Meet Linda Peterson, our Membership Coordinator

Linda uplifts the Centre in a multitude of ways, from her beautiful wood offerings, to coordinating the cleaning rota (on the kitchen bulletin board: check it out to discover how you can help), to generously answering your membership questions and needs as Membership Coordinator. More on membership here.

In this interview with Lise Gaston, our Publicity Coordinator, Linda shares her artistic passions, her meditative path, and her aspirations for the Centre and its members. (The photographs below are Linda’s.)

What are some of your hobbies and passions?

I love working with wood. Some of my wood pieces are used in flower displays at the Centre. I have found these pieces in various places: all I do is scrape away the rot or dirt to find out what is underneath. I try not to change it, just to bring out what is already there. I also carve wood spirits out of aspen bark.

I love to take photographs and have attended a course through the Centre on Miksang photography. The website on the practice describes Miksang as a form of contemplative photography that asks us to see our world in a new way. It notes that Miksang means “Good Eye” in Tibetan, and suggests we all have a Good Eye as part of our human makeup. This means we can see the world in a pure way, without overlaps of meaning and value, pleasure, dislike, or disinterest. It’s so different taking photographs this way.

“When we can see with our Good Eye, the world is always fresh, because everything we see is as for the first time. There is no memory, no association, only the world manifesting to us, as it is, out of nowhere.”

How did you come to the practice of meditation?

I came to the practice of meditation a couple of years ago, coming on a Wednesday evening for the introductory class. Then I took the first Shambhala level and have continued taking courses since. I find that I have learned to be okay with myself. I also support the Heart of Recovery meditation meeting here at the Centre on Thursdays. As a person in recovery I have found this meeting to be immensely helpful.

What are some of your favourite things to do in Edmonton? 

My favourite thing to do in Edmonton is to walk in the River Valley. I like bird watching as well.

What events or ideas are you looking forward to or hoping to see happen at the Edmonton Shambhala Centre?

I have recently taken on the position of Membership Coordinator. I haven’t done anything like this before, and though sometimes the role feels daunting, it is also exciting. We have about forty members at the Edmonton Shambhala Centre and I would like to see people to getting to know one another, getting involved with each other, and coming together more as a community. What a good place to practice society! I would also like to see some Shambhala Art programs take place. Shambhala Art explores how you use being in the moment, and Basic Goodness, to create.