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.
I walked along a dirt trail, beside Rinpoche, holding a white umbrella over his head to shield him from the sun.
A feeling of cosmic friendship, preciousness, gratitude.
Earlier in the morning I held a tray for him while he made tea offerings, after returning from his morning run, still catching his breath and sweating.
The core teachers of the Shambhala Buddhist mandala are here: The Sakyong, Ani Pema, the Acharyas, the Kalapa Council. It’s powerful, enchanting.
The teachings that are occurring here these days are new. There is a sense of quiet explosiveness. It’s tangible. There is a glow.
After one teaching session yesterday, the Sakyong ran joyfully from the shrine hall back to his quarters, his escorts had to keep up.
It’s awesome to be here for this.
A couple of years ago, my first week at Shambhala Mountain Center, the annual Acharya retreat was happening. I was mystified. So beautiful. The first time I saw Rinpoche, he was being escorted down the stairs by someone holding a white umbrella.
Now, the wheel has turned a couple of times, and I’m holding the umbrella. Where will I end up, and up, as the wheel turns and turns? How long will I be on the planet before I die?
I like the direction things are going. I hope to live a long life to allow for more and more blossoming.
And of course… this is it. Maybe I will live long enough to become a close student of Rinpoche, perhaps I will be an Acharya. Or, maybe I will die sooner than that. Today, I am in a very fortunate position. My dedication to the dharma has brought me here. I wish to honor that and not let my dedication wane. I wish to offer more and more, to become more and more sane and helpful to others, and to generally delve deeper and wholeheartedly into the dharma.
May I relate to all the flickering conditions of my life as dharmas, and know the entirety of my life to be the path of awakenment. May I not take my good fortune for granted. May I not seek refuge from fear and discomfort in conditional situations, but rather, take genuine refuge in the three jewels, again and again.
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“This time, practice the main points”
“‘This time’ refers to this lifetime. You have wasted many lives in the past, and in the future you may not have the opportunity to practice. But now, as a human being who has heard the dharma, you do. So without wasting any more time, you should practice the main points.” — Vidyadhara, the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
— April 3, 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.