Shambala

Shambala Retreat Centre is closing

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:32:24 +0000

it is with great sadness that i have to announce that Shambala Retreat Centre will cease operations at its premises by the end of September this year. For many of you this will not come as a surprise; we have been struggling to keep the centre open, especially in this difficult economic climate, for a long time. And it doesn’t help much to know that we are in good company, as many other centers in the UK and around the world have been forced to close down as well, due to the current recession.

The Trust bought the current center with the help of a large generous loan from a private lender 5 years ago, and we have had a good business plan in place which would have enabled us to raise the money needed to replace this loan in the next 3-5 years by developing a part of our land. However, due to the economic downturn in the UK our lender is unable to wait for this and he needs to have his loan repaid as soon as possible.

It has become increasingly difficult for us to keep this big centre going, as we haven’t been able to generate enough income to cover all our overheads, especially in the winter months, not to mention being able to pay interest or making repayments on the loan. As a result we had to spend far too much energy on running B&B’s and hosting other non-Buddhist events, while much less energy had been spent on running our own Buddhist courses and retreats. In other words, Shambala House has proved to be too big for us, at least right now while we are in a recession.

The Future of Shambala Trust
Of course we were hoping to develop and expand our operations as a Buddhist Retreat Centre to be able to sustain a large residential centre, but the relatively remote location in the north-east of Scotland coupled with the economic downturn of recent years have made this all but impossible. So, on one level closing this large centre actually feels quite liberating! At this stage of our development it makes much more sense to downscale our operations, and we are much closer to our original vision and purpose by focussing all our attention on running Buddhist courses and events through renting facilities in the local community, just like we used to do before we bought this magnificent property.

Anyway, the seed of Buddhism has been firmly planted in this community and there is now a group of committed people who want to continue studying and practicing the Tibetan Buddhist path. So, Shambala will definitely continue in one form or another here in Findhorn, and when the conditions are right again we may even be able to buy or build a small centre in the local area. There is also the option for Shambala to join forces with a group of people who are aiming to build a large holistic Buddhist Retreat Community in the UK, comprising of a residential retreat centre, a hospice, a youth and elders community, as well as facilities for short and long term retreat. For more information, please follow this link: http://www.fpmtukretreat.co.uk/home-2/

Over the winter Shambala will take a break, to give all the staff and the Trustees who have worked tirelessly to serve thousands of people at Shambala over the past 5 years a well-deserved break, and to give the Trust time to reflect on its activities and to consider its next steps.

Events and Activities until the end of September
Shambala will continue operating from its premises until the end of September. Maris Warrior, a Sufi guide and internationally renowned teacher of the Dances of Universal Peace, will lead a weekend Sufi Retreat entitled “Only Love…” from 24-26 September 2010. This retreat is an opportunity to taste the Divine Wine of Love, pouring through our being, bringing hope, forgiveness, kindness and illumination. We will dance, breath, chant and share Sufi practices, that allow us to be tenderly held in the loving arms of the Beloved. Maris is also a co-founder of Shambala, so we feel it is very fitting that her special event will be the last one before we are closing. Please follow this link for more details: http://www.shambala-retreat.org/2010/workshops/sufi-event-with-maris-warrior/
We also continue to be available for Bed and Breakfast as well as for venue hire. Please contact our office by e-mail to book your stay or to enquire about hiring us as a venue on info@shambala-retreat.org

Gratitude
On behalf of all of us at the Shambala Trust i would like to express my heart-felt gratitude for all your good wishes, your prayers and your love and support, both financially and otherwise, you’ve been giving so generously to support our vision and mission over the years. The feedback from our guests has been overwhelmingly positive and we sincerely hope that Shambala will continue to benefit many people through its activities and events in the future. We will keep you informed about our next ‘incarnation’ within the Findhorn Community and/or beyond. If you have any questions or concerns about the closure of the centre and/or the future of Shambala, please don’t hesitate to contact us by telephone on 01309 690690 or by e-mail on info@shambala-retreat.org

With much love and gratitude,Thomas Warrior(Centre Director)

Heaven and Earth

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:27:47 +0000

Awakening Scotland presents:

HEAVEN AND EARTH

A relaxing evening hosted by poet Anthony Ogley.

Journey through the realms of Sacred Sound.

Heartfelt Acoustics and an Inspirational Talk.

www.awakeningscotland.com

Flowering of the Heart

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:12:32 +0000

One day workshop with Soraya Saraswati & Terry Oldfield.

Starts: Sunday 19 September at 10.00 am
Ends: Sunday 19 September at 4pm

This workshop focuses on how to live as the spiritual warrior with an open heart expressing oneself authentically with confidence and clarity. It explores “relationship” as the fundamental of all our interactions in life. The heart or anahata chakra not only governs creative expression, feeling & emotion – it is associated with sound & music. In this workshop Terry Oldfield and Soraya use the vehicle of sound and music as the language of the heart together with grounded wisdom and processes to release the past & find the strength to live in presence from the heart in a balanced way. Essential Oils or life force of nature are also incorporated into this workshop as vibrational tools for attaining balance.

Wear loose comfortable clothing. This will be a transformational experience.

www.terrryoldfield.com & www.sorayasaraswati.com

The official poster can be viewed here: Terry Oldfield Europe Poster

Women’s Autumn Retreat

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:43:37 +0000

Starts: Thursday 21 October Dinner at 6.15 pm and an evening session at 7.30 pm
Ends: Sunday 24 October at 4pm

Costs according to income:
Residential                        £220 – £320
Non-Res                             £155 – £270
Non-Res no meals          £140 – £210

Women’s Retreats at Shambala.

Following the success of last year’s Women’s Winter Retreat, Shambala will be running 4 seasonal retreats for women in 2010. These retreats offer women the chance to take some time out to rest in the rhythms of nature, to replenish and renew in Shambala’s beautiful surroundings. Each retreat is themed around the natural cycle of the year.

SPRING ‘New Leaves On The Same Tree’ April 22-25
Renewing body and mind

SUMMER ‘Growing Into Our Fullness’ August 5-8
Expressing ourselves

AUTUMN ‘Leaves Turning To Gold’ October 21-24
Gathering in and letting go

WINTER ‘Coming Back To Earth’ December 2-5
Resting in the stillness

Each retreat will provide a nurturing space for women to gather together for rest and renewal, peaceful reflection and creative contemplation. We will share supportive mindfulness practices in meditation and movement, nourishing body-work and relaxing saunas.

The retreats will be led by Margot Henderson, Poet, Storyteller and Community Artist. Margot has a background in Community Education. She has trained in Integrative Arts Therapy and Ceremonial Tradition. She practices Mindfulness Meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

The Heart of Healing with Thomas Warrior

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:34:20 +0000

Starts Friday 4 June with Dinner at 6.15 pm and an evening session at 7.30 pm
Ends: Sunday 13 June at 4pm

Costs according to income:
Residential £585 – £875
Non-Res £405 – £675
Non-Res no meals £315 – £495

Sufi Event with Maris Warrior

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:29:30 +0000

Starts: Friday 24 September with Dinner at 6.15 pm and an evening session at 7.30 pm
Ends; Sunday 26 September at 4pm

Costs according to income:
Residential:                        £140 – £220
Non-Res:                        £100 – £180
Non-Res no meals            £90 – £140

“ONLY LOVE…”

This is a gathering of Lovers.

In this gathering

there is no high, no low,

no smart, no ignorant,…

(Rumi)

Come and bring your open heart as an offering – lets taste the Divine Wine of Love, pouring through our being, bringing hope, forgiveness, kindness and illumination. We will dance, breath, chant and share Sufi practices, that allow us to be tenderly held in the loving arms of the Beloved.

ABOUT MARIS

Maris Warrior has been leading Dances of Universal Peace since 1995. Born in Estonia, Maris lived in Findhorn for over ten years since 1998, where she led regular DUP and Sufi circles, co-founded Shambala Retreat Centre and gave birth to two daughters.

Although a Sufi guide in her own right, she continues to be led and supported on the Sufi path by Murshid Saadi and Pir Shabda. Maris is leading dances and Sufi events internationally and she is known for her gentle yet intoxicating style, kindling the light in the soul of Beloveds. She also has a deep connection with Tibetan Buddhism and often draws from the vast treasure troves of these ancient teachings.

Shambala Stupa Project

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:10:28 +0000

Shambala is embarking on a wonderful project of building a 12 foot stupa. This holy object, which represents Buddha’s enlightened mind, will be located on the bay side of the centre and in clear view when approaching the house. When completed, this stupa will create limitless benefits of peace and harmony to the surrounding area and beyond, as well as for those who see it, circumambulate, or even touch it.

Mor details about the Stupas and the Project can be found here:
Stupa Project for World Peace and Environmental Harmony

We see the completion of this project as an important milestone in the development and success of the centre, as it will create further causes and conditions for other projects to be realised, and for Lama Zopa Rinpoche to come and teach at the centre and to bless and inaugurate the stupa. In the summer we purchased a beautifully painted 3 foot wooden model of the stupa, which will be placed in a glass cabinet at the actual site of the full size stupa to be build later this year.

We are still looking for a project manager who has hands-on experience with building stupas as well as a builder who is willing to donate their service to the project. Please contact us if you can help us with manifesting the right people to move this project to completion. We have raised about half of the £20,000 we need to construct the stupa and for the many holy objects that will be placed inside it, including specific texts, relics, statues, mantras, and much more. We welcome your financial support, no matter how big or small, to accomplish this amazing project.

Pearls on the Path

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:15:11 +0000

Starts: Tuesday 28 December with Dinner at 6.15 pm and an evening session at 7.30 pm
Ends: Tuesday 4 January at 4pm

Costs according to income:
Residential                      £440 – £640
Non-Res                        £310 – £540
Non-Res no meals         £280 – £420

When Buddha Meets Christ

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:13:06 +0000

Starts: Monday 20 December
Ends: Sunday 26 December

Costs according to income:
Residential                        £420 – £640
Non-res                             £310 – £540
Non-Res no meals            £280 – £420

Women’s Winter Retreat

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:11:31 +0000

Starts: Thursday 2 December Dinner at 6.15 pm and an evening session at 7.30 pm
Ends: Sunday 5 December at 4pm

Costs according to income:
Residential                        £220 – £320
Non-Res                        £155 – £270
Non-Res no meals            £140 – £210

Women’s Retreats at Shambala.

SPRING ‘New Leaves On The Same Tree’ April 22-25
Renewing body and mind

SUMMER ‘Growing Into Our Fullness’ August 5-8
Expressing ourselves

AUTUMN ‘Leaves Turning To Gold’ October 21-24
Gathering in and letting go

WINTER ‘Coming Back To Earth’ December 2-5
Resting in the stillness

Shambala

Shambala Retreat Centre is closing

Heaven and Earth

Event Details

Flowering of the Heart

Women’s Autumn Retreat

The Heart of Healing with Thomas Warrior

Event Details

Sufi Event with Maris Warrior

Event Details

Shambala Stupa Project

Pearls on the Path

When Buddha Meets Christ

Women’s Winter Retreat