Practice & Education Working Group
Practice & Education Working Group
Practice and Education is the heart of the existence of Boulder Shambhala Center. The offerings are multifaceted ranging from Shambhala Training levels, Buddhist classes taught by local sangha, as well as visiting teachers and Rinpoches, along with colorful and lively arts and cultural societal events. The heart and aspiration of the BSC community is to be a warm and welcoming space and community, provide the ground and path for those new to meditation as well as opportunities for learning, contemplation and meditation for its existing members. The essence of the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings given to this sangha by its founder Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche cannot be overstated as these teachings are the backbone and heart of BSC. We also recognize the need and desire to support practices and teaching that have been introduced by our exceptional lineage teachers during the center’s 50-year history.
Volunteers of the practice and education working group are divided into 3 “baskets”, working in a mutually supportive way with the center’s Practice and Education staff. Some activities are conducted jointly by the three baskets; others are addressed by only one of the three groups; others are organized by members outside of the P&E Working Group. We meet monthly as a “global” basket.
Three BSC Practice and Education volunteer “baskets” are composed of the following:
Shambhala Dharma Basket
Our objective is to ensure the quality, programing, and continuity of Shambhala Training programs. To date we have developed and introduced a two-month MI Training program, established two Deans for the Heart of Warriorship programs, two Deans for the Sacred Path programs, and a Co-Dean of Meditation Instructors. We have participated in and led Warrior Assemblies and are involved with post Warrior Assembly planning.
Members
- Agness Au – Head + Co-Dean of Sacred Path
- Margot Iseman – Co-Dean of meditation Instructors (with George Ramsey from the Buddhadharma Basket)
- Angelika Behrooz – Co-Dean of Heart of Warriorship
- Steve Seeley – Co-Dean of Heart of Warriorship
- Janet Solyntjes – Co-Dean of Sacred Path + adjunct member
- Debora Kolwey
- Lea Spiess
Buddhadharma Basket
The objective and purpose of the buddha dharma basket is to:
- identify Buddhist curriculum and sequence of classes
- work with BSC P & E to coordinate teachers and schedule classes
- invite visiting teachers to BSC and assist with coordination of programs
- facilitate requests for mediation instructors via the Buddhist MI Dean, and
- identity teachers and topics for Thursday night open classes.
Members
- Lynele Jones – Head
- Maria Asztalos – Assistant Head
- George Ramsey – Co-Dean of Meditation Instructors(with Margot Iseman from the Shambhala Basket)
- Roland Cohen
- Gary Allen
- Marybeth Keigher
- David Sanford
- Nick Urban
- Maggie Turnbull
- Jim Fladmark
Arts and Culture Basket
The purpose of the Arts and Culture basket is to provide classes, workshops and presentations that emphasize the arts and cultural aspects that are integral to Shambhala and Enlightened Society. Dharma Art, Embodiment Practices, Eastern Arts and Social Engagement are some of the areas we support both for the Shambhala community as well as the Boulder community at large. One of our projects has been to launch a series of Salons for Shambhala artists to have an opportunity to share their work in discussion and dialogue. We also provide teachers for the Thursday Open Class, whose presentations connect mindfulness/awareness and the meditative path to art and culture.
Members
- Erika Berland – Head
- Jolie Bernstein
- Cynthia Kneen
- Judith Sellers
- John Lee
- Julie Nowick
- Emily Takahashi
Some activities that are conducted jointly by the three baskets are:
- Effecting changes to shrine room iconography and arrangement, to adjust to changing wishes of the Center’s membership and visitors
- Assisting Ed Smutney and Andrew Bowen with practice details, inviting practice leaders, refining chants and other practice procedures.
