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Envisioning Questions for Community Members
Karim Amersi
 Personal Connection
- What are your personal needs in this community?(eg. practice needs, social needs, intellectual needs, Shambhala arts?)
Personally, I benefit greatly from the opportunities to sit in a group. It’s a great encouragement to my practice. Hence I attend the open houses quite regularly.
The ability to listen to the Teachings, from either one of the local teachers or
Visiting guest teachers is of great benefit to me also
- How often do you go to the centre?
On average about once a week.
- I would go to the centre more if ________
...there were more opportunities to sit , especially on the weekend.
- Do the programs and courses we offer meet your needs?
Yes, except I would enjoy regular weekend (mornings?)sitting.
Vision for the Centre
- In your opinion, what does the center need to be?
A place to practice peace, both individually and collectively. A place to learn about the Shambhala teachings, and the very spirit of these teachings.
- What do we do well at our center?
The center has been very successful in mobilizing folks in volunteer capacity to serve as the basis for group practice and the sharing of teachings; this is truly admirable. Of late, the Center has been very successful at attracting new comers to the centre to receive meditation instruction : large group every week at open house.
- What do we not do well at our center?
Attention to the aspects that require further improvement. We can fine tune our space, it could be further beautified.
- What is our responsibility, if any, to the non-sangha Vancouver community?
Our great potential is to be able to share the teachings of Shambhala and their spirit.Also,we could enhance our involvement as a community in outreach activity. That pre-supposes knowing were these outreach opportunities exist. I would envision a notice board at the Center and on the local Shambhala website, advertising various outreach opportunities available for voluntary service.
Physical Space
- What do you imagine the new centre would look like?
Spacious, quieter, perhaps in the burbs, in a place where one could come and be at peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the City, including for longer retreats (weekend programmes, etc...)
- How do you feel about a store front (i.e. like the access off the sidewalk that we have now) and/or multiple floors?
As long as the Center is in the heart of the city , as it is now, there are benefits from the store front, in that it provides exposure to more folks. Ultimately, tucked away, further from the ’busy’ would also be nice. However, the further away from "Central" the harder it will be for more people to reach - not ideal. So central (i.e. where population is concentrated within the city of Vancouver) and quiet, perhaps more ideal .
- How big should the new centre be? (How many rooms and what will they be used for?)
I would say one and a half times what it is today, or larger, perhaps also incorporating some green space .
- What are our non-negotiables that we must have as far as space is concerned?
I would have to say that the non-negotiable would be that whatever new digs are chosen that they are dignified and a place most worthy of community practice and for the receiving of teachings. Also that the situation is sustainable in the longer run, without in anyway becoming a financial burden or stress on the community (i.e. large debt, etc).
- What is important to you when it comes to location? (Transportation considerations? Safety & feeling of neighborhood?)
A space away from the hustle, a peaceful, serene space.( What I do like about the current location however is how it is geographically central within the city of Vancouver. )Easy access via transit would be a very beneficial consideration. A safe location, one that would be most conducive to practice.
Moving Forward
- What is the time frame in which you would consider making this move?
Within 12-24 months.
- What is more important to you, owning or moving?
If I must chose then moving is more important. Moving could also mean expanding current space, growing into the adjacent space (insurance broker) if the opportunity arose. This pre-supposes advising the landlord of our interest in doing so, or even meeting with the insurance tenant to see if he may have any interest in moving. So much energy has gone into buying or leasing a new space, has expansion been explored?
- To realize this move we must make decisions. How do you see these decisions being made?
Can only be done by a small group that the community appoints or elects. No matter what we do we must support our decisions with good research and good facts and communicate these to the community.
The decision would consider sustainability in the longer run.
- How would you like to be involved in this relocation process?
I can provide input in relation to real estate, be it purchase or leasing.
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