The Shambhala teachings are not based on converting the world to another theory. The premise of Shambhala vision is that, in order to establish an enlightened society for others, we need to discover what inherently we have to offer the world. So, to begin with, we should make an effort to examine our own experience, in order to see what it contains that is of value in helping ourselves and others to uplift their existence.

Chogyam Trungpa

The very moment is always the occasion.

The principle of nowness is very important to any effort to establish an enlightened society. You may wonder what the best approach is to helping society and how you can know what you are doing is authentic and good. The only answer is nowness. The way to relax, or rest the mind in nowness, is through the practice of meditation. In meditation you take an unbiased approach. You let things be as they are, without judgment, and in that way you yourself learn to be.

Let your wisdom as a human being connect with the power of things as they are.

There is no fundamental separation or duality between you and your world. This discovery many arise as an extraordinary smell, a fantastic sound, a vivid color, an usual taste. Any perception can connect you to reality properly and fully. If you are able to relax-relax to a cloud by looking at it, relax to a drop of rain and experience its genuineness-you see the unconditionality of reality, which remains very simply in things as they are. There is some principle of magic in everything, some living quality. Something living, something real is talking place in everything.

Without arrogance, see the brilliance of the universe.

We can’t ignore the phenomenal world. We should always take the opportunity, seize it on the spot. Appreciate the world, which is so vivid and beautiful. Arrogant people are so involved with themselves and competing so much with others that they won’t even look.

Rest with gentle patience and strength.

This slogan is connected with realizing unconditional confidence. Here, confidence does not mean having confidence in something, but remaining in the state of confidence, free from competition and one-upmanship. There is no room for doubt; even the question of doubt does not occur. This confidence contains gentleness, because the notion of fear does not arise; sturdiness, because in the state of confidence there is an ever present resourcefulness; and joy, because trusting in the heart brings a greater sense of humor.

 

Appreciate the accomplishments of your ancestors

The failure to appreciate the resourcefulness of human existence-which we call basic goodness-has become one of the world’s biggest problems. However, we need to find the link between tradition and the present experience of life. Nowness, or the magic of the present moment, is what joins the wisdom of the past with the present. When you appreciate a painting, a piece of music, or a work of literature, no matter when it was created, you appreciate it Now. You experience the same nowness in which it was created. It is always now.

 

This is part 7 in a continuing series on Shambhala. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Pa

rt 4, Part 5, Part 6 or Part 8.

 

 

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