What happened at the October 12, 2023 St. Johnsbury Center Community Meeting

December 12, 2023 by St. Johnsbury Center

We had a hybrid Community Meeting on October 12, 2023 in the beloved Karmê Chöling (KCL) Main Shrine Room.

21 people were present, plus 10 others taking part via Zoom. That represents approximately 30% of our active community.

people in a meeting

The invitation to this meeting includes links to reports from all of the current Council activities.

It was clear at the meeting that right now there is no significant interest in finding a new physical space for our center.

Since we exist now in virtual space it is great that we’re working more closely with KCL.

St Johnsbury Shambhala community
Our last community photo, taken before the facility on Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury was closed.

KCL & St. Johnsbury Center working together

JT Buck and Vegan Aharonian, the new co-directors of Karmê Chöling, filled us in on their efforts to energize KCL programming, staffing & financial security, especially as it relates to this interdependence with us, the St J Center community.

JT Buck
Vegan Aharonian

We are increasingly using Karmê Chöling spaces, often in conjunction with KCL, for practice, meetings and gatherings. Some ways this manifests are:

  • The St. Johnsbury Center Council meeting in-person in the KCL library
  • St. Johnsbury Center community events such as potlucks, community meetings, parties & celebrations happening at KCL.
  • PRACTICE
    • Local practice groups including half & full nyinthuns, the Sakyong students, Vajrayogini, Chod, & Kurukulla practitioners are gathering in KCL shrine rooms
    • As well, St. Johnsbury folks are warmly welcome to join KCL staff & residents in daily practices
    • Plus, Sadhana practices are held on the new and full moons

Volunteer opportunities abound in all areas at KCL. They  especially need help during the larger programs.

How St. Johnsbury Center is working with the wider world

The Affiliate Agreement with Shambhala Global Services was presented to the community. After a lengthy discussion of pros, cons, alternatives and concerns, a show of hands gave an essentially unanimous decision to continue under the Shambhala umbrella.

In the Invitation above you can find more information about the controversy over the Vt Supreme Court issue and Shambhala Global Services  (SGS) benefits.

One benefit of continuing membership in SGS is that we have a clear conduit for communication with global leadership. The newly introduced Shambhala Global Community Council is intended to facilitate communication throughout Shambhala.

We are a member of the Shambhala Global Community Council via the Eastern US Region. Alley Smith is our Regional Representative, JT Buck is the Land Center Representative, and Victor Caamano is our Center liaison with SGS.