Community UpdateAugust 2016

MEDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY UPDATE SUMMER 2016

M

KCL has continued to offer a rich, varied, and full schedule of programming.

In May and June, Dr. Eva Wong led three programs...Traditional ChineseQigong: the Five Animal Long Forms Intensive and Entering the PracticalWorld of Taoism. We are honored that Dr. Wong will return this fall for anadvanced

One of theoffered theLeadershipgathered ateachings

Another firmandala. Wsenior pra Additionaduring a 10

Programming Update

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Qigong Practice Retreat.Qigong Practice Retreat

EDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

special highlights of this year was that, in May, the Sakyong very first Kalapa Garchen (Great Gathering of Shambhala). Almost 100 leaders representing all Four Pillars of Shambhalat Karmê Chöling to hear and explore ways to apply the Sakyong's

on leadership.

st was the Sakyong's introduction of Scorpion Seal 8 to thee were so blessed with the presence so many Acharya's and

ctitioners. Their commitment to the teachings is utterly inspiring.lly, we simultaneously hosted Scorpion Seal Assemblies I and II day period in June.

COMMUNITY UPDATE SUMMER 2016

MEDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

In between Scorpion Seal Assemblies, Acharya Adam Lobel and AcharyaJudith Simmer-Brown led a Shastri Retreat for new Shastris and to shareinformation on the exciting changes underway in the Shambhala teachingpath.

In fulfilling the Sakyong’s mandate for Karmê Chöling to train leaders andyouth, over the last year we held Shambhala Meditation Instructor Training(another first), Shambhala Guide Training, a Youth Leadership Intensive andThe Art of Hosting geared toward the needs of regional centers. Enactinganother mandate - to connect more fully with city centers - the ExecutiveDirector, Myra Woodruff, went to eleven cities in the Northeast to meet withtheir Shambhala Councils and discuss working together more closely.

In addition, in 2015 and 2016, Hemera Foundation's fellowships haveenabled us to award $40,000 in funding retreats for educators and about$10,000 in funding retreats for health care professionals.

More on Programming

COMMUNITY UPDATE SUMMER 2016

MEDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

Once again, we were blessed and honored by the visit of the Sakyong, theSakyong Wangmo, and their three beautiful daughters...Jetsun Drukmo,Jetsun Yundra, and Jetsun Dzedron. Throughout the visit, there was abeautifully heightened sense of the preciousness of the family at the center ofour mandala.

Hosting the Sakyong and Family

Holding CourtWith generosity and devotion, Acharya Michael Greenleaf and Mrs. JeanineGreenleaf again offered their beautiful home as the family's residence. Withhelp from our dedicated local sangha, we prepared both the court and themain house by moving furniture, cleaning shrines, ironing sheets, hangingcurtains, dusting, and so much more.

During the visit, Master Gardener, Jan Enthoven, and Garden Manager, GaryVu, led the Sakyong Wangomo and the Jetsuns on a tour of the garden. Someof the sweetest and most delightful moments of the tour were when theJetsuns transplanted flowers. Jetsun Yudra, in particular, loved digging herhands in the dirt and asked for more flowers to transplant.

Garden Tour

Those who served the court found it transformative, humbling, enriching, andexhilaratingly exhausting. The generosity of Steward, Jeanine Greenleaf,Shabchi Regional Commander, Ella Reznakova, and countless others made forand a delightfully relaxed environment infused with playfulness and grace.

COMMUNITY UPDATE SUMMER 2016

MEDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

The residential staff at Karmê Chöling prepare for and host programs with anunceasing commitment to holding retreatants in the cradle of loving-kindness. They work tirelessly with their minds through their practice andtheir relationships. And, among all the chaos and busyness of life at KarmêChöling, they find ample time to have fun whether it be a swim at Harvey'sLake, a barbeque, or expressing their artistic talents. As an example, the staffrecently put together this video.

But, as the seasons change, so does the Karmê Chöling staff. With tenderhearts we are saying goodbye to many of our residential staff members, as wedo each year. Some are moving back to jobs and cities, some are going off toschool, and some are leaping into uncertainty. We are confident each one willspread loving-kindness and basic goodness wherever they go.

This change is also making room for new people to join our community and toexperience the brilliance of living and working here. In particular, as ourAssistant Directors prepare to move on, we have restructured these positionsinto a Deputy Director and Director of Operations. Go to Core LeadershipOpenings and Core Staff Openings to learn more about staff opportunities atKarmê Chöling.

The Karmê Chöling Staff

video.

Core LeadershipOpenings Core Staff Openings

COMMUNITY UPDATE SUMMER 2016

MEDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

We've held three Summer Volunteer sessions so far and are about to start thethe last. It's such an enriching experience for all. Whether here for most of thesummer or just a couple of weeks, these volunteers become part of our familyas they work and play alongside us. It's always heartbreaking to see them go.

Our VolunteersWe couldn't do it without them!

Lastly, in May, we hosted a Volunteer Tent Weekend to assist our hard workingfacilities team in raising the tents for the summer season. It was a hugesuccess. Over 20 people showed up to serve our community and to practiceand share meals together. It was so helpful and magnetizing that we havescheduled another Volunteer Tent Weekend for the purpose of closing downthe campgrounds in September. We will also hold another StupaVolunteer Weekend at the end of September.

The help from our local sangha is nothing short of inspirational. Here areexamples of just some of the things they do. They help register and greet ourparticipants...sync program data with the SDB...keep our flower beds lookingspectacular...do house keeping...prep food and do dishes...give rides...make60 gallons of syrup...transport all sorts of other...steward our land usecommittee...and so very much more!!! To all of you who give your time pleaseknow that you are all deeply loved and appreciated. To express this moretangibly, we are hosting a sangha appreciation dinner on September 13 tohonor our local volunteers.

StupaVolunteer Weekend

Volunteer Tent Weekend

COMMUNITY UPDATE SUMMER 2016

MEDITATION | CULTURE | COMMUNITY

With another precious Family Camp behind us and an Enlightened SocietyAssembly under way, we near the end of a delightful summer season. Beforeheading into the fall, staff will relish the open relaxation of staff days off, fromAugust 23 - Aug 26. Then we'll kick off the first of our fall programs onSeptember 2.

Looking ahead we are offering several special programs amidst our usuallineup, including...

Wrapping It Up

We'll round out the year with our annual Family Weekend in October andFamily Week in December.

We hope to see many of you in the coming months, whether it be as programstaff, participant, or volunteer, for our local sangha appreciation dinner onSeptember 13th, at Harvest of Peace on September 25th, or you just plaindrop on by. We always love having and hosting you all!!!

programs

• LGBTQ Retreat: Inherent Confidence• Embodied Listening: Uncovering Our Bodies' Wisdom• Five Wisdom Energies: Discovering Natural Brilliance in the Darkness of

Your Confusion • Heart of Recovery Retreat

Famliy Week in December.Family Weekend

Harvest of Peace