(post written for Wake up Boston!)
Shambhala doesn’t exist just in Boston. On a recent trip to Europe, I was fortunate enough to be hosted by Shambhala friends in Kiev and Odessa, Ukraine. A week later, I joined an intensive practice retreat on the island of Aegina in Greece led by Acharya Eric Spiegel.
In both the Ukraine and Greece, being Buddhist is not really okay. These Center’s are tiny, supported by a small group of very passionate and dedicated practitioners who have connected with the vision of the Great Eastern Sun. Both countries have an overwhelmingly large emphasis on Orthodox Christianity, and while not exactly illegal, it could be dangerous to advertise a Shambhala Buddhist Meditation Center.
In Kiev, I was most warmly hosted by dear sangha friend Sasha. I also had the opportunity to visit
Shambhala Kiev
their tiny one-room Center that they have access to once a week. We sat together for a couple of hot hours, the meditation gong signaling us to walk and the wooden blocks clacking us back to the cushion. In Shambhala, these sounds and our practitioner’s smiles cross language borders. I was asked to give a talk about the Boston Shambhala Center to the room of 10 practitioners. I had a translator (a new experience for me), and talked about how we do things here in this big city at this big Center in Boston, until it dawned on me that they might be curious about how to do things there in such a tiny Center. I began to ask for questions, and they began to pour in. I learned probably more than they did (isn’t that always the case - the one presenting always seems to learn more than the ones receiving the presentation), but was incredibly moved by their passion for creating enlightened society in a place that is so consumed with entertainment and materialism.
The core group in Kiev taught me (without knowing it) a precious perspective about what we have here in Boston. We have a very large Center (even if it’s not big enough for us) that we can come to for practice at anytime during the week. We have daily meditation programs - imagine that - daily. We are able to support 2-3 full-time staff people (I have not forgotten how unbelievably fortunate I am to be one of them), and have enough volunteer staff to support not only the daily programs but also weekend programs almost every week.
Wake up Boston - remember that we are so incredibly fortunate to be able to flourish with the dharma so easily!
Odessa’s Center is also a tiny one-room rental, run by my friend Oleg. They only have about 5
Odessa Shambhala
practitioners. He asked me not to mention to anyone in Eastern Europe that they exist, saying “It could be difficult for us if you do.” I got to meet one other practitioner there, and Oleg and I practiced ngondro together in 110 degree heat. It was so inspiring to practice with him on Ukrainian soil (I was on the journey to visit the land some of my ancestors come from - more on that in another post soon), and to lend my support to my European sangha in this way.
The Greek sangha has a similar story. They are a group of about 10 or 12, and are quite possibly
Shambhala retreat in Greece
the most generous and hospitable sangha I have encountered. So warm, such good cooks, such large smiles! But they also struggle to expand, to get organized, and to engage their neighbors in the practice of Shambhala and the view of enlightened society. They are a very strong group, and I have no fear that they will overcome all obstacles, especially with the support of all the dralas of beautiful Greece.
If you ever get the chance to visit our Shambhala sisters and brothers in Europe - do not miss the opportunity! Shambhala is alive and flourishing, even in the smaller gardens of the old countries.
Who says that the beach in November is a dreary place? Not I!
Family and friends gathered to join me in celebrating my 31st birthday. It was a gorgeous day, and we went out to Georges Island in the Boston Harbor for a beautiful afternoon.
