Body Mandalas
The kingdom of Shambhala An old Tibetan story
tells of a young man who starts out on a journey for Shambhala. After
a difficult crossing in the wilderness of deserts and mountains, he
came to the cave of an old hermit, who asked him, “Where are you going
across these peaks of snow?”
“To find Shambhala,” the youth
replied. “Oh, young man, you need not travel far,” the hermit said.
“The kingdom of Shambhala is in your own heart.”
Whenever I walk in the forest or on the beach, I have a habit of
collecting heart shape stones and shells. If I am considering a
specific idea and I find a heart shape stone I take it as a good omen.
In many cultures, the heart is a symbol for truth, purity and love.
Now with the onset of the summer season I take the pulse of my heart,
listening and feeling its tenderness. I recently made life changing
decisions to listen to my heart’s desire to be closer to nature. Now
listening to the creek - source of my drinking water, I feel the joy
of having listened to my heart’s calling. Every day I express
gratitude to be in the midst of trees, animals, birds, good air and
water as well as an amazing community!
Happy summer’s! The heat, the long days, an energized relaxation from
feeling the sunshine, the flowers and gardens, swimming, being outside
a lot. Summer is a very active time; the most yang of the season, life
is expanding into maturity.
Amongst the plentiful of summertime’s events and within British
Columbia’s mountains is a more easily found Shambhala: the Shambhala
Music festival held on August 6 - 9 in beautiful Salmo River near
Nelson BC.
Shambhala or "bde 'byung" in Tibetan, means "The source of happiness".
It is also a warrior path first introduced by the Vidyadhara, Chögyam
Trungpa Rinpoche to his Western students in 1976.
Every culture has myths and tales telling of a paradisiacal cradle
land of humanity, a place where sacred wisdom is kept. Shambhala is
one of the Buddhists "pure lands”, a society where all the inhabitants
are enlightened and enjoy a life of happiness. In the words of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama:
"Although those with special affiliation may actually be able to go
there through their karmic connection, nevertheless it is not a
physical place that we can actually find. We can only say that it is a
pure land, a pure land in the human realm. And unless one has the
merit and the actual karmic association, one cannot actually arrive
there."
There are many stories of Shambhala. Its location and nature varies
depending on traditions.
Most speak of 3 Shambhalas. 'Outer Shambhala' exists as a kingdom in
the external world, the 'Inner Shambhala' lies within the body and
mind, and the 'Other Shambhala' is an extension of the Kalachakra yoga
mandala with all its deities.
Inner Shambhala is linked with the heart chakra. Similarly, in Chinese
Medicine the heart is said to be the residence of Shen or spirit.
Activating the heart centre. Although the mind can lead some there is
a quantum leap into love.
“Gate Gate, Para Gate, Para Sam Gate, Bodhi Swaha”
Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, O what an awakening,
all-hail! (Excerpt from the heart sutra)
The heart is associated with summer as well as its protectors the
small intestines, pericardium circulation sex and triple warmer.
The (supernatural) powers of Summer create heat in Heaven and fire
upon Earth. They create the pulse in the body and the heat in the
viscera. Of the colors they create the red color and of the musical
notes they create “chih” and they give the human voice the ability to
express joy. In times of excitement and change they grant the capacity
for sadness and grief. Of the orifices they create the mouth with its
palate: of the flavors they create the bitter flavor, and of the
emotions they create happiness and joy.” (Nei Ching: The Yellow
Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine)
Like Shambhala the heart is a pure land where happiness can be found.
What is happiness for you? One of my teachers told me that the
capacity for deep appreciation is an indication of high spiritual
achievement. When we are able to put aside our complaining,
criticizing and condemning of … (write whatever seems appropriate for
you at this time), we can extend gentle kindness into the world.
As Eckhart Tolle writes in his book A New Earth: “ Unhappiness is an
ego-created mental-emotional disease that has reached epidemic
proportions. It is the inner equivalent of the environmental pollution
of our planet. Negative states such as anger, anxiety, hatred,
resentment, discontent, envy, jealousy, and so on, are not recognized
as negative but as totally justified and are further misperceived not
as self-created but as caused by someone else or some external
factor.”
In taking the inner journey to Shambhala, we regain the ability to
experience the world directly. Coming back to a state of innocence
filled with wisdom. Only by becoming aware of our illusions and how we
are addicted to them can we free ourselves from their grip and awaken
a clear and direct awareness of the world around us.
Meditation and contemplation practices, celebration through dance,
music, poetry, sacred sexuality, are all vehicles to awaken the body
and mind and to communicate with spirit. Through them we can enhance
our appreciation of life as it is.
The warriorship of the Shambhala training is an education of the heart
on how to bring gentle kindness into the world by first, conquering
aggression toward oneself.
Shambhala Education is a
series of weekend levels, which include meditation practice,
discussion, talks and contemplation.
Shambhala Levels The weekends are:
- Level I: Ordinary Magic
Goodness, Sacredness and Confidence
- Level II: Birth of the Warrior
Obstacles to that Goodness and the discovery of Fearlessness
- Level III: Warrior in the World
Confidence in Daily Life
- Level IV: Awakened Heart
Unity of Intuition and Intellect
- Level V: Open Sky, Primordial
Stroke
Opening Completely to Others
For more information visit
www.shambhala.org
This year Shambhala Music Festival promises to be another gathering of
peaceful celebration. I am not sure if you will find the source of
happiness there but it will be filled with good vibrations.
www.shambhalamusicfestival.com
Visualization for the heart
Sit in a comfortable position where you can feel undisturbed. Bring
your awareness to the level of sensations in your body with the
intention to be calm and relaxed. Take three deep and full breaths and
become aware of the central channel along your spine. Chant the Heart
Sutra nine times:
“Gate Gate, Para Gate, Para Sam Gate, Bodhi Swaha”
Visualize that you are in front of an enlighten being and that you are
bathed in its light.
The light enters your crown chakra (at the top of your head) and goes
down your central channel into your heart. Bring the image of a pink
lotus flower into your heart.
With each in breath say to yourself: “I am well and happy”
With each out breath say to yourself: “ May all being be well and
happy."
Keep doing this until you feel the light has penetrated into all of
your cells.
Now feel compassion entering your heart, the light shines out through
you on the exhale, then returns to you brighter on the inhale. When it
goes out again send it to your spiritual teachers (past present &
future), then bring it back again into you heart even brighter. Now
send the loving energy to your family & friends, community, allowing
it to flow beyond, embracing the whole universe in pure loving light.
Bring it back to you again.
May all being be happy and enjoy a beautiful summer in a land of
plenty! |
