This article is a repost of the March 22 message sent by Konstanze Brockstedt – director of Dechen Chöling – through the Dechen Chöling newsletter.
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Dechen Chöling.
These past weeks I have felt like reaching out to you, yet I struggle even with what to say. For many of us how we feel seems to sometimes change several times over the course of a day or week. For me it can vary from sad to inspired, from panicking to confident and so on. I have certainly felt a longing for deepening connection with the sangha, and I want to acknowledge those who have been harmed and did not feel supported.
In the midst of many unknowns I would like to let you know that the Dechen Chöling staff are committed to follow the propagation of our vision of basic sanity and good society. This is a place of healing and we all feel how useful and necessary it is that we can come here and deepen our connection and understanding of the teachings.
Dechen Chöling is also our European Community place. We would be happy to help to facilitate community gatherings. We recently hosted a French regional meeting and will be hosting a European Forum at the end of May (registration open on our website). This forum will be open to everyone who would like to engage and exchange about the future of Shambhala.
We are committed to the Shambhala path and teachings. But we felt it was not the right time to host the Enlightened Society Assembly this summer, so we have postponed it. We feel the necessity to offer retreats at this point that are not so focussed on engaging people on the path. To allow space to simply practice, be together and exchange.
In this light I would like to draw your attention to some retreats and gatherings we are offering in the coming months:
The Four Immeasurables – Working with the Transformative Power of Emotions
Acharya Beate Kirchhof-Schlage, June 2 to 9, open to all .
Intensive Meditation Retreat – 15 days (Half-Dathün)
Catherine Eveillard, July 8 to 21, open to all.
The Keys to Mindful Communication
Acharya Sabine Rolf, July 14 to 20, open to all.
Mahamudra: HUM, ASHE and All the Elements
Acharyas John Rockwell and Barbara Märtens, Aug 22-31, open to vajrayana students.
Click here for our full programme calendar: all programmes
I deeply hope you will all choose to come here this year, in some form or another. Practice and community bind us so strongly. I am grateful to feel support from so many of you. Together with the Process Team we will be looking at ways for the land centres to move forwards and we will reach out to ask for your contribution to this process.
Meanwhile we hope that you are inspired to join us this year for programmes and retreats.
Please also share our programmes with and invite your friends, word of mouth is our most useful publicity. Coming here helps us to keep our doors open for the future!
With much love,
Konstanze Brockstedt,
Director