Become a Part of Our Community of Meditators
Membership
a welcoming community for all
Join the Portland Shambhala Center Sangha Today
The Buddha taught that there are three jewels on the dharmic path that inspire and sustain practitioners. The Buddha, the teacher, is an example of what we can become. The Dharma comprises the teachings that point out the way. The Sangha, or community of practitioners, is the third.
Within a community of meditators, our otherwise solitary practice of meditation is enriched. Together, we can share how we integrate meditation and dharma teachings in our lives. We can gain and share inspiration for overcoming challenges in applying the teachings.
The Portland Shambhala Center is a focal point for creating dharmic community. Whether you are new to meditation or a long-time practitioner, whether you are just checking us out or if you want to become an official member, you are welcome in our community!
About Membership
Our members make a commitment to practice. We plan and staff events, donate regularly so we can cover expenses like rent, and work together to create meaningful community. Our members show up for one another.
There are different ways to engage with and support our community. We welcome folks to sit with us. We are grateful for any donations to support our offerings. For those looking to connect more fully, please consider formal membership.
The Pillars of Membership
Community Makes Us Strong
Our guiding mission in Shambhala is to work together to create enlightened society by connecting to the goodness in ourselves and others and fostering kindness and bravery as the foundation of community.
Our three pillars of membership put that mission into action:
- Meditation Practice – Connecting with meditation practice, we nurture our willingness to show up and be present for ourselves and for our communities – through thick and thin. Our practice enables us to progress on the path by strengthening our ability to show up with kindness and bravery for ourselves and the world.
- Generosity Practice – Our monthly dues give back to the Center so that it can continue to share the teachings of Shambhala to all who seek them. This generosity is a way to give back to the source of the teachings that benefit us so much. This giving supports our ability to engage in our dharmic path and helps our existing sangha grow.
- Engaged Practice – Attending sangha events and offering our energy to help them run smoothly is a way to bring meditation into action as we nurture and empower the community that nurtures and empowers us. When we show up for each other, we are also showing up for ourselves and increasing our capacity to benefit all beings – in our local sangha and beyond.
“As a community we’ve come a long way in understanding how the Shambhala teachings can inform us and guide us toward more patience with and compassion for each other, regardless of the other person’s point of view.”
PORTLAND Shambhala Member
Become a Center Member
Fill out this form to officially become a member of Shambhala. It costs Shambhala Global Services $7 per member to support us, so we ask that members contribute a minimum of $10 per month. If you have any questions about membership, please reach out to our Membership Coordinator.
"*" indicates required fields
an expansive community
A Local and Global Network
Becoming a Portland Shambhala Center member also gives you active membership in the global Shambhala community.
This international network of meditation practitioners is dedicated to nurturing compassion, sanity, and human dignity around the world. We have confidence in the basic goodness and worthiness of humanity—and the power of that goodness to bring positive change.
Your membership in Shambhala powers our shared work for creating good human society around the world and links you to the global network.
Membership Benefits
Membership is a commitment to forge deeper connections – with yourself, with local sangha, and with our world.
Local Community
- Meditation Community: Meet new friends, contribute your talents, and enjoy camaraderie that helps you progress on your spiritual path.
Spiritual Deepening
- Meditation Instruction: Connect with a local Meditation Instructor for ongoing one-on-one reflection and advice on your meditation practice.
- Shambhala Video Library: Enjoy our regularly updated library of Shambhala and Buddhist teachings and guided meditations.
Your global Shambhala membership has many benefits:
Global Community
- Global Meditation Community: Link up with a global community of meditators, spiritual practitioners, and teachers.
- Global Community Gatherings: Attend events such as the Shambhala Sunday Gatherings, other seasonal practice celebrations, and stay in the know about international assemblies.
Connection and Access
- Shambhala Members’ Area: Access member resources, including online training materials and resources in Practice and Education, Governance, Leadership, and Culture.
- Regular Community Newsletters: Subscribe to newsletters with updates, news, and opportunities to participate in the Shambhala community.
- Volunteer Opportunities: There are lots of ways you can get involved.
- Access: Hear about international opportunities through the Shambhala Network.
Inspiring words from Our Members, friends, and participants
Center Voices
Discover Our Community
The Portland Shambhala Meditation Center
Serving meditation practitioners in Portland since 1982, the Portland Shambhala Center offers public meditation, spiritual teachings in the Shambhala and Buddhist traditions, and a vibrant community of fellow meditators.
Everyone is welcome in our community. Our purpose is to help people of all traditions discover their innate wisdom, by offering teachings on meditation in accord with our view that human beings are basically good.
Our Membership Tradition
The four aspects of formal membership in Shambhala Centers reflect ways to deepen your own practice and put them into action within the container of community.
meditation practice
The foundation of Shambhala membership is a commitment to your personal meditation practice. By engaging in mindfulness-awareness practice on the cushion, you strengthen your ability to be present in all areas of your life. Compassionate presence is the basis for healthy relationships and society.
Generosity in Service – Volunteering
There are many ways to practice generosity – among them is giving help where it is needed. We are a volunteer-powered organization with many ways you can contribute your time, talents, and energy to benefit the community and share the dharma.
practice through community building
Practicing meditation with others builds on our ability to present with ourselves while with others and for others. Our social events give us the opportunity to extend these practices off the cushion as we celebrate and create community events together.
Financial Generosity – Monthly Dues
When you make financial contributions to the Center, you give back to the lineage which has enriched your life with the dharma. You also support your own ability to access dharma teachings and make it possible for the dharma to be shared with more people.