Shambhala Day at the Boston Shambhala Center this year was full of energy, celebration, laughter and tears. The shrine room was packed with almost 100 people. We started early with the set-up (and a big huge thank - you to the 15 and more people that helped with the Neutral Day Cleaning on Saturday and all the setup work!!!). People started to stream in to the Center at around 10 am in time to practice together the Sadhana of Mahamudra and the Elixir of Life. We had a boisterous and crowded lunch break in the community room and then resumed to watch the Year in Review followed by the Kasung’s presentation of the colors and then a delightful shouted ROAR to the entire Shambhala mandala through Shambhala Online.

Tears and joy were shared by all as we listened to the Sakyong’s recorded message of love and exciting tidings of a Royal Baby. Then the usual assortment of Board and Director addresses, a successful fundraising appeal, the throwing of the I-Ching and various Oaths and De-Oathings. The event at the Center culminated with a rousing rendition of the Shambhala Anthem, we quickly cleaned up, and a few of us even went bowling.

Enjoy the photos! And thank you for celebrating this new year of the Iron Tiger with us!

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.

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.

Shambhala Day 2009 - Year of the Earth Ox

February 25th, a day of Community Celebration

Shambhala Day marks the beginning of the new year of the Earth Ox and is one of the most important traditions of Shambhala Buddhism. Based on the traditional Tibetan new year’s celebration, it is a time for us to express the wealth and richness of our spiritual and cultural heritage.

This Shambhala Day saw….
It’s Shambhala Day - and it’s time to celebrate! Wednesday night see Jim’s Big Ego - starring Shambhala sangha member Jim Infantino. The band will be performing live onstage upstairs at the Boston Shambhala Center. Join us from 7-9:30 for drinks, light hors d’oeuvre, dancing and celebration.

Community member Brian Sutton wrote the following puppet show for his son, David. In this version, you’ll just have to imagine the puppets acting it out.

Cheerful Shambhala Day - A Puppet Show

by Brian Sutton

King: Good afternoon boys and girls. There are some important things that you should know, so I am going to tell you. You can think of them as secrets, secrets shared with the children of Shambhala. I know you are ready. You may be not as tall or filled out as you will be when you become a so-called grown up, but you must know that you are ready. Are you ready? Are you ready? Just making sure you are out there. So, you are ready. Ready for what? The show? For change? You don’t need to change. You don’t need someone to change you. Maybe when you were younger you needed someone to change your nappies, but I’m not talking about that. I mean that you are like a flower - each one of you was naturally meant to bloom. Grown ups too are still working on blooming.
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