Occupy Enlightened Society: Public Talk

"The history and legend of Shambhala is based upon a great community that was able to reach a higher level of consciousness. This community could occur because its individual members participated fully in creating a culture of kindness, generosity, and courage." - Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

In 2011, the Occupy Movement gave voice to a near-universal frustration with the economic and political disenfranchisement of the 99%. It brought attention to inequalities in wealth and power that have caused so much human suffering and ecological devastation. As the movement regroups and figures out its next moves, we consider the question of how Shambhala teachings on enlightened society -- teachings which offer a radical antidote to greed and aggression and practices to help alleviate suffering in the world -- can help us get from here to there, from occupying downtown areas and offices to creating enlightened society everywhere we go. This provocative discussion will envision what enlightened society might look like and how we might create it, considering the inseparability of individual-awakening and collective-transformation.

John Rockwell has been a student of Buddhism and the Shambhala teachings for 36 years. He was professor of Buddhist Studies at the Naropa Institute for 12 years, co-director of Karmê Chöling Meditation Center for 4 years, and Director of Shambhala International for 5 years. He is a member of the Nalanda Translation Committee. In 1996, he was appointed by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to be an acharya or senior teacher for the Shambhala community, and in 2001, he became the Ashe Acharya, in charge of the International Office of Practice and Education. He lives at Karmê Chöling as Resident Acharya.

• Talk by Ashe Acharya John Rockwell
• Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
  
• $15 general ($10 members, students, seniors)
• SMCLA, main shrine room
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