mindfulness, learn how to meditate, take guided Meditation courses, learn meditation & yoga techniques & buy daily meditation supplies-Shambhala Mountain Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:15:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Update from Board Chair and Executive Director by Rob Graffis http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-136 Rob Graffis Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:32:26 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-136 # Rob Graffis Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. August 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm In Response to Bob Sutherland, When I mentioned “fiscal buffers”, I meant having a “Plan B” if “Plan A, doesn’t work out as expected. Or at the very least, being flexible as opposed to “staying the course” if the desired results don’t occur. I saw the ex CEO of Cca-Cola interviwed last week talking about his book on how to fail in business, and he said being to rigid, or not admitting mistakes were made will get a company in trouble. I do like the idea of some type of yearly group Chakrasamvara practice for those of us not ready to do the puja. Rob Graffis # Rob Graffis Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

In Response to Bob Sutherland,
When I mentioned “fiscal buffers”, I meant having a “Plan B” if “Plan A, doesn’t work out as expected. Or at the very least, being flexible as opposed to “staying the course” if the desired results don’t occur.

I saw the ex CEO of Cca-Cola interviwed last week talking about his book on how to fail in business, and he said being to rigid, or not admitting mistakes were made will get a company in trouble.
I do like the idea of some type of yearly group Chakrasamvara practice for those of us not ready to do the puja.
Rob Graffis

]]> Comment on Update from Board Chair and Executive Director by Bob Sutherland http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-130 Bob Sutherland Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:47:22 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-130 I understand people's sense of alarm over the financial challenges. I also think it's easy to armchair quarterback this situation. The Board has taken on risk, more risk than some people are comfortable with. Generally, most people don't like risk, especially in a complex society where institutions function as a buffer from risk, a sort of "cocoon" if you will. There is a big difference between availing one's self of an organization's services and being involved in figuring out how to provide those services to the end user. Bringing organizations forward, particularly those whose mission is unconventional or ground breaking is scary. At some point you have to balance the risk of allowing things to stagnate versus the risk of venturing forward. Once you start being bold, there are no guarantees, but eventually boldness is the only way to overcome inertia. One of my favorite country songs has a line "The hardest thing I learned is there aint no easy way." One of the hardest parts of this type of Board work is the tendency of other people to freak out when they see that risks are being taken. I've seen eager, talented and well intentioned people join Boards only to resign because they are shocked at just how daunting the collective task at hand is. The inside stories of how many organizations and institutions were built are typically marked by periods of great uncertainty, crisis, and internal conflict. Just as with individuals, adolescence in organizations can be painful and confusing. Leaders don't have the luxury of freaking out. I want to encourage everyone to honor and support SMC's Board in this time. Criticism is healthy, but let's try and hang together to support our leaders, to infuse them and the situation with windhorse energy. The time and personal commitment it takes to do what they do is huge, time away from their families and their practice. Thank you Karen et al for what you've taken on! -Bob I understand people’s sense of alarm over the financial challenges. I also think it’s easy to armchair quarterback this situation. The Board has taken on risk, more risk than some people are comfortable with. Generally, most people don’t like risk, especially in a complex society where institutions function as a buffer from risk, a sort of “cocoon” if you will. There is a big difference between availing one’s self of an organization’s services and being involved in figuring out how to provide those services to the end user.

Bringing organizations forward, particularly those whose mission is unconventional or ground breaking is scary. At some point you have to balance the risk of allowing things to stagnate versus the risk of venturing forward. Once you start being bold, there are no guarantees, but eventually boldness is the only way to overcome inertia. One of my favorite country songs has a line “The hardest thing I learned is there aint no easy way.”

One of the hardest parts of this type of Board work is the tendency of other people to freak out when they see that risks are being taken. I’ve seen eager, talented and well intentioned people join Boards only to resign because they are shocked at just how daunting the collective task at hand is. The inside stories of how many organizations and institutions were built are typically marked by periods of great uncertainty, crisis, and internal conflict. Just as with individuals, adolescence in organizations can be painful and confusing. Leaders don’t have the luxury of freaking out.

I want to encourage everyone to honor and support SMC’s Board in this time. Criticism is healthy, but let’s try and hang together to support our leaders, to infuse them and the situation with windhorse energy. The time and personal commitment it takes to do what they do is huge, time away from their families and their practice. Thank you Karen et al for what you’ve taken on!

-Bob

]]> Comment on Sakyong’s Vision for Shambhala Mountain Center by Marc Matheson http://www.shambhalablog.org/8/sakyongs-vision-of-shambhala-mountain-center/#comment-129 Marc Matheson Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:49:36 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/8/sakyongs-vision-of-shambhala-mountain-center/#comment-129 Once again the power and spaciousness of our lineage shines through in these words of President Reoch, whose devotion to and appreciation of Khyabjé Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is that of a genuine Shambhala regent. The Sakyong's vision for Shambhala Mountain Center is like the clear and distinct utterance of a mountain bell on a still, cool moonlit night, gentle and profound. May this vision and our community commitment to it - as individuals joined together through our daily practices - be established firmly and victoriously for the benefit of all beings, past, present and future and throughout the ten directions! Lha gyal lo! Once again the power and spaciousness of our lineage shines through in these words of President Reoch, whose devotion to and appreciation of Khyabjé Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is that of a genuine Shambhala regent. The Sakyong’s vision for Shambhala Mountain Center is like the clear and distinct utterance of a mountain bell on a still, cool moonlit night, gentle and profound. May this vision and our community commitment to it - as individuals joined together through our daily practices - be established firmly and victoriously for the benefit of all beings, past, present and future and throughout the ten directions! Lha gyal lo!

]]> Comment on Update from Board Chair and Executive Director by Kerry Schwartz http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-103 Kerry Schwartz Sat, 17 May 2008 19:42:36 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-103 Dear friends, I heartily agree with Marcia Usow. I attended the Chakrasamvara drupchen at DKD this winter, along with John and Adana Barbieri and a handful of other terrific people, and would love to see one at SMC in the Stupa or a tent. Melissa and Jim Robinson are treasures in their knowledge of this complex drupchen, and we should not limit the chance for practitioners to experience making the sand mandala together and doing the group practice. As a "stuck" Chak. practitioner, it has inspired me to dig deeper, go further. I will help create this drupchen at SMC! With your help. Siincerely, Kerry Schwartz Dear friends,

I heartily agree with Marcia Usow. I attended the Chakrasamvara drupchen at DKD this winter, along with John and Adana Barbieri and a handful of other terrific people, and would love to see one at SMC in the Stupa or a tent. Melissa and Jim Robinson are treasures in their knowledge of this complex drupchen, and we should not limit the chance for practitioners to experience making the sand mandala together and doing the group practice. As a “stuck” Chak. practitioner, it has inspired me to dig deeper, go further. I will help create this drupchen at SMC! With your help.

Siincerely, Kerry Schwartz

]]> Comment on Update from Board Chair and Executive Director by Martha Pokorny http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-101 Martha Pokorny Wed, 14 May 2008 18:09:36 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-101 Please yall take note. We need more pit(worm)toilets. Why has that system never been expanded? Also, BYOT bring your own tent campground established! Please address these issues & reply. With the high prices of over $1,000 for a 2 wk stay freezing in a cold tent currently, I am discouraged to attend. With all the current projected plans & can only see even higher prices. mARTha Pokorny Houston TX lodro_sertso@yahoo.com PLEASE REPLY Please yall take note. We need more pit(worm)toilets. Why has that system never been expanded? Also, BYOT bring your own tent campground established! Please address these issues & reply. With the high prices of over $1,000 for a 2 wk stay freezing in a cold tent currently, I am discouraged to attend. With all the current projected plans & can only see even higher prices.
mARTha Pokorny Houston TX
lodro_sertso@yahoo.com
PLEASE REPLY

]]> Comment on Update from Board Chair and Executive Director by Marcia Usow http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-93 Marcia Usow Sat, 10 May 2008 18:16:51 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-93 Dear Friends, Thanks for the chance to express my view on SMC. I work a couple of times a week at the Call Center in Boulder and have noticed some areas that you may not have considered. These areas are about programming. The first area I've noticed is how well introductory programs are doing (LevelI and Turning the Mind...) in fall winter and spring. Often these programs have been passed over for more "exciting" offerings that sometimes do well and sometimes not. Summer is good for advanced programs as they are now. Aside from Garchen, etc., it would be so good if drupchens (lots of different ones are out there) could be added for advanced practitioners. Especially needed is the Chakrasamvara drupchen for people who are stuck in this practice. SMR created a format that could be used for this. DKD offers a small one in spring but it can only take 6 people. It may take some communication to get people apprised of this possibility but it will pay off for both practitioners and the center over time. Other drupchen could be considered as well. Six (four) dharmas, mahamudra and so on. Thanks for you time, Marcia Usow Dear Friends,
Thanks for the chance to express my view on SMC.
I work a couple of times a week at the Call Center in Boulder and have noticed some areas that you may not have considered. These areas are about programming.
The first area I’ve noticed is how well introductory programs are doing (LevelI and Turning the Mind…) in fall winter and spring. Often these programs have been passed over for more “exciting” offerings that sometimes do well and sometimes not.
Summer is good for advanced programs as they are now.
Aside from Garchen, etc., it would be so good if drupchens (lots of different ones are out there) could be added for advanced practitioners. Especially needed is the Chakrasamvara drupchen for people who are stuck in this practice. SMR created a format that could be used for this. DKD offers a small one in spring but it can only take 6 people. It may take some communication to get people apprised of this possibility but it will pay off for both practitioners and the center over time. Other drupchen could be considered as well. Six (four) dharmas, mahamudra and so on.
Thanks for you time, Marcia Usow

]]> Comment on Update from Board Chair and Executive Director by Rob Graffis http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-90 Rob Graffis Fri, 09 May 2008 18:57:35 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/7/message-from-the-board-and-executive-director/#comment-90 There a tremendous lack of foresight and wishful thinking, along with experimental preprograms planned had no fiscal buffers when the future projects were planned.for SMC. Outside of the Stupa, many of us didn’t even know what was being planned and implemented.. I wouldn’t expect complete transparency, but quite a bit was lacking. There a tremendous lack of foresight and wishful thinking, along with experimental preprograms planned had no fiscal buffers when the future projects were planned.for SMC. Outside of the Stupa, many of us didn’t even know what was being planned and implemented.. I wouldn’t expect complete transparency, but quite a bit was lacking.

]]> Comment on Sakyong’s Vision for Shambhala Mountain Center by Rob Graffis http://www.shambhalablog.org/8/sakyongs-vision-of-shambhala-mountain-center/#comment-89 Rob Graffis Fri, 09 May 2008 18:23:12 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/8/sakyongs-vision-of-shambhala-mountain-center/#comment-89 Wasn't there a tremendous lack of foresight and wishful thinking, along with experimentalpreprograms we had no fiscal buffers for if they didn't work out when planning the "view" of SMC when this was all planned? Many of us didn't even know (outside of the Stupak) some of these plans were being implemented. Many people felt left out, or swept under the carpet. Wasn’t there a tremendous lack of foresight and wishful thinking, along with experimentalpreprograms we had no fiscal buffers for if they didn’t work out when planning the “view” of SMC when this was all planned?
Many of us didn’t even know (outside of the Stupak) some of these plans were being implemented.
Many people felt left out, or swept under the carpet.

]]> Comment on Oprah Talks to Pema Chodron by gail galarneau http://www.shambhalablog.org/5/oprah-talks-to-pema-chodron/#comment-62 gail galarneau Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:46:26 +0000 http://www.shambhalablog.org/5/oprah-talks-to-pema-chodron/#comment-62 more buddha more yoga more love thank you more buddha
more yoga
more love
thank you

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