About Shambhala Throughout history, men and women have aspired to create societies that enable them to express the dignity of human existence and to lead meaningful lives within a flourishing culture. This is the vision of Shambhala. At the heart of this wisdom tradition is the view that a dignified life based on meditative understanding is accessible to everyone and can blossom into an enlightened society. Contemplative practices bring into our ordinary lives a natural sense of goodness, fearlessness, and humor. The Shambhala and Buddhist teachings can be studied and explored in the worldwide association of meditation centers founded by Vidyadhara the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and now directed by his son and spiritual heir, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Shambhala Meditation Centers welcome anyone interested in the practice of meditation and anyone who aspires to expand the experience of gentleness and nonaggression into all areas of life. A contemplative community The Shambhala community draws on a wide variety of contemplative traditions. The core practice is mindfulness-awareness meditation . Instruction follows the tradition of oral transmission from teacher to student-an unbroken lineage that goes back twenty-five hundred years. At each Shambhala Meditation Center, senior members teach meditation and work with their students in how to join the view and experience of meditation with everyday life. Meditation instruction is available free of charge at all Shambhala Meditation Centers. A comprehensive path of Buddhist practice and study is offered through the network of local centers. The Buddhist tradition provides a well-defined, graduated method of developing skillful action and wisdom through meditation practice and study of the dharma. Shambhala Training is a nonsectarian path of spiritual training that emphasizes the cultivation of fearless, gentle, and intelligent action in the world. This action arises out of trust in innate human goodness and the inherent power and sacredness of the world, connecting with both through meditation practice as well as mindful activity in everyday life. Shambhala Training welcomes people of all religious traditions as well as those who follow no particular spiritual path. Nalanda programs bring the contemplative perspective to the arts, health, education, and business. They include such traditional disciplines as the visual arts, archery (kyudo), flower arranging (ikebana), and tea ceremony (cha). At the heart of each Shambhala Center is the meditation hall, which offers an open and protected space for meditation practice, contemplative disciplines, and community gatherings. Shambhala's residential practice centers offer month-long meditation programs, public weekend programs, solitary retreats, and intensive practice and study programs for all levels of students. One can also live at a meditation center for an extended period of time, participating in the regular practice and contemplative disciplines. Shambhala Worldwide Click here for information about programs offered by Shambhala community. Click here to find a Shambhala Meditation Center or residential practice center near you.
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