I was unable to attend my regional KGG in Chicago, IL, and so headed to Boulder, CO last weekend for the 7th KGG being offered this year. As the presenters noted when the weekend began – we didn’t know exactly what we were getting into, and part of that was because they haven’t known exactly what they were getting into. The Sakyong requested of President Reoch that he organize these gatherings so that when the Sakyong presents
teachings on governance this fall, he would have our feedback, as an entire Mandala, and that we would have context for his teachings. In other words, he is manifesting a true Culture of Felt Kindness (as he has said in so many ways, including this year’s Shambhala Day address) toward us, and requesting the same back from us.

I took some photos as a part of the weekend. I had left my “good” camera back home, thinking I would be too busy to practice the Miksang photography that is my life’s blood (both as a student and teacher). But within the first full day, someone remembered me as a Miksang teacher (“Go ask that woman in the pink shirt to take a photo!”) and I was charged with capturing a few key moments. I wanted to share them with you.

(Photo: Miriam Hall – KGG BSMC – lunch first day)

(Photo: Miriam Hall – KGG BSMC – Manifesting our Mandala)

Manifesting an actual culture of kindness isn’t easy. We all wish it was. We spent, as many others have spent at the other KGG gatherings and will in the future, at Karme Choling and in Halifax in the fall, spend, time practicing many forms of adapted non-violent communication, listening and deep acceptance of ourselves and others. Like the classic image of the Buddha’s bowl going upstream after he revealed his teachings under the Bodhi Tree, this effortless love of Basic Goodness takes a lot of effort to learn how to manifest, though at the time of manifestation, no effort is actually needed. We are seeding the ground, and seeing how it can actually feel and smell and look like in life. The above photo is of an exercise in which community members, arms of governance and protectors wove in and out of each other with crepe paper and light and glitter to physically feel our interaction and interdependence on each other.

In the end, there is no better way to experience the possibilities of the power of Basic Goodness than to live them. We were implored, and are being encouraged in follow-up to the program, to live what we spoke, to explore what we poked and to discover new ways of being and share them with everyone. This cannot be simply another program we attend and return home from, leaving it all behind, President Reoch stated again and again.

I leave you with a little film of what it was like to be present in the center of the Maha-Sangha that the Shambhala Community is. Go to Karme Choling or Halifax if you can!