Catherine Pilfrey shared her notes on the I-Ching reading that was thrown on Shambhala Day.

On Shambhala Day Jill Blagsvedt, the Center Director and the Board of Trustees threw the I Ching for the new year of the Earth Ox, on behalf of the entire Shambhala community. The throwing of the I Ching is a way to connect with the inherent wisdom of a situation for the new year that lies ahead.

The first hexagram, #21 Biting Through talks about the need for action. The situation must be approached with clarity. When it is clear what needs to be done you must attack the situation with energy and determination. Prompt and efficient action is necessary, but your action should be based on clear thinking and careful planning rather than emotion. The changing lines — 9 at the beginning and 9 in the Fourth place indicated that we should act with determination and not deviate from the correct path. Recognize the difficulty of the task ahead but don’t be discouraged, persevere. Proceed one step at a time and do not give up. Through continuous effort you will succeed.

The hexagram changed to #23 Splitting Apart. The situation is deteriorating. Old ways of doing things are disintegrating. Elements have outlived their usefulness. You are experiencing the end of an old cycle without the comforting assurance of what is yet to come. It is useless to struggle against the time. The proper course of action is devotion and acceptance, stillness and patience. Endure this period of deterioration and wait for better times to come. Keep quiet and maintain a low profile.

Interpretation:
The first hexagram, Biting Through, refers to the need for the Center to move to a new location. It will be a difficult task but one that must be done with energy and determination. Splitting Apart could refer to the natural split and change that will come about from a move. We should practice the virtues of devotion and acceptance, stillness and patience to endure these challenging times.

This translation came from The Laws of Change — I Ching and the Philosphy of Life by Jack Balkin.

Warrior of the Center and Teacher Mary Lang is showing In Passing…..a small collection of her new photographs at the Kingston Galleryfrom March 31 - April 26, 2009

First Friday reception April 3 ~ 5 - 7:30 pm
Gallery Talk and Reception Saturday, April 18 ~ 4 pm

The Kingston Gallery is located at
450 Harrison Ave. #43
Boston, MA 02118

This is the same gallery where Linda Brown is also showing her work. Be sure to drop by and see both of these wonderful Artists’ new work!

We now have a flickr page to post photographs of community events!
the address is www.flickr.com/photos/shambhalaboston/
Check out the pictures from Shambhala Day.

Sangha member Mona Barbera, Phd. wrote a book on couple relationships, “Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection into Intimacy” “It’s all about how you can go from obsessing and reacting to what your partner is doing, to giving better back easily and naturally. It’s all about going toward those angry or distant reactions with the gentle trajectory of curiosity - karma burns and basic goodness arises.” She went on NBC in New York City this past weekend talking about how to recession-proof your marriage.
Here’s the link if you want to see the interview.
Check it out!

Congratulations Mona!

Congratulations to Sangha member Paul Adams and his wife Kathy and daughter Lia on the arrival of their new twin girls, Emma and Sophie!

From Acharya Emily Bower:

To the Boston Shambhala Community:

“A group of community members met on Sunday, March 8, to discuss the questions arising from the presence of homeless people staying around our building. Mostly, we felt saddened and deeply moved by the situation. We found that facing homelessness so intimately brings up feelings of groundlessness and hopelessness because we know the problem is pervasive and it’s not going away. We felt that the presence of homeless people around our building presents an opportunity to enter into the situation and relate with it directly.”

Please visit the Director’s Blog to read the full report including

-WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON
-WHAT SHOULD WE DO
-WHAT CAN WE DO TO RELATE TO THE LARGER ISSUE?
-WEEKLY PRACTICE SESSION
-WAYS TO VOLUNTEER (Includes document from Mary C.)
-WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
-DO YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED?

Congratulations to both Sarah Lipton and Dale Hollocher for being accepted into Shambhala Vajrayana Seminary!

Both Sarah and Dale will be attending Seminary with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Acharya Robert Puts in August of this year at Dechen Chöling, in Lemoges, France.

If anyone else has been accepted into this program, or another let me know. I would love to share your news with the Sangha!

You are all invited to artist and sangha member Linda Leslie Brown’s opening of her exhibit Phenomen.illogial at the Kingston Gallery in Boston.