By Travis Newbill

Floral Notes and Bardo: The Creative Chronicles of a Shambhala Mountain Resident is a daily feature on the SMC blog in which a member of our staff/community shares his experience of existing as part of Shambhala Mountain Center.

It’s blue and cool in the morning when I begin moving around — moonlight, pre-dawn.  This morning it was so still.  There was not a whisper in the air.

Photo by Paul Bennett

Heather sleeps and I:

Hike to the outhouse, sit in my chair on the porch and gaze into the woods, write my morning pages, do qigong, and then rejoin her in bed for a bit — a lil’ honey time, sing her a song, and then move towards meditation, breakfast, dharma study, and then into the office.  I sing while I walk down the hill.

It’s feeling full, but good.

Last night I attended a class that Director Gayner is leading.  It’s a five week course on working with the mind in stressful situations, designed to be training for Dorje Kasung.  Mr. Gayner created the course and has taught it all over the place.

It’s really a great opportunity, as he’s an excellent teacher, and it feels like something that one would have to pay a lot of money to do in the outside world.  He’s offering it to the the community, of course, for free.  It’s very generous.

It is a Kasung-flavored affair, and so my typical aversion flares, but very interesting and rather fun nonetheless — activities and discussion.  It’s demanding as well: A two hour class every week and homework.  It feels very valuable, but not immediately relevant to my life.

Tonight, I’m heading down to Fort Collins with a few people to see Gary Snyder.  He’s going to be giving a reading at the university.

That is immedately relevant to my life.

— September 17, 2014

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Travis Newbill is a curious dude on the path of artistry, meditation, and social engagement who is very glad to be residing at Shambhala Mountain Center.  His roles within the organization include Marketing Associate and Head Dekyong–a position of leadership within the community.  Follow Travis on twitter: @travisnewbill