If we can communicate our own basic goodness (BG) (click here for definition) between each other, there is a greater likelihood of being kind and compassionate. This is turn creates an incredibly strong bond.{Author’s note: It’s a kind of cascading transmission: you acknowledge your own and others basic goodness, and society’s basic goodness, and transmit this awareness to others. They in turn transmit their new-found awareness to others. And so on……..} …In this (Tibetan oracular) tradition of transmission, there is great power and blessings. In this way, we are creating enlightened society, being brave, raising energy and shifting the paradigm of human existence….in this way we are able to help the world. <source: taken from my notes of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s address to international sangha on the occasion of the Harvest of Peace, Saturday, September 22, 2012>

September 22, 2012 – 13h45 EST …. It’s that time again…. the Harvest of Peace, a celebration that Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s (SMR) intrernational sangha (group of practitioners) hold every Autumn in their respective centres.

Harvest of Peace, held around the time of the autumn equinox, is an opportunity for local communities to gather, hear teachings by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and celebrate the riches of our local cultures and heritage. The Sakyong addresses the international community through a live broadcast delivered through a telephone link with Shambhala Centers around the world. <source:  http://www.shambhala.org/community/events.php>

Here is a summary of the Sakyong’s address. The theme is the creation of Enlightened Society (ES). During his retreat of 2010 in Nepal, SMR reflected on the question: Can we create good human society?

[Please note: these are my notes only. You will have to check against delivery for the complete presentation. Click here.]

• Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Sakyong’s father, coined the phrase “enlightened society (ES).”
• There are two core principles upon which an enlightened society is created and based: (1) all individuals have basic goodness; and (2) society is basically good.
• SMR describes his mandate as that of creating enlightened society. For him, it’s been a personal journey around what ES means.
• the notion of ES is at the heart of  Shambhala altogether. Is this a literal place? Or a metaphor?
  • In Shambhalian terms, society has awoken and has acknowledged BG as the binding principle.
    
  • In geographical terms, ES is at the most western part of the east and the most eastern part of the west
• When we see the level of suffering and tragedies, we might doubt that BG is inherent
• (At this point in history,) we are at our most difficult moment. That’s why Shambhala teaching — with its binding principle of BG — is being introduced now.
• We are not talking about a utopian or ultimate society. But a society based on humanity’s most inherent trait, i.e. BG.
  • BG is not a superficial trait. Not goodness against badness. We as individuals are complete and worthy at our deepest levels. BG is at the essence of our own heart and mind
• We are entering a time when humanity doubts its own worthiness, completeness.
  • One of the components of the word “enlightened” is “complete.”
  • So we are aware of the situation we are in today, both the good and the bad.
  • We are aware of the totality of the human condition.
  • Another component of the notion of enlightenment is that we are awake, not asleep!
• The Shambhala notion of society here means the network and inter-connectedness between human beings.
  • It is the invisible pathways between all beings.
  • Innately, we all want to communicate, share and express
  • We are constantly trying to understand who we are
  • The Shambhala notion of society is not necessarily simply rules and etiquette. But it is the notion of wishing to communicate.
    • The principle of communication is at its strongest at birth, when there was a wish to communicate with our parents.
    • How we as individuals relate to each other is at the core of society.
    • If we can communicate our own BG between each other, there is a greater likelihood of being kind and compassionate. This in turn creates and “incredibly strong bond.” {Author’s note: It’s a kind of cascading transmission: you acknowledge your own and others basic goodness, and society’s basic goodness, and transmit this awareness to others. They in turn transmit their new-found awareness to others. And so on……..}
  • So I hope everyone can reflect on this notion of society.
    • In some ways, society is one big being.
    • The nature of this giant being is goodness.
    • It is precisely at this moment that we must raise our windhorse (click here for definition) and be brave (click here for description of term).
    • We must acknowledge moments of goodness, strength.
    • We are here to uplift the word, not find endless fault.
    • At the same time, we are not overwhelmed by the challenges. We can ride them! (Author’s note: Or they will ride us.)
    • We must acknowledge that we live life for a deeper purpose (Author’s note: deeper than simply taking care of ourselves).
    • Our joys and difficulties are based on our relationship to society.
  • The principles of society are constantly being forged.
    • If we let fear and aggression taint the social consciousness, then the notion of society as being awake and founded on BG will recede and seem unrealistic.
    • As we reflect on this, we aren’t passively standing by. We manifest these principles. We believe in their inherent value.

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