Whether you are looking to try meditation for the first time, or you are a seasoned Buddhist practitioner, Shambhala St. Petersburg may be a perfect fit for you. Located centrally, at 1045 9th Ave N. in St. Petersburg, and close to I-275, Shambhala St. Pete is easily accessible no matter where you live in the Tampa Bay area.
There are many different options available at Shambhala St. Pete, depending on your interest and desired level of participation. A great place to start, regardless of your level of practice or experience, is at the free weekly open house that takes place every Sunday evening, from 5:30-7:30pm. Every Sunday at the open house, sitting & walking meditation instruction is given, followed by periods of meditation practice, and also a short talk and discussion. This is a great opportunity to meet some of the teachers & community, and also a chance to learn a little of what Shambhala Buddhism is all about.
There are two main themes, or emphases, in Shambhala Buddhism. One is the notion of basic goodness. The choice of these two words can often cause confusion, as it is not a moralistic idea, or even good as opposed to bad. To put this term into different words using the etymology of the words basic goodness, we could say ‘primordial purity’ or ‘fundamental completeness.’ At our most basic level, before we add all of our interpretations, judgments, and story-lines, we are pure & complete. We are not lacking anything. Through our practice we uncover, or reveal, our basic goodness, which is like the ever-present sun behind our clouds of confusion and pain.
The second major aspect of Shambhala concerns our relationship with our world. If people, at their most basic level, are inherently pure, then so, by extension, is society. The primary aim of Shambhala is to take the experience of basic goodness into the world to transform our culture into an enlightened society. This doesn’t mean a utopia where everyone is a blissed out yogi, but a society that acknowledges its basic goodness and treats others with kindness, respect, and compassion.
Towards this end of transforming culture, there is a big emphasis in Shambhala on living an artful & uplifted life. There are teachings and classes on Japanese flower arranging, contemplative photography, decorum, and much more.
At Shambhala St. Pete, in addition to the open house meetings, there are weekend meditation retreats, weeknight classes, book study groups, Shambhala Art programs, and much more.
If you would like more information, please check out www.shambhala-stpete.org. There you may sign up for the weekly e-newsletter, see a list of the current & upcoming offerings, and find a contact email address & phone number for additional questions.