Two Talks in Simon's Town

During May, the Tibetan Tea House will host two Sunday morning Shambhala talks. Bring friends and family for a refreshing day out in Simon’s Town, starting with a dose of the always-relevant, perennially helpful teachings of the Buddha.

Working with Chaos
The first talk, on May 10, will be presented by Jennifer Woodhull. Jennifer is a close student of Pema Chödrön and resident teacher of Shambhala Cape Town.

Working with Chaos is a condensation of a four-day teaching Jennifer conducted over the Easter weekend in the Magaliesberg, at Emoyeni Retreat Centre. The talk examines our notions of chaos and offers practical suggestions and methods for working with it in our everyday lives.

What: Working with Chaos
When: Sunday May 10, 10:00 for 10:30 AM
Where: See directions, below
The Six Perfections
On May 24, Johann Verster will present the second talk, exploring the Six Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism (also known as the Six Perfections). These simple but profound guidelines provide a systematic approach to opening our hearts and cultivating our innate sanity and compassion.

Johann is a long-time meditator who has assisted Jennifer in teaching for the past year. He is currently preparing to travel to the United States, where he will undertake extensive study at a central Shambhala teaching centre. On his return, Johann will be a fully qualified teacher in the Shambhala lineage; but meanwhile, we have just a few precious opportunities before he leaves in September to experience his natural gift for communicating the dharma and applying it to immediate situations at every level of our lives. Please join us!

What: The Six Perfections
When: Sunday May 24, 10:00 for 10:30 AM
Where: See directions, below

The Tibetan Tea House is on the corner of Main and Harrington Roads, overlooking Boulders Beach in Seaforth. It adjoins the Sophea Gallery, which specialises in spiritual art. There is also a shop featuring a comprehensive and gorgeous selection of Tibetan jewellery, incense, statues, singing bowls, and other esoteric offerings.

Anna and Maryna, who have created this beautiful space, provide home-made pastries at the Sunday morning talks. They request a nominal contribution to cover their costs (an innovative menu of delicious vegetarian meals is also available). For more information, please call them at 021 786 1544 or 082 896 6426.

To all our Level I graduates

Please join us for the next Shambhala Training weekend: Level II, Birth of the Warrior. This level will be held in Cape Town on the weekend of March 13–15, at the Sufi Temple in Newlands.

At Level I, The Art of Being Human, we discovered basic goodness: the pervasive, unconditional well-being that is always available to us. The experience of basic goodness sparks bravery, which supports us in uncovering the habitual, painful strategies we use to avoid fear and sadness. In Level II, we explore these patterns of avoidance and how we can use our mindfulness practice to work with them.

As at Level I, we'll begin with an opening talk on Friday evening the 13th (at Level II, this talk is not open to the public). Talks, practice, discussion groups and individual instruction will follow through Saturday and Sunday. The weekend will again culminate in a celebratory plenary on the afternoon of the 15th. The cost for the entire weekend is R550. Bursary, work-study and installment plans are available. As always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

To attend Level II, you must be a Level I graduate; all Level I graduates are welcome. Whether you’ve sat every day or haven’t meditated at all since we last practised together, you’ll find Level II highly relevant and helpful in working with your world. It's also a great shot in the arm for those who would like to maintain an ongoing meditation practice.

Check your calendar now, and set aside the weekend of March 13–15 to revisit the adventure of warriorship. To register, contact Mary Anne Botha (contact information below). Please make your best effort to register by March 6—sooner, if possible—since the number of participants affects our preparations in several important ways.

I very much look forward to joining you once again on the warrior’s path. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at this email address or the phone number below.

What: Shambhala Training Level II, Birth of the Warrior
When: Friday evening March 13–Sunday afternoon March 15, 2009
Where: The Sufi Temple, 8 Kinkleway, Newlands, Cape Town
Schedule: Friday: 6.30 for 7–8.30 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 8.30 for 9 AM–5.30 PM
Contact: Mary Anne Botha, 023 541 1821 or 082 259 4371 or mabvisul@iafrica.com.

Shambhala Training in January!

"The first principle of Shambhala vision is
not being afraid of who you are"

—Chögyam Trungpa, founder of Shambhala Training

Shambhala Training, Level I will be offered in Cape Town on the weekend of January 16–18. This annual meditation retreat, titled The Art of Being Human, introduces a very personal exploration of our innate human dignity. From this starting point, subsequent levels investigate how we can build a society based on kindness, integrity and mutual respect.

About Shambhala Training

The secular Shambhala Trainings were established 35 years ago in the United States by Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa. The weekend levels are offered in more than a hundred centres throughout North America and Europe, as well as in South America and New Zealand. In South Africa, nearly 100 people have graduated from Level I since it was introduced here in 2005.

Shambhala Training gives us a foundation and ongoing support for growing in confidence and fearlessness. Based on the practice of mindfulness meditation, this series of five workshops goes to the heart of both personal exploration and social transformation. For more information about Shambhala Training, visit www.shambhala.org/shambhala-training.php or call me at 021 788 3466 or 084 423 3319.

Who Can Attend, and What Does It Take?

If you would like to learn and practice meditation outside the context of religion, or want to deepen an existing spiritual practice in virtually any tradition, you’ll find Shambhala Training an excellent resource.

All graduates of previous Level I weekends may participate at half the standard fee. Repeating levels is highly recommended, since each one is unique and typically offers new angles on the material covered.

Free Opening Talk

If you're curious about your own potential; if you're passionate about creating a sane and harmonious society; or if you want to hear more about the vision of Shambhala—come to the Level I opening talk on Friday, January 16. It's free and open to all.

Where: The Sufi Temple, 8 Kinkleway, Newlands, Cape Town
When: Friday January 16, 6:30 for 7pm
Saturday January 17 and Sunday 18, 9 am–5:30 pm
Cost: R500 for the entire weekend, including lunches

To register, contact Carole Ward at peward.fh@absamail.co.za.

Please note that no one is ever turned away from Shambhala events for lack of funds. If the fee exceeds your means, please speak to Carole. We’ll find a way to make your participation possible. By the same token, if you’re able to contribute more than R500, please do so in order to help make the trainings accessible to all.

Home

Welcome to Shambhala Cape Town. We have several dharma study groups, where you can learn to meditate—or if you're already a seasoned meditator, join us for practice, study and discussion.


Drop-In Groups
There’s no charge for attending our weekly drop-in groups, nor for individual meditation instruction. To put your name on our mailing list, please contact Tony at tony@pinchuck.com.

Observatory Dharma Study Group
Weekly
Meditation, teachings and discussion on Thursday evenings at the Observatory Community and Recreation Centre, corner of Lower Main and Station Roads (Room 1, upstairs). Sitting meditation begins at 6:00 pm sharp. Please arrive by 5:45 if you require meditation instruction. No charge. For more information, contact Johann at johannverster@telkomsa.net.

South Peninsula Dharma Study Group
Twice a Month
Meditation, teachings and discussion the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, in a private home in the Muizenberg–Fish Hoek area. Sitting meditation begins at 7:10 pm sharp. Individual meditation instruction available. No charge. For venue and directions, please contact Carole at peward.fh@abasamail.co.za. Email Jennifer at dharma@writty.com if you'd like to receive meditation instruction before joining us.

Lojong Study Group
Once a Week
A weekly group meeting in Muizenberg to study and practise the lojong (mind training) teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. The group is closed, but occasional openings do occur. If you’d like to add your name to the waiting list, contact Jenny at birkettjen@mweb.co.za.

David Hope's Talk in Muizenberg

PUBLIC TALK IN MUIZENBERG, NOVEMBER 26—ALL WELCOME!

We’re very excited about the visit to Cape Town of Acharya David Hope. Acharya simply means “teacher”; in the Shambhala tradition, it’s the title given to senior teachers who have been empowered by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to represent him in teachings and empowerments such as vow ceremonies.

Acharya Hope will give a talk entitled Building Enlightened Society: Meditation and the Way of the Warrior on November 26 at 7.30 pm at Scarlet’s Café, 120 Main Road, Muizenberg. Scarlet’s is in the old Acoustic Café building on the corner of Main and Atlantic Roads, opposite the Checkers parking lot. We’ll have some finger food and a “cash bar” for the specialty coffees that Scarlet’s does so well. There’ll be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion with Acharya Hope.

We’re requesting a R25 donation, payable at the door. But as with all Shambhala Cape Town events, no one will be turned away for lack of money—so whatever your financial status, please do join us at this enlightening event!



ACHARYA DAVID HOPE

David Hope has been a member of the London Shambhala Centre since its early days in the front room of his home. He went on to serve as resident director for Shambhala Training in London for many years. In the 1990s he lived and worked at Dechen Chöling, the Shambhala land centre in France, where he was a co-director from 1995-8. From 1999 to 2004 he served on the Shambhala International board of directors.

David is currently chair of the European Donor Group, and of the London Centre trustees. He lives near Dechen Chöling with his wife, South African-born Chris de Block. Chris has joined David on his current visit to Cape Town, and will also be available to answer questions about Shambhala, meditation and the tradition of spiritual warriorship.