a place to connect
The Portland Shambhala Meditation Center
from tibet to portland to you
Shambhala in Portland
The Shambhala teachings are for using meditation not just to benefit ourselves, but also to create just human society. In Tibet, an ancient legend says that the ruler of a kingdom called Shambhala asked the Buddha for teachings to benefit an entire kingdom. These teachings explain how to use dharma practice to create good human society based on compassion.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and meditation master, adapted these teachings for a modern context. Along with his students, he created the Shambhala Trainings, which express the profound wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism in a form directly relevant to our modern lives.
Students of Trungpa Rinpoche moved to Portland in 1977 and founded the Portland Shambhala Center in 1982. Since then, we’ve empowered hundreds of meditators in our community with these practical, secular teachings and techniques. We look forward to sharing them with you!
AT THE HEART OF EVERY STEP WE TAKE
Our Mission
Our community gathers around Shambhala vision: that we all share a fundamental nature of basic goodness. This nature can be expressed in our daily lives so that it inspires our family, friends, community, and society.
In this time of great difficulty for ourselves, society, and the planet, practicing together to develop our innate kindness and confidence can help make society more compassionate, sustainable, and just.
Our Code of Conduct
The Shambhala Code of Conduct 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.
Please familiarize yourself with these policies and resources, located on the Code of Conduct Hub Website. If you have a concern about something you have experienced in Shambhala, please read “What to do if you have a concern.”
Meet the People Supporting the Portland Shambhala Center
Our Team
John
Center Director
John has been a student in Shambhala since 1975, and has played many different roles in the Boulder, Colorado and Portland (since 1999) centers, from sweeping floors to teaching. He is fluent in Spanish and English, having grown up in Puerto Rico. He likes jazz, technology, and tries to bicycle to the gym regularly.
Janie
Programs & education
Janie found her way to meditation in 2011 after a Pema Chodron book helped her through a bad break-up. She fell in love with Shambhala’s ecumenical approach, its emphasis on basic goodness and creativity. She holds the Friday night meditation group and serves on our local board. She is passionate about transformative sociocultural change, restorative justice, psychology, spoken word poetry, and community jam sessions.
Ben
Operations Manger
Ben studied Music and Performing Arts at Naropa University from 2011-2015. He has maintained a vigorous arts and mindfulness practice informed by the teachings of Trungpa and the Naropa community since then. He enjoys making electronic music, contact improv dance, creative writing, and taking his daughter on long hikes.
Carol
Finance director
Carol became curious about Buddhism during many trips to Asia over the years, particularly attracted to the open and welcoming nature of the communities she visited. She has served as the Portland Shambhala director of practice and education, bookstore manager, and financial assistant, as well as Shambhala guide and course leader. Her worldwide travels continue, with a home base in Portland, Oregon.
David
programs & education
David started a regular meditation practice in Boston 30 years ago. He has been active in the Portland Shambhala Center for over 20 years, and is currently a teacher, a meditation instructor, and coordinator of the Tuesday night open house talks. David loves the outdoors and frequently joins or leads the Drala Hikes.
Allison
Membership
Alison brings her enthusiasm and joy to our community. She began her Shambhala and meditation journeys in 2016, and has been fortunate to study at two of Shambhala’s land centers, Karme Choling and Drala Mountain Center. She is a violin teacher to people of all ages and also plays with the Chehalem Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra in Newberg, Oregon.
1971
Chögyam Trungpa teaches Budhadharma
Escaped Tibet in 1959,
studied and taught
in India, England, and USA
1982
Portland Students Form a Dharma Study Group
Began regular meditation practice in basements, attics, and rented spaces
1995
Flourished at Carnegie Library Building
Expanded 3 times and sought to purchase our own building
2020
Gave Up Our Space & Moved Online
Lost members and programs due to COVID and leadership controversies
2022 to now
Both Online and In Person
Revived meditation, classes, and retreat traditions in hybrid form
Visitor Information
Plan Your Visit
At this time, all of our events are online unless otherwise indicated on our calendar. There is a consistent Zoom link for our regularly scheduled practice offerings (check the calendar for that link and for variations in our schedule).
Some of our events require registration on the event program page linked from the calendar. In those cases, you will receive a zoom link or other details as soon as you register.