In True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art, Chogyam Trungpa talks about “gaining new sight.” He goes on to explain that this new sight “is being extremely inquisitive to see things in their own nature, not always wanting to change things.” In a recent Miksang Level II class in San Antonio, we continued along the path of synchronizing the mind and the phenomenal world through vision. We were skillfully guided by John McQuade to rely on our visual perception in exploring the phenomenal world - letting the world guide our efforts to see the visual field as it is - without trying to manipulate what is seen. The outcome was magical - that elusive “ordinary magic” found in the sincerity of life. Images from this class will be used in our coming Dharma Art Festival and can also be seen here.

The following photo slideshow features photos taken throughout the Year of the Earth Mouse at Shambhala San Antonio.

Januray 21st was a very special night at the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio as six people took their refuge vows and became Buddhists. Acharya Moh Hardin was our preceptor, complemented by his wife Sangyum Cynde Grieve. The two of them have become like the grandparents of our center, whose influence and oversight is always felt even if their physical presence is only occasional; and our center felt mindful, warm, and thoroughly connected with lineage with them here in person.

The night began in San Antonio Shambhala tradition with a Tex-Mex dinner out in Southtown with the preceptors and staffers while the refugees-to-be stilled their minds on the gomdens back at the center and their friends and family filed in, filling the shrine room with auspicious watchfulness and support.

Acharya Hardin gave the talk in his calmly-metered, warmly clear, finely pith style we have come to cherish over the years, ripe with wisdom as he said “now you can’t blame anyone else for anything” in a gentle tone that filled the room with a laughter that seemed to reflect both the magnitude of the commitment and the patient humor it’s taught us to have about ourselves.

The shrine room had an excited and supported feel as many of the witnesses had become Buddhists at the snap of the same fingers and many new and old students alike held hands in angeli and mouthed along the refuge formula, in what seemed a heartfelt reiteration of commitment and a humble gesture that refuge is a constant practice.

The names, as always, are both descriptive and inspiring. Please help us celebrate and welcome:

Wendy Rios: Champa Kartso, Kindness Star Lake
Bibiana Gutierrez: Nyingje Satso, Compassion Earth Lake
Gilbert Hernandez: Tharpa Jinpa, Liberation Generosity
Kevin Lacey: Thaye Tak, Boundless Tiger
Rebecca Black: Tashi Norbu, Auspicious Jewel
Henry Estrada: Lhakthong Chopel, Insight Dharma Increase