The Shambhala Community

Shambhala is a global community of people inspired by the principle that every human being has a basic nature of goodness.

This nature, the source of our innate wisdom, can be cultivated so that it benefits ourselves and others. In this way, we can help meet the many challenges facing the world.

Shambhala welcomes people from all walks of life, faiths, and backgrounds. We come together in community to practice meditation, to uncover our inherent wisdom and kindness, and to share our appreciation of our world, as well as to work with what is chaotic and stressful.

Together, we aspire to develop a global culture of dignity and sanity.

Where Shambhala Is Worldwide

There are thousands of members and friends of Shambhala all over the world. We have online communities and more than 150 Shambhala Centres and Groups, as well as individual members, located in major cities, towns, and in rural settings in over 30 different countries.

In addition to meditation, study and contemplative practices, Shambhala Centres and Groups offer teachings in the arts, and host a range of cultural and social activities that cultivate wakefulness and creativity. Many people enjoy visiting local Shambhala Centres and Groups when they travel. The heart of Shambhala is universal, and is expressed in diverse ways through local cultures.

You can find the Centres or Groups nearest you on our global map.

How You Can Connect with Shambhala

You can experience the friendship and support of the Shambhala community through our many local Centres, Groups, residential retreat centers, and online gathering spaces.  You can share Shambhala vision with others through the wakefulness, kindness, and courage you bring into your family life, relationships, and all that you do.

Many people who are active in local Shambhala communities work together in teams of volunteers. These teams devote themselves to creating inspiring environments for practice and community life. This volunteer spirit enables us to run our programs, provide classes, and give individual meditation instruction, as well as offer hospitality, maintain our facilities, and manage our funds.

Many people express their appreciation and sustained support by becoming members and patrons of Shambhala.

“We are a diverse group of practitioners from many different areas. What connects us are our shared values of kindness, and our goal of creating a compassionate, loving, just society.”

Shambhala Member, ConnecticuT, USA

How Shambhala is Organized and Funded

Shambhala is a not-for-profit organization funded by donations from members and supporters, and program fees. This community-based funding keeps Shambhala financially sustainable, provides the resources we need to grow locally, and funds the international leadership and training that support our work.

How to Find Shambhala Near You

For details about the Shambhala community nearest you, please use our Find a Shambhala Centre tool. You can also access talks and classes on Shambhala Online.

What Shambhala Offers to Community Members

Shambhala offers individual meditation instruction, spiritual teachings, and a deep practice path, as well as a social vision. For many people, it can become a living lab for a culture grounded in our innate goodness—one that explores the possibility of creating a good human society.

Shambhala also offers opportunities to be with others who share similar practices, teachings, and inspiration to lead fuller lives. All this supports an authentic and meaningful future together. In addition to the path of practice and study, we work to create community in many ways. These include festivals and cultural celebrations, family events such as family camps, rites of passage for children and young adults, care of the dying, community meetings, support groups (such as grief work and Heart of Recovery for addiction issues), artistic and performing arts groups, study and practice of the contemplative arts, and environmental and social action networks.

What Shambhala Offers to Community Members

Shambhala offers individual meditation instruction, spiritual teachings, and a deep practice path, as well as a social vision. For many people, it can become a living lab for a culture grounded in our innate goodness—one that explores the possibility of creating a good human society.

Shambhala also offers opportunities to be with others who share similar practices, teachings, and inspiration to lead fuller lives. All this supports an authentic and meaningful future together. In addition to the path of practice and study, we work to create community in many ways. These include festivals and cultural celebrations, family events such as family camps, rites of passage for children and young adults, care of the dying, community meetings, support groups (such as grief work and Heart of Recovery for addiction issues), artistic and performing arts groups, study and practice of the contemplative arts, and environmental and social action networks.