To view the list of 2017 Shambhala Service Award recipients, please click here.

At the request of the Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo, the Shambhala Office of Culture and Decorum is pleased to announce the reinstatement of Shambhala Service Awards. For the first time in approximately 16 years, awards have been granted to individuals who have demonstrated a pattern or career of outstanding service to Shambhala, or who extend Shambhala principles into the greater world through their work in the fields of:

Great East Awards : Pillar of Government, civil service, and leadership

Elegance Awards : Office of Culture & Decorum, contributions to Shambhala culture and the arts

Ashoka Awards : Societal health & well-being, healthcare, and medicine

Golden Key Awards : Pillar of Economy, patronage, finance, and business

Shotoku Taishi Awards : Pillar of Practice & Education, through teaching or administration, and ritual service such as umdzes and chöpöns

Kalapa Awards : Service in the Kalapa Courts

Sakyong Wangmo Awards : New award for social engagement, peace, and relief efforts

Dawa Sangpo Awards : For particularly heroic service leading a specific project or campaign

Higher Orders (Tiger, Lion, Garuda, Dragon awards) : Career of service awards for our long serving leaders who have held high levels of international responsibility in Shambhala

An important aspect of our Shambhala culture is to acknowledge the bravery and service of our community. This not only shows appreciation, but inspires others to cultivate virtuous and generous activity. In the late 1970’s the Druk Sakyong, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the Dorje Dradül, began a tradition of conferring awards to Shambhala citizens as a way to show appreciation for dedication to Shambhala vision. During his time, awards were offered only within the circle of most advanced students. The meaning and appearance of every award was given great consideration in order to make them truly potent gifts from the lineage. The awards were triangular ribbon medals, with colours chosen very particularly to invoke the energy and drala of each area of service. Using the particular form of an award, the sometimes invisible act of service was brought into the visible realm of tangible form. Awards are just one of many such Shambhala forms created by the Dorje Dradül to bring forward the notion of an enlightened society. The Kongma Sakyong, Jampal Trinley Dradül, has chosen to broaden this system for our growing worldwide community. The relaunch of Shambhala Service Awards has all members of Shambhala eligible for awards, and incorporates a modern and wearable award design, as unique cloisonne enamel medals. The design is still faithfully based on the colours and symbols chosen so carefully by the Dorje Dradül.

In order to recognize the many individuals who have made special and significant contributions to our Shambhala society since the last time awards were conferred, the Shambhala Office of Culture & Decorum solicited nominations from leaders in different roles from every place in our mandala. This included Kalapa Council, Acharyas,, Center Directors, Representatives of Culture & Decorum, and so on. The recommendations were reviewed by committees of leaders in each field, and were finally approved by the Sakyong himself, who took great interest and championed the entire project. Over 1400 awards will be conferred this Shambhala Day.

Though we have been exhaustive in our efforts to award everyone deserving recognition, there will no doubt be unintended omissions. It is the intention of the Office to present awards every 2-3 years going forward, providing many future opportunities to acknowledge those who offer great benefit to Shambhala, and to further enhance our Shambhala culture of appreciation. Unfortunately, some dedicated warriors may have been overlooked. Please encourage your local leaders to be thorough in their recommendations for the next round, and feel free to suggest nominees to these leaders.

The launch of Shambhala Service Awards coincides with the initiation of the Shambhala Household Mandala, which will begin in local centres over the course of this coming year. These two elements are intimately connected, as visible examples of the society and culture within which the teachings of Shambhala are held. The Shambhala Office of Culture & Decorum is delighted to offer this relaunch of Shambhala Service Awards on behalf of the Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo.

How to wear Shambhala Service Awards:

Award medals should be worn on the left side of one’s upper chest.

If wearing a crest pin or flag pin, your award medals should be worn below that pin.

Award medal stripes should point inward, towards one’s heart, from upper right to lower left corner if facing the medal. (See awards medals chart below:)

If you have multiple award medals, the highest award should be worn closest to one’s heart, followed by other awards side by side, up to three per row.

**If you have received awards during the previous awards system (triangular ribbon style awards), we will have replacement medals available to purchase via Kalapa Media very soon. **

Shambhala Awards: Protocol

We should feel proud and honoured to wear awards. Following is the protocol for when and how awards are worn. Please note awards are a gift from the lineage directly to the recipient and should never been worn by anyone other than the awardee.

Awards may be worn for :

• Occasions when we don our best attire
• Shambhala events, holidays, celebrations, feasts
• Major events in our lives where we want to represent Shambhala principles such as leading events in the world, public speaking, teaching, galas, formal social events
• Private social events with other Shambhalians

Awards are not appropriate for :

• Everyday wear
• At work
• When we are dressed in clothing for physical activities

Wearing of Awards:

• Awards may be worn alone, choosing the single highest received and/or award most appropriate for the particular function of the event. This is most appropriate for everyday wear. For example: ➢ Great East ~ Council meeting ➢ Ashoka ~ Care & Conduct gathering
• For more formal occasions (holidays, banquets, events with the Sakyong), all awards may be worn together.
• Awards are worn 3 across by order of precedence, on the left side, below a crest pin and/or Shambhala banner pin, if applicable. The highest order is worn first. Ex., Medal of Ashoka is worn in front of Colour of Elegance.

Replacement Awards: If members would like to replace awards that they received in the older ribbon format with the new medal version, or if awards are misplaced, they will be available to order from KalapaMedia.org very soon.

Click here to download a Shambhala Service Awards guide.