Get a preview of Shambhala community member Jim Infantino’s music at his upcoming Solo Show: “Voice and guitar, mostly”.

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival “most wanted to return artist”,2006

Jim Infantino

@ Jackson Homestead

527 Washington Street, Newton

Friday, January 29

Doors 7:45, Concert 8:00

Minimum suggested donation $15, $5 children under 12, $50 immediate family max. 25% less for museum members.

All donations go to the museum and artist.

Singer Songwriter, Rockstar Geek

CMJ Music Report says:
“Jim Infantino wields his razor-sharp poetic flair like a weapon, offering thought-provoking commentary that can sound both humorous and poignant at the same time. Infantino mixes a down-town Lou Reed-style hipness … that best illustrates the band’s smart, imaginative approach.”

The Boston Globe says:
“Jim Infantino, ground zero of the Boston trio Jim’s Big Ego, is one of those rare songwriters whose wit is as sharp as his sense of melody, and whose intellect is broad and beautifully skewed as his jumble of musical influences.”

Jill Blagsvedt and Tom Ericsson were married on July 23rd with a small group of family and friends in attendance at a lake in Littleton MA. Tom and Jill were ecstatic that Jill’s mentor, Sokuzon Robert Brown, traveled from Michigan to conduct the ceremony. Liturgies from several Buddhist lineages, traditional six paramita offerings, and a Shambhala werma shrine were all part of the ceremony. The dralas were pleased! Ki Ki So So!

Seven members of the Boston Sangha, under the teaching, care and guidance of Acharya Emily Bower, took their Bodhisattva vows on Sunday, May 30th.
here we are!
back row: Edward Reitman, Thomas Noviello, with Acharya Emily Bower
middle row: Kyle Courtney, Sarah Kimball and Martina Bouey
Front row: Louise Miller (that’s me) and Scott Robbins

Congratulations to my fellow Bodhisattvas! It was an honor to study, practice, and take vows with you.

The shared experience of staffing a program naturally gives rise to a sense of community. On a recent Saturday afternoon, 16 new and old members of the Shambhala Community gathered to dialog with Center Director Jill Blagsvedt, Center Coordinator Sarah Lipton, and volunteer leadership from the center about leadership in the Boston Shambhala Center. The group contemplated the Six Ways of Ruling in relationship to staffing and coordinating programs and volunteering at the Shambhala Center.

The Shambhala Center is not just a place where you go to meditate, it’s a place where enlightened society takes root, through coming together as a community to study, practice, and serve. The Shambhala Program Leadership Training’s purpose was for newer volunteers to learn about the view, path and skills of program support. Leadership in a program support position is a combination of holding the view of basic goodness and kindness, while also working with other staff and the participants. Volunteering is a way to put the principles you’re learning about in classes into action when working with others. This afternoon training included in-depth contemplation and discussion of Shambhala principles, and training in the various areas of program support.

This program was so successful that we will continue to offer it on a bi- or tri-monthly basis. Newer volunteers learned the view and skills for staffing and coordinating programs, and older volunteers stepped into training roles. Three upcoming programs were filled with staff from the training. To continue the fun of community building, everyone carpooled to local Jamaica Plain’s Bukhara Indian restaurant for a delicious and uplifted celebration.

“It’s people like you stepping into program leadership roles that make it possible for the center to offer so many wonderful classes and programs to the community.”
~ Jill Blagsvedt

Watch out for, and join us at another program training called “Hosting the Lineage”, at which there will be a talk on the view of staffing and serving in the household when a visiting teacher or Tibetan Rinpoche comes to town, and in-depth training on how to serve.

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!

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!