Community

Our community is diverse, capable, and heartfelt. Our members and friends include dedicated senior teachers who have walked the Shambhala Buddhist path for many years, and enthusiastic newcomers who are just discovering our teachings on realizing basic goodness and building enlightened society.

Community

“Sangha” is the Sanskrit term for “community of practitioners” – one of the three jewels of Buddhism. The Shambhala Meditation Center of Philadelphia is home to a wonderfully diverse community who share a genuine connection to contemplative practice and the aspiration to realize a more wakeful, sane society. Our members and friends include dedicated senior teachers who have walked the Shambhala Buddhist path for 40 years or more, practitioners of all levels, children and teens, and enthusiastic newcomers who are just discovering our teachings on realizing basic goodness and building enlightened society.

Friends and members of the Shambhala Center are welcome to attend celebrations, practice events, meetings and gatherings of special interest groups.

The Center is part of an international community of 165 meditation centers founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and led by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The Shambhala Buddhist path, unique in the world of Western Buddhism, combines the teachings of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism with the Shambhala view of living an uplifted life, fully engaged with the world.

The Philadelphia Shambhala Sangha is a group of people united by a commitment to the recognition of human goodness and the practice of meditation. We are in the process of initiating a number of ways we can better help each other, get to know each other, and offer the Philadelphia area service and support. Apart from meditation sessions and programs, we also gather in a variety of social contexts and celebrations. The descriptions below provide a picture of what we have to offer, and the directions in which we are going.

Community Practice Events

Our center has a rich array of ongoing offerings open to the public including weekly public sitting meditation hours and dharma talks. No prior meditation experience required to attend. All are welcome. Ongoing Programs

Getting Involved

Our community and center is almost entirely volunteer run. All of our programs are staffed by volunteers, as well as our councils and committees. People from all walks of life dedicate some amount of time to support other people to sit on the cushion and become familiar with their own basic goodness. The vision of a sane and awake society begins with one simple act: Getting Involved

Family and Children

Families and children are a vital part of the Philadelphia Shambhala Center community. Our aspiration is to have a local Shambhala community in which families gather for practice and feel included and supported. Bodhi School has been one path for our children to deepen their experience of basic goodness, learn the teachings, have fun, and build friendships. While it is on hiatus this year, we continue to integrate family and children into Center life in many ways while exploring other family and children-specific programming and events.

Culture and Community Well Being Circle

This governance circle is dedicated to fostering a warm, inviting, and caring community of practitioners, thus polishing and shining the third jewel of sangha. Activities of this committee include:
  • Fostering greater communication and contact among community members, including focused community building efforts.
  • Ensuring there is a welcoming, hospitable environment for all who enter the Center. Developing awareness and proactive sensitivity regarding all aspects of diversity: racial, ethnic, socio-economic, sexual orientation, age, gender, physical ability, etc.
  • Ensuring that needs of families and children are completely interwoven into the fabric of community life.

Seasonal Celebrations

Over the years our community has adopted a tradition of celebrating the changes of the seasons. These are called “nyida” days from the Tibetan words nyima (sun) and dawa (moon), and they occur on or near the days of the equinoxes and solstices. Nyida days are family-oriented celebrations and occasions for local Shambhala communities to gather socially. Midsummer Day observes the summer solstice; the Harvest of Peace the autumn equinox; Children’s Day, the winter solstice. Shambhala Day is our annual celebration of “losar” or the new year according to the Tibetan calendar. Since it typically falls in February or March, it takes the place of observing the spring equinox.

Community Events

First Sunday Extended Sitting Meditation (In person)

December 3rd—April 7th

Please come join us from 9:30 - 12:00 on the first Sunday of the month for an extended period of sitting and walking meditation. Continue »

Parinirvana Day (In person)

April 4th

Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Continue »