The Shrineroom

Shrines in the Buddhist and Shambhala traditions serve as symbols or reminders of the wakefulness, clarity, and unobstructed brilliance of mind that is inherent in every one of us. They represent the lineages of men and women who have studied, practiced, and experienced the living qualities of awake mind in their own lives. In this way, the living experience of awakened mind has been kept alive in human society for 2500 years.

In the main shrine room of the Milwaukee Shambhala Center, there are actually three shrines. The central shrine along the east wall is the orange Buddhist shrine. To the left of this shrine on the north wall is the white Shambhala shrine. And near the entrance at the back of the shrine room is a small shrine set into the wall, the Mahakala shrine. Between these two shrines is a teacher's chair.

The Buddhist Shrine

The Buddhist shrine as a whole is a representation of the Three Jewels: the Buddha and the qualities of enlightened mind; the Dharma, or teachings of the Buddha and other realized teachers; and the Sangha, or community of practitioners on the path. The shrine is not particularly an object of worship, but a powerful reminder of wakefulness.

Is there any reason why it's orange?

The bright orange color of the Buddhist shrine represents wakefulness.

Why is there a crystal ball on the shrine?

The crystal ball, represents the clarity of unborn mind, which is capable of accurately reflecting all perceptions of the phenomenal world. Behind the crystal ball is a book wrapped in a cloth, which represents the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha and other realized teachers. These teachings are based on experience arising from meditation.

What's this little brass thing and why is there rice sprinkled around it?

This is a vajra ["vajra" in Sanskrit, "dorje" in Tibetan], which symbolizes skillful means. The word vajra means "adamantine" or "indestructible," and refers to the fearless quality of enlightenment. The five piles of rice represent the five skandhas, or constituents of ego. The vajra on top represents their transformation into the five wisdoms of a buddha.

What's that painting in the center?

The thangka, or cloth painting, above the shrine is a depiction of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, the Indian prince who began teaching the Dharma over 2,500 years ago.

What's that little pointy sculpture near the crystal ball?

That's a miniature stupa (symbolic representation of the Buddha's mind) containing a bone relic of the Tibetan lineage holder who founded this practice center, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

What are those bowls of water for?

The water bowls are offerings of generosity to the lineage of enlightened beings. Pure water is said to represent the inherent clarity and purity of mind.

Any special reason we light candles and incense during sitting?

The candles are also offerings to the lineage. Light is said to represent prajna, the flame of awakened intellect, which illumines reality "as it is". Incense represents the paramita of patience, which pervades all practice.

Who are those people in the photos?

There are four lineage holders in the photos on the shrine backdrop. A lineage holder is a person entrusted to carry on the realization of a lineage. Thus, teachings are passed down from teacher to disciple in an unbroken line.

On the upper left side of the central thangka is His Holiness the XVI Gyalwa Karmapa (1927-1981), head of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.	On the upper right is His Holiness Khyentse Rinpoche (1912-1991), former head of the Nyingma Lineage.
On the lower left is the Vidyadhara Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987), who brought the teachings of these two ancient lineages as well as that of Shambhala to the West and founded the international organizations of Shambhala Centers.	On the lower right is Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, son of Trungpa Rinpoche, and the current lineage holder of his father's Shambhala Buddhist teachings.

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The Shambhala Shrine

The Shambhala shrine is white in color. This represents the pure ground of basic goodness that is the inherent nature of all human beings. The calligraphy above the shrine is called an Ashe. It represents the unconditional confidence found in the human heart. On the shrine are various symbols of warriorship. Warriorship in the Shambhala tradition means overcoming aggression.

The calligraphy brush represents the warrior's weapons-wakefulness, fearlessness, and gentleness. The ink in the central bowl represents the warrior's heart's blood--tenderness and loyalty to the lineage of warriors, past, present, and future. The tea offering is symbolic of cutting conceptual mind, discursive thought. The sake offering represents the intoxication of discursive emotionalism with open, vast mind. Candles and incense represent the warrior's discipline, which is constant awareness

The row of offering bowls represents the five sense perceptions (from left to right): sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. All together, they represent taking delight in the sense perceptions and celebrating the sacredness of the world.

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The Mahakala Shrine

The Mahakala represents compassionate energy that manifests wrathfully to protect the awakened mind from self-centered confusion and fixation.

The Teacher's Chair

A teacher's chair is placed between the Buddhist and Shambhala shrines. The placement of the chair in relation to the two shrines represents the lineages of Buddhism and Shambhala. Near the chair is placed a candle, the guru candle, representing the continual presence of the guru, or teacher. This candle is always lit during group practice or a talk.

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