bravery, dignity and kindness
Sobre Shambhala
Shambhala presents a path towards realising bravery, dignity and kindness, with an emphasis on the need for cultivating enlightened, or uplifted society, free from personal and national ego-centrism. It is inspired by the teachings of the Buddha, as well as many teachers from the Kagyü and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Zen tradition.
It was founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in the 1970’s. It draws on a wide variety of contemplative traditions and offers a comprehensive path of mindfulness and awareness meditation practice and study. The premise of the Shambhala tradition is that basic human goodness and wisdom transcend any one culture or religion. It is a secular, non-religious approach, embodying essential values and principles recognised by many cultures throughout history.
Experienced teachers in the Shambhala community offer teachings and trainings, maintain local meditation and retreat centres throughout the world, and host eminent Buddhist teachers from the Tibetan Kagyu, Nyingma and other traditions.
Shambhala Lineage
The word ‘lineage’ means a line of instruction or ‘transmission’ that has been passed down from teacher to student throughout history.
Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa Rimpoché, holder of the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, founded the Shambhala lineage.
Born in Tibet in 1939, Trungpa Rinpoche was recognised at an early age as a tülku, or reincarnated teacher. He was strictly raised within a monastic setting to be a scholar, spiritual practitioner, teacher, and an administrator.
He was the head abbot of a series of monasteries, and was governor of a large region of Tibet before the Chinese invasion in the late 1950’s.
Following the Chinese invasion he fled Tibet in 1959, and four years later went to Britain and America. From that time until his death in 1987, he worked tirelessly to bring the living teachings of meditation to the Western world, establishing several major retreat centres, over one hundred meditation centres, y Universidad de Naropa.
Author of many books, Trungpa Rinpoche was renowned for his remarkable ability to present the highest essence of Tibetan Buddhist teachings in a form and language that is accessible to people today.
- Visit this site for more biographical information, excerpts of Trungpa’s writings, examples of his artwork, and photographs.
Sakyong Mipham
Sákyong Mipham Rinpoché succeeded his father, Trungpa Rinpoche. En 1990, Rangdrol Mukpo feo (entonces conocido como el Sawang, ahora conocido como Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche), Regresó a América del Norte de sus estudios en la India.. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche y Jamgön Kongtrül Rinpoche proclamaron a Sawang como poseedor de los linajes budista y Shambhala de Trungpa Rinpoche y líder de la comunidad Shambhala.. Más tarde, En Mayo 1995, fue empoderado por Su Santidad Penor Rinpoche, el jefe del linaje budista tibetano Nyingma, como Sákyong (Tibetano para "protector de la tierra"), un título que también ostentaba Trungpa Rinpoche. En ese tiempo, También fue reconocido como la reencarnación de Jamgön Mipham Jamyang Gyatso., un gran maestro en el Tíbet del siglo XIX. Desde ese tiempo, Ha sido conocido como Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche..
A comienzos de 2018, allegations surfaced of sexual misconduct and misuse of power toward his students. As a result he stepped back from all administrative and teaching responsibilities in Shambhala and relocated to Nepal, agreeing to the establishment of an independent Board of Directors to hold full responsibility for Shambhala.
Shambhala is now self-governing and financially independent of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. He is no longer engaged in its activity and is teaching through his own organisation, el Sakyong Potrang.
For fuller details on these events:
- Visit this archive of communications which was independently collated by a Shambhala community member
- Visit our Community Care website.
Pema Chödron
Pema Chödron is a renowned and beloved teacher of meditation and Buddhism. Her teaching has inspired millions of people from around the world who have been touched by her message of practising peace and compassion in these difficult times. She is widely known for her charming and down-to-earth interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism for Western audiences.
While in her mid-thirties, Pema travelled to the French Alps and encountered Lama Chime Rinpoche, with whom she studied for several years. She became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to England at that time, and Pema received her ordination from him.
Pema first met her root teacher, Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoché, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Rinpoche, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection. She studied with Trungpa Rinpoche from 1974 Hasta su muerte en 1987. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full monastic ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong.
Pema served as the director of Karma Dzong, in Boulder, until 1984, when she moved to rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to be the director and resident teacher of Abadía de Gampo, the first Tibetan monastery for Westerners.
She has written several books: “The Wisdom of No Escape”, “Start Where You Are”, “When Things Fall Apart”, “The Places that Scare You”, “No Time to Lose” y “Practicing Peace in Times of War”
- Ver Pema interviewed by Bill Moyers on PBSs Faith and Reason series
- Teachings by Pema Chödrön
- Visit Pema Chödrön’s website
Collaboration
Chögyam Trungpa was a pioneer of Tibetan Buddhism in the west. He undertook a cultural translation of the vast Tibetan Buddhist tradition in order to bring it alive in a western context. In the time that he taught he established relationships with many spiritual teachers from diverse traditions, such as Zen, Kyudo, Kado and forms from these traditions have become an integral part of the Shambhala community today.
He became close friends with Suzuki Roshi, the founder of the Zen center in San Francisco, also Kobun Chino Roshi and Jakusho Kwong Roshi in Northern California; with Maezumi Roshi, the founder of the Los Angeles Zen Center; and with Eido Roshi, abbot of the New York Zendo. Kyudo master Shibata Sensei also became an important teacher to the community.
As founder of Naropa Institute, he saw the arts and psychology as further avenues to spiritual development, and Buddhist exploration. Many forms, practices and offshoots have developed out of this, incorporating calligraphy, photography, theater and creative writing.
Partnerships
Our Friends and Communities
Karuna Training
Contemplative Psychology
The Karuna Training curriculum is divided into three in-person retreats and four monthly online courses. Primary methods like body, speech, and mind group, speaking from the heart, compassionate exchange, and working with the ancient Mandala of the Five Buddha Families are all part of integrating a compassionate heart into your everyday life.
Naropa
Birthplace of the Mindfulness movement
Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, liberal arts university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, education, environmental studies, peace studies, psychology, and religious studies.
Buddhist-inspired and nonsectarian, Naropa University is rooted in contemplative education, a teaching and learning approach that integrates Eastern wisdom studies and the arts with traditional Western scholarship.
Children’s Camp
Sun Camp
Sun Camp is an outdoor sleep-away camp for children aged 10 a 16. Founded and run on the Buddhist principles of genuineness and compassion, our campground invites campers to be in the simplicity of living outdoors, awakening each day to a world entirely their own.
Touching the Earth
Individual and collective action for the rebalancing, protection and celebration of a healthy, living world.
As the lords of materialism wreak havoc on our natural world, destroying rich ecosystems and threatening our very existence, Touching the Earth warriors come together with the aspiration to live within our planetary boundaries, retake our seat as good neighbours in the community of life on Earth, and to grieve for what we have already lost.
Nuestro código de conducta
TEST EDIT (should be just El) Código de conducta de Shambhala applies to everyone in Shambhala, and at every activity sponsored by Shambhala. The Code of Conduct is an offering by and for the community, as a collective commitment to the safe, supportive, and respectful environment we seek to establish and maintain for ourselves and provide for our guests.
If you have a concern about something you have experienced in Shambhala, please read “What to do if you have a concern.”
Juntos prosperamos
Ofrecemos meditadores en el suroeste del Reino Unido oportunidades para aprender, crecer, y conectar.
Hay más oportunidades disponibles en el Centro de Shambhala de Londres y más lejos en Shambhala Europa.