ShambhalaMeditationCenter of Chicago

Regular Meeting – December 19, 2012

7:00pm – 9:00pm at the ShambhalaMeditationCenter of Chicago

Minutes

In attendance: Gina Caruso, Tom Golz, Tom Adducci, Gretchen Neve

Absent: Barbara Wolkowitz, Vince Whitlock

No members present.

Succession Planning.Gretchen gave update on criteria for the Societal Health and Well Being (SHWB) position she currently holds and discussed ideas for cultivating leadership that can lead to a successor for this position. A priority starting in January is to get the Community Care teams up and running. Also the Community as Path series that Mary Whetsel crafted will help launch special interest groups in the community. Gretchen has names of community people to approach to be coordinators for these groups.

Policies Discussion. Tom G expressed that something important is happening with the transition of the center – not only are we moving but there is a new constituency we’ll be encountering, which is prompting the Governing Council (GC) to look at its policies. Also the Sakyong is encouraging us mandala-wide to be more connected with the larger community. Tom G read refreshed on ends policies and read a passage from the John Carter book, Boards that Make a Difference, page 79. It reminded the GC of its purpose, which includes asking these questions: - 1) What good to we want to accomplish? 2) for whom? 3) and at what cost?

Tom G opened the discussion by reminding the GC that exploring what we want to be in Chicago is the work of the GC.

Tom A suggested we start at the biggest view first for what we want to be in Chicago, which is Chicago Shambhala. The West Loop Center will have its own flavor, quite possibly with more emphasis on community space and cultural programming than we have now. Tom A invited the question: Do we have a vision of Chicago Shambhala?For example, the downtown center could be very cosmopolitan with art exhibits, cultural events, etc. Gretchen added that the community is leaning in the direction of satellites being more than smaller adjunct places but places of their own with their own flavor.

The GC recognized the need to clarify what questions need to be answered such as what relationships do we have and what are ones we need to cultivate. The GC agreed longer stretches of time retreat-style could be useful to more deeply explore these questions.

Regarding relationships and learning from others, Gina suggested talking with LISC Chicago (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) and to learn from their community development process with their New Communities Program, which successfully engages communities and cultivates ownership of projects.

Tom A described this process as needing to get out of our cocoon and talk with non-Shambhalians for guidance from the outside world. We know what we know, but need to know what others know. The other thought is for us to make good use of people like LISC to find out more – who are the resources outside our mandala we can learn from.

Tom G confirmed we need to refine questions to ask of people outside our community and to start with the broad questions from Carter and get more specific from there: 1) What good do we want to accomplish? 2) for whom? 3) and at what cost?

As to the “What good do we want to accomplish?” question, the GC will prepare a series of more fine-grained questions informed by such resources as Sakyong’s “Treatise on Enlightened Society”. A starting point to further refine is we want to help people to experience their basic goodness. The GC will get basic agreement on a series of questions so we then have a way to begin conversations with organizations, find out what their missions are, who they serve, and that we’d like to keep an open line of communication and help each other. Talking with constituencies will help us refine from working with all people in Chicago to more specific people and a sense of their needs.

Tom A suggested the GC refresh on President Reoch’s August 2012 white paper, “The Shambhala Principle – Update on Strategic Planning” and give feedback on the President’s December 2012 draft of “Message and Survey Monkey about The Shambhala Principle to all Shambhala members.” [Both are attached below.]

Gretchen shared that she struggles with setting a course and reconciling that with life’s organic, unpredictable quality and that things can show up out of the blue that take one off course. Tom A suggested using the tornado cone analogy to work with that uncertainty in that there is a zone where a tornado may traverse, which allows “wiggle room” for changes, but overall the zone is identified.

The GC discussed a timeline and some immediate next steps for policy work:

January 2013

  • GC to review “The Shambhala Principle – Update on Strategic Planning”
  • GC to give feedback on the President’s December 2012 draft of “Message and Survey Monkey about The Shambhala Principle to all Shambhala members.”
  • GC to individually start contemplating and writing thoughts down about a) the question of “What good to we want to accomplish?” and b) the new vision for Shambhala going more outward to society and centers serving more as cultural centers.
  • GC to gather Sat January 26 or Sunday January 27 for a half-day retreat to share thoughts and prepare statements about these two items

January/February 2013

  • Meet with Joel Bookman from LISC Chicago to discuss community development strategies from LISC’s New Communities Program (Gina to coordinate)
  • Refine questions to ask community leaders
  • Identify community leaders and constituencies around the new center

February/March 2013

  • Schedule another half-day retreat, finalize questions to ask community leaders
  • Meet with community identified leaders, start building relationships

Next Regular GC Meeting. The GC discussed Tuesday, January 22. Gina will confirm.

Self-Evaluation. Tom A did the GC self-evaluation. He felt we had a good meeting and that he is getting the support he needs to do his executive work.

The GC dedicated the merit and adjourned at 9:00pm.

Policies Discussion Talking Points Prepared by Tom Goltz (Presented at the 12/19/12 GC Meeting)

  1. Constituencies.What constituencies do we wish to serve at our new Center and what are our priorities based on their needs and interests? (For example, professional people living in the immediate neighborhood and their families, students from nearby universities, etc.)
  1. Partners.Who are our natural organizational partners in the area and how does our mission fit with theirs? (For example, Old St. Pat’s Church, the Methodist, Catholic, and Jewish congregations in the loop, the neighborhood and business associations, etc.)
  1. Positioning.How do we want to present ourselves to the surrounding community in terms of key messages about who we are and what we offer? (This will be reflected in the design of our space and in our public communications.)
  1. Satellites.What are our priorities as to where we want to have strong satellite branches and to what extent can we offer support?
  1. Linkage.Beyond the guidelines that Halifax has set for becoming an official Shambhala Center or study group, what do we want the linkage between the Chicago Governing Council and the satellite groups to be? (Do we want satellites represented on the GC?)
  1. Resources. What resources will be needed in order to carry out our desired changes and what does the Executive Director need to know in order financially plan for them?

The Shambhala Principle –

Update on strategic planning

The path we take now will determine the future of our planet. One direction leads to increased speed, aggression and fear, with devastating consequences for society and our environment. Alternatively, there is a direction through which we can rediscover how good it is to be alive on this earth – a path that leads to a renewed sense of confidence, worthiness and well being. It leads to care and kindness, revitalizing our connection with each other and with our planet.

What marks this crossroads is a simple and universal principle – basic goodness. If we can remember the goodness of ourselves and society, our future will be full of possibility. This is the Shambhala principle. It encourages us to step back and ask, “What kind of world are we creating?”

-- Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche,

The Shambhala Principle (Draft]

The Sakyong’s next public book, The Shambhala Principle, will be a presentation of the core teaching on basic goodness. It will discuss its relevance to many issues facing humanity at this time, in the fields of health care, education,family life, economics, human rights, geopolitics, the evolution of human society and the protection of the environment.

Strategic advance planning for the launch is to see this event as much more than the publication of a book. Our goal is to propel basic goodness into a topic of global conversation.

The book will likely be published in the spring or fall of 2013. This gives us a window of between nine and fifteen months.

To develop our strategic thinking, I have discussed this on several occasions with the Sakyong himself and updated him on conversations with others. There are a growing number of people who have an interest in these fields and are willing to help think beyond the borders of Shambhala, as we currently know it. This update is based on all those conversations.

A three-pronged strategy

From all the conversations that have taken place thus far, I see a three-pronged strategy emerging. It takes into account three different sectors that need to be engaged:

  1. The Shambhala community itself
  1. The broad global audience that can be interested in the topic
  1. Key sectors around the world that are already engaged in these kinds of conversations or to whom the Shambhala principle can be brought in skilful ways

Certain key points emerged from our conversations that have helped shape this approach:

  • The Shambhala Principle, as the Sakyong has pointed out, is universal. Thus, it is important to present this topic in a very open and inclusive way, accessible to all.
  • The question, ““What kind of world are we creating?”(In the opening words of The Shambhala Principle) is a question countless people are now asking in their own way around the world. It is important to engage with those conversations skilfully and be part of the discussion, rather than limit us to imposing our “creed” on others.
  • This strategy is about far more than marketing a book. It is about joining in with and stimulating a global conversation at all levels of society.
  • “Although our age is dark, there is still time for us all to reflect on who and what we think we are – and what we think humanity is. That one moment of self-reflection can influence our whole life, as well as the life of the world.” In the spirit of these words from the introduction to The Shambhala Principle, our approach can be truly being non-dogmatic. We are exploring our common humanity.

The three aspects of the strategy follow:

Preparing Shambhala for

The Shambhala Principle

✺Message from the Sakyong to the Shambhala Mandala

As recently as 10 July, the Sakyong told me that he was thinking of writing a letter to the entire mandala about The Shambhala Principle. This would inform everyone about his forthcoming book and its significance. He also indicated that he might include suggestions for other reading on empathy and social transformation so that people could begin to prepare themselves more broadly for this initiative.

I am thrilled that Rinpoche is considering “waking everyone up” in advance in this way! I have asked him if it would be possible for him to provide extracts or a short synopsis of the central message of his book for us to study in advance of publication.

✺Basic Goodness courses

The Kalapa Acharya Adam Lobel is preparing a three-fold course on Basic Goodness. He is aiming to pilot this in the autumn of this year. He is working on the manuals for the course right now

It would be marvellous if we could find a way to roll this out mandala-wide as soon as possible. The aim would be for all centres to offer this to as many of their members as possible. Since understanding basic goodness lies at the heart of understanding the Shambhala Principle, this course is a key element in preparing for the launch of the book.

This three-fold course offers a progressive exploration of basic goodness and creating enlightened society. The three sessions are open to everyone. The aim is to allow ease in scheduling at centers and create more gateways for different kinds of people.

Here is a short synopsis of the three elements of the course. Adam will update this as his work on this unfolds:

1. Who Am I? The Basic Goodness of the Individual

A study of the view and experience of human nature. Teachings on blamelessness, developing a gentle and curious relationship with oneself, how the sense of self arises from basic openness, the view of selflessness, how the self/cocoon arises due of fear and the arising of the warrior of confidence.

2. How Can I Help? The Basic Goodness of Society

A study of the nature of society. An exploration of the heart that longs to create a better world. Teachings on bodhichitta, communication, the arising of society from basic openness, how society becomes confused because of fear and can become awake because of confidence, being willing to exchange self and other, virtue, and creating enlightened society.

3. What is Real? The Basic Goodness of Reality

A study of the nature of phenomena and being. Impermanence, perception, mind, and emptiness. Emphasis on sacredness of all phenomena. Sacred ecology.

My suggestion is that some of us work with Adam on the design of publicity for this course and the communication with all our leadership. The goal would be to encourage as many people as possible to attend and participate in these discussions. Strong participation by all levels of practitioners will greatly help in deepen everyone’s understanding, and help lay the basis for global outreach around The Shambhala Principle.

✺the ground is already prepared

For decades, the presentation of basic goodness has been a core teaching of our lineage. All generations of our practitioners are not only familiar with it as a teaching, but as a lived experience:

When we speak of basic goodness, we are not talking about having allegiance to good and rejecting bad. Basic goodness is good because it is unconditional, or fundamental. It is there already, in the same way that heaven and earth are there already. We don’t reject our atmosphere. We don’t reject the sun and the moon, the clouds and the sky. Basic goodness is that basic, that unconditional… You discover a bank of self-existing energy that is always available to you – beyond any circumstance. It actually comes from nowhere, but is always there. It is the energy of basic goodness.

-Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Shambhala: the sacred path of the warrior

Trungpa Rinpoche describes the journey of discovering basic goodness in Training the Mind. He speaks of the process of becoming “active bodhisattvas”. After processing the early stages of irritation and aggression through mindfulness and awareness, we are led to:

… a notion of basic goodness, which is described in the Kadam texts as the natural virtue of alaya, an important point for us to understand. Alaya is the fundamental state of existence, or consciousness, before it is divided into “I” and “other” or into the various emotions. It is the basic ground where things are processed, where things exist. And its basic and natural style is goodness. It is very benevolent. There is a basic state of existence that is fundamentally good and that we can rely on. There is room to relax, room to open ourselves up. We can make friends with ourselves and with others. That is fundamental virtue or basic goodness, and it is the basis of the possibility of absolute bodhichitta.

-Chögyam Trunpa Rinpoche

Training the mind and cultivating loving kindness

Following his return from his year of retreat, the Sakyong has focussed on Basic Goodness as a central contemplation and practice in Shambhala. He took the opportunity of his 2011 Shambhala day address to transmit the Proclamation of Basic Goodness. This was followed by the Shambhala Vow, the Enlightened Society Vow (taken by some 3,000 members of our community later that same year), the introduction of The Shambhala Sadhana, The Treatise on Enlightened Society and the Aspiration of Shambhala, which states in its final verses:

May we establish an enlightened society based on unconditional goodness.

The launch of The Shambhala Principle will help fulfil the Sakyong’s aspiration to inspire as many people as possible. His aim is to help people understand that the principle of basic goodness is relevant to all fields of human endeavour and can contribute significantly to a shift in the global paradigm.

The ground has been prepared in another potent way. In Shambhala, we are introduced to basic goodness as a living experience. Our confidence in it may flicker, but we have all been touched by it. Thus, being “prepared” for The Shambhala Principle, is much more than knowing how to articulate that principle, being able to present it or answer questions about it. We can trust in our direct experience, what it means to us and how it affects our lives. That, in itself, is our manifestation of the Shambhala Principle.

✺Helping our members engage in dialogue

Once The Shambhala Principle enters the public domain it is likely to attract not only interest and attention but also some scepticism or even controversy. Shambhalians need not only to understand the core message of the book, but also have some experience in engaging in dialogue with others about its central message of basic goodness. These could range from answering short questions or having conversations with friends, family or co-workers on the spot.

To help us all prepare for such encounters, and to support each other in finding our own authentic voices in such dialogues, I would like to propose that, in addition to the Basic Goodness course, we encourage all centres to create environments for shared, open dialogue sessions. People could assembly to take turns asking and answering questions – and sharing with each other what they learn from working together in this way: