{"id":8041,"date":"2019-01-02T08:59:32","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T13:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/matthewremski.com\/wordpress\/?p=8041"},"modified":"2019-01-02T08:59:32","modified_gmt":"2019-01-02T13:59:32","slug":"shambhala-centers-still-holding-sealed-retreats-to-venerate-a-leader-under-criminal-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matthewremski.com\/wordpress\/shambhala-centers-still-holding-sealed-retreats-to-venerate-a-leader-under-criminal-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Shambhala Centers Still Holding “Sealed” Retreats to Venerate a Leader Under Criminal Investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"

A New Year’s Eve email sent out from the Sky Lake Retreat Center of Rosendale, New York, invited qualified practitioners to attend a seven-day “sealed” retreat, beginning on February 23.<\/p>\n

The event, named the “Monarch Retreat”, will be focussed on generating loyalty towards the spiritual “kingship” of the leader of Shambhala International, Mipham Mukpo, known as the “Sakyong”. Mukpo is the son and heir of the Ch\u00f6gyam Trungpa, the founder of the organization. In 1995, Mukpo was recognized<\/a> as the reincarnation of Mipham the Great, a Tibetan philosopher, astrologer, and mystic who died in 1912.<\/p>\n

This past July, Mukpo stepped down<\/a> from his administrative leadership of Shambhala International amidst accusations of sexual assault published by Buddhist Project Sunshine<\/a>. Mukpo has issued\u00a0a vague apology<\/a>\u00a0for past behaviour, but he has since denied all criminal allegations through his lawyer.<\/p>\n

Mukpo is a focus of a controversial independent investigation<\/a> commissioned by Shambhala International, the results of which are due to be released at the end of January<\/a>.\u00a0According to ThinkProgress<\/a>, Mukpo is also a focus of a criminal investigation by the Larimer County, Colorado, Sheriff’s office.<\/p>\n

The rituals of the upcoming retreat will include a “heart transmission” from Mukpo to all retreatants. Mukpo will not be in attendance, but retreatants will be able to venerate a “full” portrait of him \u2014 the centrepiece of a specially-designed altar \u2014 while following a ritual schedule written by him.<\/p>\n

The text of the invite, signed by Cynthia MacKay, who is scheduled to lead the retreat, is printed below. A critical response from Patricia Ullman, a former Shambhala Training director, follows.<\/p>\n

MacKay claims to write “on behalf of the Pillar of Government”. In Shambhala terms, this refers to the administrative third of the organization, which includes the lead administrative body, the “Kalapa Council”. Recognizing that “parts of our system are broken,”<\/a> the Council resigned in July and in October handed over control to an Interim Board <\/a>assigned to handle the crisis.<\/p>\n

A request for clarification from the Interim Board about whether MacKay is in fact writing on their behalf went unanswered.<\/p>\n

The Monarch Retreat is “sealed” to participants who have received ritual permission to practice Tantric meditations conferred by Mukpo himself. Often, tantric meditations require practitioners to perceive and visualize<\/a> their preceptors as divine or enlightened beings.<\/p>\n

Similar Monarch retreats were offered at Dechen Ch\u00f6ling Shambhala Center<\/a> in France this past November, at Dorje Denma Ling Shambhala Center<\/a> in Nova Scotia this past June, and at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado<\/a> in this past February.<\/p>\n

MacKay did not answer a request for comment.<\/p>\n

__________<\/p>\n

Text of the Sky Lake email<\/h3>\n

From:\u00a0Monarch Retreat Host<\/strong>\u00a0<monarchretreats@gmail.com<\/a>><\/span><\/span>
\nDate: Mon, Dec 31, 2018 at 10:50 PM<\/span>
\nSubject: Invitation to Monarch Retreat February 2019<\/span>
\nTo: [redacted]<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Invitation to Monarch Retreat,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sky Lake Retreat Center, February 23 \u2013 March 3, 2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Holders of the Rigden Abhisheka Transmission((The “Ridgens” are mythic kings of Shambhala, a divine or shamanic realm featured in medieval Tibetan Tantra. “Abhisheka” indicates a Tantric initiation that binds the student to the teacher through a strict code of allegiance called “samaya”. Consequences of breaking samaya \u2014 which can involve as little as speaking negatively of the teacher \u2014 include rebirth in torturous realms.))<\/span><\/p>\n

On behalf of the Pillar of Government, I would like to invite you to attend the Monarch Retreat at Sky Lake Retreat Center from February 23rd through March 3rd, 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

This unique retreat includes receiving and practicing a heart transmission from His Majesty the Kongma Sakyong II((Ch\u00f6gyam Trungpa, Mukpo’s father, was known as the first “Kongma Sakyong”.)). Although the Sakyong himself does not physically attend the retreat, his presence is palpable. In light of the disturbing events and conflicts in the mandala((“Mandala” means “protective circle”. It is used here to describe the organization as a sacred walled city.)) this year, it may seem surprising to be holding such a retreat at this time. Some might find it provocative. I recently attended this retreat at Dechen Ch\u00f6ling for my third time. There was a profound sense of tenderness and genuineness among the 22 participants as we each explored our deeply personal relationship with the lineage and with the Sakyong. It was a meaningful journey for me and felt incredibly necessary and nourishing in terms of engaging in my path for the benefit of our greater world.<\/span><\/p>\n

My experience is that the most magical things happen during these retreats. The container provides a lot of time for practice, contemplation and conversation about what it means to be a warrior. The thin veil that separates the conventional world from the world inhabited by the dralas ((The “dralas” are elemental and animistic energies appropriated into Buddhist discourse from indigenous Tibetan spirituality.))dissolves and the kingdom of Shambhala opens up as the ground for exploration and play. The lineage is there waiting for us, trusting us and loving us.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Monarch Retreat includes receiving and practicing a heart transmission from His Majesty the Kongma Sakyong II and a specially-designed Monarch Retreat shrine with a full portrait of the Sakyong.<\/span><\/p>\n

In line with other Monarch Retreats, we will also study and contemplate:<\/span><\/p>\n