Membership

Current members:
Click here to update your monthly giving levels.

 


 

Shambhala is a global community of meditators committed to manifesting the basic sanity and wisdom of humanity personally, communally, and in society. Founded by pioneering meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the vision of Shambhala is a union of social life and spiritual wakefulness. The Shambhala Meditation Center of Washington, DC offers programs and classes in meditation, buddhadharma, contemplative arts, leadership, and sacred activism.

If you feel a connection to Shambhala, its teachings and community, we invite you to deepen your personal commitment and experience by becoming a member. As a volunteer-based non-profit organization, we rely completely on the engagement and generosity of our members.

Become a Member Today »

Current members wishing to update their giving levels, click here.


About Membership

Membership in Shambhala is an important step on the path of meditation and spiritual warriorship, providing the opportunity to deepen one’s relationship and commitment to realizing the inherent wakefulness of oneself and others, to the community of practitioners, and to the Shambhala vision for a more just and peaceful world.

Three Commitments of Membership

Shambhala membership involves three commitments designed to support one’s personal path and the community:

  1. A commitment to the regular practice of meditation, both individually and in community at the Shambhala Center. Our mutual commitment to working with our hearts and minds through meditation provides the foundation for developing compassion, warmth, and sanity in ourselves and others.
  2. A commitment to regular volunteer service at the Shambhala Center. Volunteering to support our programs and events is a powerful way to apply our mindfulness and awareness in life—“meditation in action” as Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche put it. Your wisdom, knowledge, and exertion are needed to transform the speed and aggression in this world. By volunteering and staffing programs and events, you have the opportunity to engage directly in leadership and service.
  3. A commitment to regular financial contributions to support the operations of the Shambhala Center. The monthly financial support of members is what keeps the Center open in the District of Columbia, allowing us to provide the wonderful programs we hold and to offer scholarships and discounts to participants with less financial means. We invite you to reflect on the value that the Shambhala Center’s existence has brought to your own life, and to offer in monthly contributions as much as you are able, given your present circumstances. As a recommendation to account for the different financial means of our members, we suggest starting with a monthly contribution of 1% of your monthly income.

 

Benefits of Shambhala Membership Include:

  • invitations to special member events
  • ongoing instruction and support in your practice from an authorized meditation instructor
  • membership in Shambhala International and access to the Shambhala Network (including message boards, community news, and other international Shambhala resources)
  • a Shambhala membership pin and a copy of An Introduction to Shambhala Culture
  • access to the Shambhala Center during off-hours
  • regular membership e-newsletters
  • the joy and merit of participating in the flourishing of the tradition of meditation and benefit to others

 

If you feel connected to the Shambhala Center and committed to the practice, teachings, and community we offer, we warmly encourage you to become a member.

Become a Member Today »