Membership and Friend of Shambhala

If you are inspired by the Shambhala community and path, please consider becoming a member. Membership at all of our South and West Shambhala Groups is both an expression of your commitment to the path of meditation, as well as a commitment to help sustain our Bristol centre, our groups and the wider Shambhala community.

Personal benefits of membership can be felt by the support membership gives to one’s meditation practice and a shared sense of purpose in working together as a community to develop our practice and study. You also become a member of Shambhala Europe including access to the Shambhala Network with extra resources available for study and practice.

Membership has three key components:

1. Meditation Practice

Becoming a member is a further commitment to one’s personal path of meditation and study, as well as community practice and training.

2. Volunteering

Members take on responsibility for the well-being of the community and the spaces we use to meditate through volunteering as staff for regular events, training programs and general administration.

3. Providing Financial Support

As a non-profit organization, the Bristol & SW UK Shambhala Meditation Group relies entirely on membership dues, training program income and general donations for its financial sustainability. Membership dues provide a large percentage of our monthly income, and each member’s contribution is an investment in further sustainability and growth for the Group.

Benefits of Membership:

  • Access to a wider range of teachings through volunteering at programs
  • A personal relationship with a meditation instructor
  • Discounts on in-house talks
  • Free membership to the library

How to become a member:

To become a member,  speak to Irene ([email protected]). Once you have spoken to Irene, and you decide to go ahead,  Irene will help you complete your membership application.

Friends of Shambhala

Maybe you come to the group regularly for talks or courses and enjoy practising with others but making a commitment to Shambhala doesn’t feel appropriate for you.

However because you value the group as a resource and would like to help to sustain it, you might consider becoming a Friend of Shambhala.  This also offers some advantages e.g. free attendance at the Thursday Open House ,reduction in the cost of talks, and a Practice Calendar.  Again if you are able, a monthly donation of around £10 – £15 is suggested.

“Those who are in the sangha are warriors, because they are trying to overcome samsara. Members of the sangha support one another and care for one another. They are not perfect, but they inspire us because they are people who want to deepen their practice of mindfulness, awareness and compassion. The sangha is also a container. When we practice together, the sangha helps our discipline. We realise that there are other people around who are going through the same thing. That gives us a feeling of encouragement.”
– Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche