Community
Our community is diverse, capable, and heartfelt. Our members and friends include dedicated senior teachers who have walked the Shambhala Buddhist path for many years, and enthusiastic newcomers who are just discovering our teachings on realizing basic goodness and building enlightened society.
Community Events
Shambhala Sadhana
June 27th
Harvest of Peace
September 21st
Shambahala Center of Madison Scent Policy
In order to honor our lineage and rich Shambhala tradition, which involves
flowers in Ikebana arrangements, incense as an offering for meditation
practice, and burnt juniper in ceremonies, but also to be accommodating of
all attendees, we promise to do our very best to follow this policy:
- This center will make a concerted effort to use only scent-free soaps,
lotions and cleaning products. - Center members and all attendees will be encouraged to refrain from
wearing perfumes, colognes, or other scented products. - Regarding Ikebana, we will refrain from using fragrant flowers or
greens in the arrangements. If an arrangement is bothersome in
terms of ambient scent, please notify the Center director or program
coordinator. To avoid disrupting the art of placement, please do not
move the arrangement yourself. - Regarding incense, we will offer the incense by raising it to our
forehead in anjali and bowing, but we will not light it. If attendees
notice that the incense was lit and left to burn, please silently motion
to the Umdze (timekeeper) to address this. - For special ceremonies and events, juniper may be burned. If you
are sensitive to this, please notify the Center director or program
coordinator in advance, if possible. Program coordinators and staff
for such programs will make every effort to make an announcement
at the program in advance, notify the webmaster to post a notice
on the website, and post a notice in the Center hallway informing
everyone of the last time the juniper was or will be used. Program
coordinators and staff will attempt to air-out the building following
juniper burning. However, please try to plan accordingly, based on your
personal needs – knowing that certain ceremonies will have
active smoke, and that the smoke smell may linger for a couple days
after.
It is our intention for this policy to allow both our Center to continue its
tradition and the accommodation of all attendees. This policy was decided
upon by our Council in April 2012 and can be re-addressed at any time.
Please contact the Center co-directors, Kerryann DiLoreto and Lisa
Cappelli, at MadisonShambhala@gmail.com or 608.441.8868 if you have
any questions.
