All Programs

•  Masks are optional but highly encouraged out of consideration for the well-being of everyone.
•  Vaccination is not required, but we encourage everyone to be up-to-date on COVID and flu vaccines.
•  If you are not feeling well for any reason, please stay home and take care of yourself. We look forward to seeing you when you are feeling better.

We are pleased to offer opportunities for practice, study, and community.  Your generous support will help us provide programming that will sustain our community.  Please give what you can through our donation page.

Registration

To reserve a space, please register via the link on the program’s page. You can pay via credit card or PayPal. You can also register at the Center when the program begins and pay with a check or cash. Please arrive 10 minutes early. If you are unable to attend a program for which you have registered, a refund is available. Please contact us as soon as possible prior to the program.

Generosity Policy

“Generosity is the virtue that produces peace.”
―from the Sutra of the Recollection of the Three Jewels

The Philadelphia Shambhala Center is a non-profit organization run by volunteers and supported by the generosity of its members and program participants. We are committed to making both meditation practice and the programs we offer accessible to all. Financial constraints should not be an obstacle to taking part. At the same time, the costs associated with running the Center are accurately reflected in our program pricing.

Our Generosity Policy makes our registration process a contemplative practice of generosity where, if the program price is not presently workable for you, we invite you to contemplate how much you are able to offer. Paying what you can is a gesture of support for our Center and its mission.

Our policy also encourages generosity for those who can offer more than the regular program price through “Patron Pricing,” as a way to pay-it-forward. This option enables us to cover costs for those who are not able to pay the full program price.

We thank you for your generosity.

All Programs

Sunday Sitting Meditation (In person)

October 20th—March 30th (2025)

What better way to make a first return to the Center, than by returning to our 'center': the grounding and clarifying experience of being together in meditation. Continue »

Thursday Sitting Meditation (In person)

November 7th—April 17th (2025)

What better way to make a first return to the Center, than by returning to our 'center': the grounding and clarifying experience of being together in meditation. Continue »

Welcome to the Shambhala Center: Open House (in person)

November 10th—March 9th (2025)

Please join us for the Shambhala Center’s Open House on the second Sunday of the month. We welcome your curiosity and questions as we explore the heritage of Shambhala. Continue »

Engaged Dharma Circle Discussion Group

November 17th—January 19th (2025)

Join us for an ongoing exploration of what Buddhist wisdom can bring to our current state of social inequality and environmental crisis. Continue »

The Work That Reconnects: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power (in person)

November 17th—December 15th

As we cope with ever-changing environmental degradation, we will explore the stages of change: gratitude, grief, interconnection, and new possbilities. Continue »

Being a Bodhisattva: Exploring the Bodhisattva Vow (online)

with Judith Simmer-Brown

November 30th—December 14th

This three-session course explores the moment in a person’s life when they decide to go one step further than “being Buddhist”—and make a profound commitment to put all others before themselves. Continue »

Learn to Meditate (In person)

December 11th

In these challenging times, the practical wisdom of meditation can help us show up for our daily lives with more kindness, confidence and curiosity. Continue »

What the Buddha Taught Class 12: The Union of Wisdom and Skillfulness

with Alexander DeVaron

December 14th

The final day of our "What the Buddha Taught" series will focus on Vajrayana Buddhism, also known as Tantra. Continue »

Children's Day 2024: Songs & Stories of Light

December 14th

Our annual Children' Day celebration will be a fun, family-friendly evening with songs and stories celebrating the season, food, friends - and some surprises. Bring your Children, your Grandchildren, or simply your Inner Child. All are welcome! Continue »

Winter Meditation Retreat

with Alexander DeVaron & Marilia Marien

December 27th—January 1st (2025)

The qualities we seek in retreat are with us wherever we are; they can be part of our everyday life. Continue »

Shambhala Training: Level I-5 Review (in person)

January 25th (2025)

We invite the entire community of Shambhala Training participants to revisit and review these powerful and timely teachings. Continue »

Learn to Meditate (In person)

February 5th (2025)

In these challenging times, the practical wisdom of meditation can help us show up for our daily lives with more kindness, confidence and curiosity. Continue »

Learn to Meditate (In person)

March 8th (2025)

In these challenging times, the practical wisdom of meditation can help us show up for our daily lives with more kindness, confidence and curiosity. Continue »

Learn to Meditate (In person)

April 2nd (2025)

In these challenging times, the practical wisdom of meditation can help us show up for our daily lives with more kindness, confidence and curiosity. Continue »