Initiated in the heart of winter and the Covid pandemic from the desire of a number of members to meet in Dechen Chöling to renew with moments of presencing and conviviality, practice and sharing of the situation in our community, the project has evolved from some root ideas:
– Not to make a “program” with a fixed structure and positions: teacher(s), participants and staff. Allow everyone to bring out their voices, talents and
– Give space for the creativity, responsibility and inspiration of all
– Gather around a core of practice time each day
– Encourage all conversations and views on the current situation in Shambhala.
Having found dates in the Dechen Chöling calendar and extended the invitation to groups and centers in Europe, I found myself as the main initiator of this event with a clear aspiration to open up.
Who came?
Long-time students from Holland, Germany, Spain and France, much newer students in Shambhala, mainly French, and even a young pregnant woman who knew nothing about Shambhala! We had a father with his baby and many neighbors from Dechen Chöling. In all, more than 30 people, from 5 months to 80 years old, came and went as they pleased. Joanna Francis and Helmut Krächan, responsible for the Shambhala-Europe organization, as well as Peter Nowak, member of the International Shambhala Board, participated in the Gathering. This vast array of people was not exactly what we had thought, somewhat expecting more longtime members, wanting to talk about the crisis. At the same time, it was very refreshing to hear from newer students, not so affected by our dramas and all together to find ways for all of us to connect.
What did we do?
Although the original idea was to practice Shamata and eventually let the participants choose their own practice, I took the liberty of proposing Shambhala Sadhana as a common practice each morning. For some it was the first time…but by doing the Sadhana each day in pieces, with times of sharing and contemplation, we found a way to build a crucible of fundamental goodness that was then embodied in all the many activities of the day. Everyone present treated this Sadhana with great respect.
In the first days, some may have felt that there were too many words in the practice, but as the days went by, this gave way to a shared feeling of the possibility of such a thing called goodness in us and between us. I believe that as each of us were having their own way, there was also a collective process that nourished the joy of feeling not only connected to our own goodness, but being able to connect truly with each other as a community.
During the afternoons, everyone was able to explore different ways of cultivating this intuition, whether in the Presencing circles or the Karuna talking circles. Embodying work was also present in moments of relaxation, Qi Gong, awakening movements and even tango, elegant and playful. We experimented with Deep democracy workshops, to learn to say and hear all the facets of a controversial situation. The aim was not to find solutions but to strengthen our ability to listen and learn to resolve conflicts.
The evenings
They were of two types:
– Some were completely free. They allowed the musicians to get to know each other and to play, and for everyone to sing together, prepare offerings or have a quiet conversation.
– Every other day, we conducted an evening of exchange on a pre-defined topic. A team of facilitators from among the participants defined the parameters, different in each case. DCL neighbors were invited and participated.
The first evening was about introducing oneself as a Shambhala person and sharing our sense of belonging to and difficulties with Shambhala.
The second evening included a short presentation by Mr. Peter Nowak, about the current situation of Shambhala International and the relationship with the Potrang, the organization that supports the Sakyong. To make this presentation lively, the participants formed small groups in order of seniority in Shambhala to work out what questions they felt were important to ask. Peter, along with Joanna and Helmut, then answered all the questions they could with great clarity. This way to mix presentation and participation of the audience created a sense of transparency and openness.
The third evening was reserved for the participants of the Gathering. Its purpose was to take a look at our own experience in the gathering and reflect on its meaning.
The fourth evening was a time for people to talk about their deep connection and memories of DCL.
Finally, we created two celebration evenings, one in the middle and one at the end. Apart from their success, this idea of creating an intermediate evening that is not “the last day”, allows for the release of talents and feelings. It increased the conviviality and the sociability, beyond the language barrier, especially between French and English.
Is there anything to remember about this experience?
This Gathering has highlighted several things. Some of them are already known but it is good to remember them:
– The extraordinary power of attraction and healing of Dechen Chöling and the connection of the people to this place that represents a large home, an intimate family place, where memories can be stored and shared and the future can be envisioned.
– The longing of the community members to talk to each other, to understand what is going on together, to “embody” the wisdom of Shambhala as we create the community in the form of enlightened society, i.e. joining meditation with action.
– Cultivating the third jewel, the sangha, the wisdom of the community needs good communication opportunities and facilitation skills to create spaces of expressing insights and listening.
– The need for Shambhala and DCL members to receive clear information about what is happening in the mandala, with the capacity to ask questions and to feel fully empowered to look for answers.
Finally, we can see from this experience that for most people in our community, their deepest aspiration is not to reject the Sakyong or Shambhala but on the contrary to dive further in practicing the teachings, through dialogue, transparency and openness, repairing the tears and the divides and giving meaning to their commitment, their vows and their practice, through a relational and embodying process that brings together self, other, society and earth.
While spiritual people may bypass the outer reality — meaning the attachment to a utopian vision without addressing the reality of suffering—, activists may bypass the “inner” work —meaning action based on the projection of one’s own unprocessed shame and pain. I call for activism that integrates both inner and outer worlds, and that is grounded in both our inner (spiritual, universal) and outer (sociopolitical, contextual) identities. This requires us to reembody the sacred in order to approach it as relational healing between self, other, and earth.
Josie Gardner, https://arrow-journal.org/healing-social-and-ecological-rifts-part-1
I make the wish that this Gathering will inspire others to do so.
Catherine Eveillard
You can see more photos here