Shambhala Abroad

(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.

Odessa

We are in Odessa right now. It's a beautiful city and slightly cooler with the breeze off the Black Sea (so romantic sounding, isn't it?!). It is record-breaking hot here, and just learned about the fires in Russia, but I am not surprised. That might explain the haze that has been in the air since we arrived in Ukraine. For the heat, it's a terrible time to be traveling. We took an overnight train from Dnipopetrovsk last night and I could only sleep about 3 hours of the 11 because of the heat. Ugh.

But Odessa is beautiful. This is where my ancestors took their last steps on their home continent, their motherland Russia. I have always dreamt of coming here. It doesn't quite add up to my dreams of the place, but I think it must have been grander in the times when my ancestors were here - either through their eyes having come from smaller towns, or because of the destruction of much of the city in the war and then the Soviet re-building. Now though, it seems like a city in reconstruction - so many of th ebuildings are being re-built and re-decorated adn they are beautiful.

There is incredible drala here in Odessa.

This poem just popped out:

"Odessa"

Odessa
port of departure
from motherland Russia
sparkling with drala
you showed the way to richness
for those about to leave
haven for those from the dirt farms
capital for those wishing to leave

Odessa
your magical air
perched above the cooling Black Sea
imagination cannot help
but sing with stories of distant lands
shivering with mystery
quaking like a tender leaf
relaxing with the brilliance

i see you
i see you walking down the Potemkin steps
embarking upon your journey into the unknown future
clasping a small orange in your hands
given to you by a sailor

Odessa
the last footstep on your homeland