photo credits: Marvin Moore |
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The premise of Shambhala vision is that, in order to establish an enlightened society for others, we need to discover what inherently we have to offer the world. So, to begin with, we should make an effort to examine our own experience, in order to see what it contains that is of value in helping ourselves and others to uplift their existence.
Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche
from Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior
By joining spiritual vision and practice with the practicalities and challenges of everyday life, we aspire to create a society that expresses the dignity of human experience. The Shambhala community comes together in many ways – to practice, learn, celebrate, create, and serve others.
Deleks
The idea of having a delek system and dekyongs developed out of the [local centers] and Karma Dzong. It came from thinking of them as a society, actually, and about how society could function and manifest at its best. Such a society would have good communication, a sense of dignity and realistic vision so that we could actually nurture our children as well as ourselves. ...
Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche
Delek means “good happiness” in Tibetan. Lek means “good” and de means “bliss” or “happiness.” So good bliss or good happiness is the name for a neighbourhood grouping of Shambhala Community members and associates. A member of a delek is called a delekpa.
Through the delek system, Shambhala community members meet and socialise with other members who live in their neighbourhood. The delek system is intended to be inclusive rather than exclusive, like a clan or extended family. It’s a place to catch up on community and personal news, discuss community issues, ask and receive answers to questions, and just have a good time.
Read more about deleks (pdf)
Nyida Days
Over the years our community has adopted a tradition of celebrating the changes of the seasons. These are called nyida days, from the Tibetan words nyima ("sun") and dawa ("moon"). Nyida days occur on or near the days of the equinoxes and solstices. All four nyida days are regarded as family-oriented celebrations.
Midsummer Day observes the summer solstice; the Harvest of Peace the autumn equinox; Children's Day, the winter solstice.
Children's Day
Children's Day falls on December 21st, the time of the winter solstice. While all four nyida days are regarded as family-oriented occasions, the winter holiday, Children's Day, provides a special opportunity to express appreciation for and with our children. At a time when the weather begins to bear down upon us , we turn to family for celebration, creativity, and generosity. Because the solstice marks the time of year when the night is longest and daylight has waned, light is a special characteristic of this holiday.
Celebration of the winter solstice has its roots in many different cultures. The Shambhala Community has drawn on traditional images associated with this time of year to create a distinctive and rich festival of our own.
Winter Solstice: The Unconquered Sun
The Unconquered Sun first appeared as an article by Janet Shotwell in the Karma Dzong Banner
For more information about Children’s Day, please contact us at 420-1118, ext.10.
Midsummer's Day
Midsummer's Day is a celebration of the nyida day associated with the summer solstice. It begins with a lhasang. A lhasang purifies the environment and empowers the space, the objects, and the beings within it by invoking awakened energy. This gathering is an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy summer fun together. The day might include picnics, swimming and boating, outdoor sports, and music and dance performances.
Everyone is welcome to join in.
For information about Midsummer's Day plans call the Centre at 902 420-1118 ext. 10.
Harvest of Peace
"...when we say, "harvest of peace," here, it is peace within ourselves- We feel like we belong, we feel like we actually want to participate in the community. That sense of peace in us is what is going to make a big difference. Not meditative stabilization and peace, we're not particularly talking about that. But a sense of harmony. If we feel a sense of harmony with ourselves and the community, it's going to naturally express itself. I feel that that is going to be one of the important binding factors."
- Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Harvest of Peace address 1999
The Harvest of Peace, around the time of the autumn equinox, is an opportunity for local communities to gather, hear teachings by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and celebrate the riches of our local cultures and heritage.
The Sakyong addresses the international community through a live broadcast delivered through a telephone link with Shambhala Centers around the world. For more information phone the centre at 420-1118 ext. 10
Shambhala Day
Shambhala Day is a celebration of the Shambhala New Year. The date is in accordance with the new year of the Tibetan calendar. Shambhala Centres around the world gather together via a telephone link to hear an address by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, usually from Halifax. The traditional blessing that concludes the formal event is followed by festivities with family, friends and neighborhood groups.
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