Marcia Sibata practicing Kadö at the L.A. Shambhala Center. Photo by Anne Saitzyk.

Marcia Shibata brought the elegant vision of Kadö, the “Way of Flowers,” to the Los Angeles Shambhala center in two workshops in August. Shibata has studied Ikebana extensively in Japan and had received instruction from the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, on the contemplative aspect of flower arranging. It is a practice rich with an appreciation for the natural world. As Shibata explained to her students, even the word “Ikebana” reflects the Japanese school’s empathy with the life and death of flowers: it is derived from the words “Ikeru” - to keep alive - and “Hana” - flowers.

The “Way of Flowers” is a tradition that goes back thousands of years in Japan and China, but in recent times has evolved into more of a decorative art. Shibata’s vision is to return Kadö to a meditative practice of subject and object. Flower arrangements become a reflection of the mind of their creator. During practice, the room in which Ikebana is done becomes the kado-jo, or practice hall in which the Way of Flowers can be explored. The journey of creating the flower arrangement is as important as the final result. The ultimate outcome is an Ikebana that mirrors a harmonious and balanced world.

Ms. Shibata lives in Vermont but will return to Los Angeles in January of 2010 to conduct another series of workshops on the way of flowers.

And go to the L.A. Shambhala Center’s Flickr Page to look at the full array of photos by L.A.’s own Anne Saitzyk from the weekend!

*Blume

By Merritt Davies

“The way of cowardice is to embed ourselves in a cocoon, in which we perpetuate our habitual patterns. When we are constantly recreating our basic patterns of behavior and thought, we never have to leap into fresh air or onto fresh ground.”

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
from Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

Pamela Bothwell, walking in the shadows of exposed roof-slats

FRESH AIR! That is exactly what the fortunate students experienced during the recent Shambhala Training Level 2 weekend, held at the Westside Shambhala Center. The new practice space, which the Westside Shambhala group shares with the Santa Monica Zen Center, had a roof-replacement scheduled for the very same weekend as the program. When the ten participants arrived on Friday, July 31st to hear a talk delivered by Pamela Bothwell, the fresh air and ocean breeze permeated the beautiful shrine room. While light filtered through the gaps of the exposed wooden beams on the “roof,” Pamela was interrupted by a mysterious something that dropped to the floor.

“Well this is perfect. All weekend as you practice, while debris drops around you…you are invited to experience the present moment!” Pamela appropriately observed.

The Saturday sun traced a path across the sky, and gaps of light became patterns of I Ching hexagrams. The students, who lovingly bonded as a group in Level 1, enthusiastically dove into heart of warriorship while working with the unpredictable conditions of Level 2. By Sunday, softened hearts shared a profound perspective of a new ocean sky and some delicious lunch, courtesy of the Jamaican restaurant across the street.

As the coordinator of the weekend, I found myself semi-frantically longing for the cocoon of Los Angeles’ main center on the Eastside in Eagle Rock, where all the glasses are easily accessible, and the kitchen has a sink. Then, during walking meditation, I noticed a pigeon feather in my path, and delighted in knowing that the space was perfectly exposed. The comforts of shelters and kitchens don’t always allow us to experience the heart of being in the present.

Leaping into the fresh air of meditation became the metaphor of each moment for those of us who shared the experience of Level 2 on the Westside. Walking through the beams of light prompted Pamela to ask us, “Are you a prisoner of your mind?”

Click here for more photographs of the weekend on the SMCLA Flicker Photostream!

by Guy Blume

His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, father of the Sakyong Wangmo Khandro Tseyang and head of the Rigon Thupten Mindrolling monastery in India and the Rigon Tashi Choling monastery in Tibet, made his fourth visit in four years to the Los Angeles Shambhala Center in July. His weekend of teachings started with a Purification and Healing Ceremony and followed with a Chenrezig Empowerment and teachings. Chenrezig–or “Avalokiteshvara” in Sanskrit–is the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

His Eminence recounted the tale of how Chenrezig worked tirelessly to free all beings from suffering. He emptied samsara three times, liberating beings from suffering each time. But Chenrezig looked into the hell realm and saw the limitless number of beings that were still there. He became despondent with grief and fell to the ground, were his head shattered into thousands of pieces. Amitabha Buddha put the body back together, but when he did so, he gave Chenrezig eleven faces and a thousand arms so he could work with myriad beings at the same time.

A contemporary of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, His Eminence escaped from Tibet at roughly the same time. However unlike the Vidyadhara, who adopted English and western fashion, Namkha Drimed remains rooted in the traditions of Tibetan language, dress and culture. His teachings are a direct link to a rapidly disappearing body of knowledge. In person, he is warm and friendly and has the kindest eyes that you will ever encounter. He speaks little English, but seems to understand everything. It is a blessing just to be in his presence.

Nearly a 130 people squeezed into the Eagle Rock shrine room for the healing ceremony and around 60 people attended the weekend teachings and empowerment. It was a very rich and heady weekend for all that attended.

Photo by Alexandra Milsom, Dechen Chöling 2008