Ensuring the Longevity of the Shambhala Lineage
by Walker Blaine
The start of the year of the Fire Monkey—a year for activity and gathering momentum—was auspiciously marked with the establishment of the first legal endowment dedicated to caring for the Shambhala lineage, the Lady Sharon Hoagland Endowment, which was generously seeded with an initial sum of one million dollars by Lady Sharon and Mr. James Hoagland. For our community, this dedication of wealth is a major milestone, a statement that we are here to stay and looking forward into the future.
The principle of wealth generating wealth is an integral part of the Buddhist tradition. Just as a stupa, statue of a buddha, or treasure vase exemplifies this quality by being filled with blessings, medicine, and material wealth in order to enable the lineage to radiate and benefit the world, the Lady Sharon Hoagland Endowment similarly enables Shambhala to manifest brilliantly. Knowing such wealth is held within Shambhala is inspiring, as well as directly supporting the community each year.
The Endowment will produce usable income for Shambhala and retain enough of the interest from the principal investments that the seed money grows over time. It is structured to assist core projects designated by the Sakyong and future lineage holders. Because the Endowment is held within a nonprofit entity, the Sakyong Potrang, its wealth cannot be used for the personal activities of the Sakyong or his family.
Lady Sharon remarked on working with money and wealth, “By the time the next Sakyong is ready to take on more responsibility, they will already have an education in the financial aspect of ruling a kingdom, not just the traditional dharma and taking care of the sangha.”
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
As a Lady of the Kalapa Court, Mrs. Hoagland is a leader in supporting and manifesting the feminine principle of accommodation, insight, and nurturing in the household of the Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo. One of the main aspects of the feminine principle is protection through ensuring the longevity of the teacher and teachings. This is one of the major inspirations behind the Endowment, which she and James see as feminine activity— wisdom in action—caring for Shambhala, its acharyas, projects, and whatever aspects of education or development the Sakyong would like to sponsor.
As quiet benefactors behind many projects initiated by the Sakyong, creating financial stability that continues into succeeding generations is an important concern of Lady Sharon and her husband James. They will assist in advising the Endowment’s development and use, and their heirs will continue this in the form of taking a seat on the advisory board for the Endowment. As James remarked, “When we were finishing our new wills we were struck by the fact that even though there has been talk of an endowment for thirty to forty years, one still did not exist, and instead of waiting to create one in our will we decided to just do it now. It is our hope that others will join us in adding to the fund either now or in the future.”
Anyone who wishes may contribute to the Endowment. The Hoaglands emphasized that it is just one part of the complex network of generosity that supports the Sakyongs and Shambhala. Unified Giving, bequests to the lineage, and other offerings to our lineage holders, centers, and endeavors are all integral to the functioning of our community. However, this fund, which takes a view of a thousand years, is an important a part of the picture we are painting together—an enlightened kingdom that cares for itself and the world as we discover our basic goodness. If you wish to know more about the Lady Sharon Hoagland Endowment, please contact Mr. Landon Mallery of the Sakyong Potrang by email at lmallery@shambhala.org or by phone at 902-425-4275, extension 244.