Day 1: Check In Day

(Not that I didn't start this blog on day minus one, when the "BMW Basher" Heaven branch arrived at the door to the chapel at St. Mary's University in Halifax for use in the main ikebana offering.)

This festival seems to be fraught with tendrel, or auspicious chaos, I mean coincidence. As you all probably know by now, the Sakyong Wangmo empowerment is off until next year. The Festival is still in a feminine container, so to speak, with an abhisheka for Yeshe Tsogyal, the real live human being consort of Padmasambhava, to be bestowed by H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, our Sakyong Wangmo-in-Waiting's father, followed by a garden party at the Kalapa Court for 500 participants, friends, and neighbours.

And, as is appropriate to start where you are, His Eminence will lead us in a long life practice for His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, the Sakyong, and one would assume Lady Diana Mukpo, who I'm pleased to have heard is doing well after her surgery.

Check-in Day seemed to go well -- as of yesterday, at least 480 sangha pre-registered from all over the world. All six tables I'd reserved for the marketplace were in use as well as the large long table, which was filled with myriad texts for all the Khenpo Gyamtso texts in print for those who will be receiving the reading lungs for their study, organized by the inimitable Sylvie Stevenson. On the table as well were copies of the Ocean of the Play of Enlightened Activity, A Daily Offering to Warrior Gesar, Great Being Dondrup, King of Werma, Tamer of Enemies, written by Vidyadhara the Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, which we will be using during the programme.

The kasung, in khaki manifestation, were roaming the periphery signing up for shifts of all kinds. A mess, held at the Halifax Shambhala Centre, was attended by more than 50 or so kasung -- many from "away," with a cast of 25 commanders of all kinds, led by our able Garsung, Faye Halpern Rupon. The chilli, salad, and hors d'ouvres were tastily prepared by Desung Commander Mr. Tim Walker.

Well, I'm writing this in the quiet gap following a serenade of ravens, which heralded the crack of dawn, and am going to try and go back to sleep, so I can be ready for the lhasang to come in just a few hours.

Yrs in the Dharma,

Fearless Wildflower, Carol Johnstone reporting from the Sea Port of Lord Halifax in the Kingdom of Shambhala