| IKEBANA
Ikebana, the traditional Japanese Way of Arranging Flowers, has its origins in Shinto, where arrangements were made as shrine offerings. Currently there are many schools of Ikebana. Kalapa Ikebana, initiated by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, is a contemplative practice.
"The first time I saw a flower arrangement I was quite amazed that dignity and reality could be expressed by means of that particular arrangement. There is beauty and there is cruelty...it is not just purely a work of art. It is a manifestation of reality which can be presented in a simple but very spacious fashion."
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
By creating an environment which allows us to pay attention to our sense perceptions in a non-aggressive way, we are connecting with sacred world. Training in joining heaven, earth and man is very explicit in Ikebana: one is dealing with space and form and the three main elements which can be put together in 8 different ways or variations. After vigorous training in these forms, one is then introduced to freestyle.
Ikebana was introduced to students in the Minneapolis sangha by Jaynine Nelson and her master teacher Mrs. Kazuko Zobbi. Mrs. Zobbi was trained in Japan in the Sogetsu tradition and has been teaching in the Minneapolis area for decades. Ikebana students at the Minneapolis Shambhala Center continue to train with her, as well as master teacher, Yoshie Babcock Sensei.
There are no current Ikebana activities at the Minneapolis Shambhala Center.
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