Shambhala Day was a day of practice, dharma, volunteering, and giving. Through membership underwriting, we were able to raise $5,150 for our building/moving fund.

Cheers to the following members who generously agreed to underwrite one or more weeks or months of glorious flowers for our Center (arranged by our treasured Kado practitioners):
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A total of 15 members (many of whom gathered to celebrate at Weilland Brewery in downtown LA last month) teamed up in organizing, making solicitation calls and accounting for the Shambhala Meditation Center Los Angeles annual appeal. From member monthly dues revenue of $5,875, SCLA climbed in the end-of-year 3-month drive to $8,502 — a 45% increase (especially impressive on the generosity front as the membership roll - with new dues included - increased only slightly: from 125 to 138).

WHAT ARE OXEN LIKE? WHAT WILL THE EARTH OX YEAR BE LIKE?

Oxen are calm, methodical, practical and down-to-earth. They are strong, self-reliant, conservative, dutiful disciplinarians. They can be sullen and harbor a grudge. Unromantic, Oxen are loyal to and possessive of a few close friends. They achieve prosperity through routine, determination, hard work, and manual dexterity. They are born leaders, stubborn, with strong prejudices, logical and introverted.

The Earth Ox is less creative and more purposeful, aiming for security and stability. Awareness of her or his limitations makes this the slowest but surest Ox.

The Year of the Earth Ox is a relatively dormant period, not a time to start anything new or to innovate. Projects put in operation last year can be completed successfully - and there can be a rich harvest from the last year’s sowing (bailout? stimulus package?). It’s a time of consolidation and stability. Matters proceed happiest along already established lines. Any project conceived this year should be completed this year…Those suffering from bone ailments should find relief. Since the Ox relates to the plowing of the earth, treasure may be discovered this year/there could be significant archaeological finds.

I CHING READING

__ __ # 32 The Long Enduring. Success; freedom from error!
__6__ Thunder Righteous persistence brings reward. It is favorable
_____ to have in view a goal or destination.
_____
_____ Wind Symbol Thunder accompanied by wind; standing so
__ __ firmly that one cannot be uprooted

Changing 5th line One can overdo endurance and loyalty

__ __ # 28 Excess! The ridgepole sags! (There can be too much
_____ firmness.) Nonetheless the gentle and joyful act as one, so
_____ Lake it’s favorable to have a goal or destination. Success!
_____
_____ Wind Symbol A forest submerged in a great body of water.
__ __ Though alone, we feel neither fear nor discontent.

Respectfully submitted in basic goodness by Gail Whitacre

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
1500 North College Ave, Claremont, CA 91711. map
Saturday, March 14, 2009
8:45am - 10:00am

“When human beings lose their connection to nature, to heaven and earth, then they do not know how to nurture their environment or how to rule their world… healing our society goes hand in hand with healing our personal, elemental connection with the phenomenal world.”
- Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche

Open To All - Inclusive & non-sectarian. Please feel free to invite friends & family. Free (donation to the Garden gratefully accepted)

Recommended:
Walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, water, cane. Along the walk there are benches and a bathroom.

Also recommended:
Relax. Let go. Enjoy.

For Additional Information:
Please contact Janet Takara, jntakara@yahoo.com, telephone (909) 625-8767 ext. 215; or Chris O’Hare, chrisohare@earthlink.net, telephone (909) 762-5641.

Meeting Place:
The walking meditation in nature will be taking place inside the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 North College Ave, Claremont. At 15 minutes before start time, we will gather in front of the Garden’s new entrance — on the benches at the NE corner of the parking lot. We will sit in silence, allowing ourselves to quiet and to become present. For new participants, brief instruction on how to do “walking meditation” will be given.

Description of the walk:
Total walk from & returning to parking lot is about 60 minutes. We will be walking north about 15 minutes before entering the loop and walking up onto the mesa. We will walk around the loop two times, each loop taking about 15 minutes. A bell will be rung when we pass the restrooms on the left. Just beyond, there are some benches in the shade. People may choose to sit for some of the “walking meditation” and can use the bathroom next to the loop as needed. The path up to the mesa is a gentle slope with an elevation gain of about 20 feet. The path down from the mesa is made up of about 20 steps, each about 9 inches high made of old railroad ties. If you sometimes use a cane, it might be helpful on this part of the walk.