Uncertainty about Location

This is a reprinting from 2003 of then director Johanna Demetrakas' letter summarizing Eva Wong's visit and recommendations:

Dear SMCLA Members & Friends,

This past weekend marked the beginning of an exciting phase in our search for a new space. Fulfilling the wishes of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, expressed during his recent visit to Los Angeles, SCLA extended an invitation to noted k'an-yu (feng-shui) consultant Eva Wong to visit LA and advise us on the intrinsic qualities of the land in our area.

Over the past few years—also at the request of the Sakyong—Eva Wong has visited all of our Shambhala practice centers, and many urban centers as well, and applied the wisdom of her lineages to assess the energies of each site. Eva Wong spent April 4-6 in Los Angeles, looking at topographical maps and driving around various areas accompanied by Council and Search Committee members. On Sunday evening, she gave a public talk and presented her assessment. For those of you who were unable to attend this presentation, the following is a brief summary.

• Traditionally, k'an-yu is used first to select land that has an optimal energetic structure. For example, places with mountain energy are more beneficial for spiritual kinds of practice than water energy sites which are more connected with commercial activities.
• The most ideal areas for mountain energy—and thus for the location of our new Shambhala Center—are south of the San Gabriel Mountains and north of the Hollywood Hills! This would include Glendale and Sherman Oaks and sections of Silver Lake, North Hollywood, Burbank, Studio City, Valley Village and Atwater Village. In this area, Eva Wong pointed out that energy flows off the San Gabriels and then "pools" because the Hollywood Hills trap it and keep it from rushing past toward the ocean.
• The best placement for receiving this mountain energy is to look out from a window of the center and see a particular formation in the high mountains of the San Gabriels that is characterized by two peaks rising between a notch in the mountain ridge.
• The second best arrangement is to be able to step outside the center and see the notch.
• The third best arrangement is to be in the area where the mountain energy "pools"—even if the notch in the mountain cannot be seen.

In her talk, Eva Wong pointed out that for thousands of years the people of the Asian cultures, as well as other cultures, have selected particular places to situate their shrines, monasteries, temples and sacred spaces. These places were not selected arbitrarily. They are where they are for a reason.

We are grateful that the Sakyong sent Eva Wong to us and, in doing so, removed one of our major obstacles to finding a new space—uncertainty about location. We now have a clear idea about the proper placement of our new center and can become more focused in our search. I encourage each of you to learn more about Eva Wong and the teachings of k'an-yu, an ancient practice of feng-shui that literally means "mountain-valley" and is concerned with the study of pathways of energy in various landforms. Her website is www.shambhala.com/fengshui/

Yours in the Vision of Shambhala Buddhism,

Johanna Demetrakas, Director

Marilyn Moore, Council Secretary

Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles

Meeting with Sakyong Foundation and Dana Group Representatives

Dear Friends,
Yesterday I attended a meeting with Lisa Johnston of the Sakyong Foundation and Lodro Linzler or the Dana Group. Center directors Joel Wachbrit and Melanie Klein were present, as well as Todj Mandel, Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Fundraising Committee members, and a representative of the Ripa group who is an expert in fundraising for non-profit organizations.

It was a rich and uplifted event. We discussed our aspiration to purchase a new building in 2010, programs that may help us to raise more money such as the Sakyong Foundation matching grant, and how we are opening as a community to the exploration and discussion of money. Two things made a deep impression on me that I would like to share.

First, how important view is when it comes to money, fundraising, and our building search. We have all come to the Shambhala community for different reasons, and keep coming back for different reasons. Since meditation is an intimate and personal experience, we would expect that. But we share a heart connection at the center of our involvement which propels our community and activity.

The view of Shambhala is outrageous and compassionate - to show up in our lives with a tender heart, an open mind, and the courage to be on the spot. As we continue our conversations about fundraising, buying real estate, and our relationship with money, it struck me how important it will be to maintain the proper view. So I invite you to consider the Shambhala view and how it relates to money and generosity, and why providing a space for Los Angeles area residents to practice and study is a profound act of compassion and courage.

I hope there will be many opportunities to explore these topics together over the next two years and going forward. Personally, I think further integrating these subjects into our dharmic life as a community will enrich and deepen our practice, as well as allow us to mature as a community and serve as an important center of teachings and enlightened activity in Southern California.

Second, as we spoke with Lisa and Lodro, who have a broad international view of the Shambhala mandala, I reflected on our richness as a center. We are operating with a balanced budget, have a growing and vibrant membership, and a wonderful space in which to practice for the next two years. So I think it is also important as we look forward to what will be possible for us in a new space, that we do not lose sight on the wealth and prosperity we have currently.

In the coming weeks I will write more about our process, our motivation, and updates about our fundraising efforts and laying of groundwork towards our goal. But I wanted to share these reflections on our meeting while they were fresh. My very best to you, and thank you.

Warm Regards,
David

Welcome!

Welcome to the Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles official building search blog! In the months to come, you will be able to read up on the latest in our group effort to plan, prepare, and act on our goal to find a new home in 2010. We had a fabulous kick off at the Harvest of Peace celebration and community meeting, and now it is time to roll up our sleeves and go for it!

There will be plenty of ways to get involved, from the sublime to the mundane. Of course, we're Shambalians, so for us the sublime and the mundane are probably basically the same thing! Regardless, we will all have the opportunity to contribute our unique gifts and our precious resources to enable a substantial asset purchase and shift in terms of our role and place in the community in a short 20-24 months.

It's important to remember we will have to go somewhere when our lease is up in 2010 - this is probably not negotiable. The more we are able to visualize and open to our new space, and develop the causes and conditions to allow our goals to flourish, the easier we will have it when it comes time to take the leap.

So please keep an eye out for posts in the next couple of weeks. I will be sending out an email to offer some volunteer opportunities, and will also outline on this blog some ideas to respond to the following questions:

1. Why are we looking?
2. Where will we be looking?
3. What resources do we have now?
4. What resources will we need then?
5. How will we get there?
6. When does each step need to happen?
7. How does this process fit into the overall view of service to our community, our members, and our greater mandala?
   

For now, onward and eastward!

Cheers,
David Armitage