Welcome!
The Shambhala Meditation Center of Madison is part of an international community of urban meditation and rural retreat centers led by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Our center, located in Madison’s Willy Street neigborhood, offers public meditation several times a week, a core curriculum of Buddhist and Shambhala teachings, as well as training in advanced contemplative practices.
New to Shambhala?
Shambhala is an international community of urban meditation and rural retreat centers led by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Shambhala Vision is rooted in the principle that every human being has a fundamental nature of basic goodness. This nature can be developed in daily life so that it radiates out to family, friends, community and society. Learn more.
Weekly Open House
This weekly dharma gathering is a perfect introduction to the Shambhala Buddhist teachings and an opportunity to connect with other practitioners. It begins with a group meditation practice, a talk by one of our senior teachers, discussion, and a reception. Meditation instruction is also offered to beginners. Learn more.
Upcoming Madison Programs
Conversations that Matter
August 21st—November 20th
Come to Shambhala Center on Tuesday evenings to practice, share and converse. Continue »
Meditation in Everyday Life
with Lisa Cappelli
September 12th—October 10th
Meditation in Everyday Life Continue »
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga - Class Series
with Clare Norelle
October 8th—November 5th
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a gentle, respectful approach to healing from trauma. Even if you’ve never done yoga before and don’t own any yoga clothes, you can do this. Continue »
Refuge Vow Class
with Shastri Mark Blumenfeld
October 9th—October 23rd
Class to prepare for taking the Refuge Vow to become a Buddhist Continue »
Rigden Weekend Preparatory Class
with Shastri Mark Blumenfeld
October 16th—October 23rd
Study Class for Rigden Weekend Continue »
Upcoming Great Lakes Regional Programs
Shambhala Center of Madison
Conversations that Matter
August 21st—November 20th
Come to Shambhala Center on Tuesday evenings to practice, share and converse. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
Meditation in Everyday Life
with Patrick Dallas
August 28th—September 25th
A five week introductory course. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Fearlessness In Everyday Life
with Shastri Deborah Zarate & Steven Shippee
September 12th—October 10th
Learn to working with, and relating to your fear. We don't need to let fear grip us, we can sit with fear and other strong emotions so we relate with them without suppressing or acting out. Continue »
Shambhala Center of Madison
Meditation in Everyday Life
with Lisa Cappelli
September 12th—October 10th
Meditation in Everyday Life Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
The Art of Meditation Instruction
September 13th—October 18th
This is the fourth of the online courses required to update/renew our skills as Shambhala Path Meditation Instructors. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Meditation In Everyday Life
with Akiba Barberousse & Stephen Burns
September 27th—October 25th
Learn about peaceful abiding meditation, basic goodness, and how meditation practice can improve the quality of our daily life. By deepening our experience and understanding of ourselves through meditation, we can more fully become who we are. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Shambhala Training Level 3; Warrior in the World
with Shastri Deborah Zarate & Sarah Osborne
September 28th—September 30th - Date postponed or cancelled
If you’re a Level II graduate, take the next step with us in furthering our meditation practice and study of the Way of Shambhala. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Healing Harm For Vibrant and Just Community: Exploring Social and Personal Power
with Acharya Charlene Leung & Miriam Hall
September 28th—September 30th
This weekend program aims to create a brave and caring space to explore our blind spots, fears, and other emotionally charged topics that arise when we look more closely at socially constructed hierarchy, personal and social power and how they affect us Continue »
Shambhala Center of Lexington
Refuge Vow Class
with Lucia Gilchrist & Marian Judith Broadus
September 29th
Hoosier Heartland Shambhala Meditation Group
Level IV - Awakened Heart - Bloomington
with Shastri David Stone & Winnie Edgerton
October 4th—October 6th
With trust in basic goodness and daring to experience the sharp edge of reality, we move forward with gentleness, increased awareness, and inquisitiveness about the world, as it is. We can extend ourselves to others fully and with kindness.
With trust in Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
WHAT CAN WE RELY ON? Advice from The Buddha and Atisha
with Acharya Richard John
October 6th—October 7th
Where can we find stability? Can we find some sense of ground in our groundless situation? The Buddha and Atisha provide heart advice. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
Introduction to Meditation
October 6th
Free introductory course, open to all. Offered the first Saturday of every month. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Learn to Meditate
with Dan Kaemmerer
October 6th
If you are new to meditation and would like to try it, this is a class for you! The instructor will walk you through the techniques of meditation and offer practical ways to incorporate it into your life. However, meditation instruction is not just for Continue »
Hoosier Heartland Shambhala Meditation Group
Level V - Open Sky - Bloomington
with Shastri David Stone & Winnie Edgerton
October 7th—October 8th
Communicating with the world gently and fearlessly, our awareness is sharpened and we find the open clear sky of mind—a delightful source of wisdom and uplifted energy. We trust our nature enough to let go into the present moment. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
The Trekchö Instructions of Yeshe Tsogyal
with Acharya Richard John
October 8th
For Shambhala Tantrikas. In the 8th century CE, Yeshe Tsogyal had a vision in which Vajrayogini gave her these pith instructions for practicing trekchö, known as “cutting through to primordial purity.” Continue »
Shambhala Center of Madison
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga - Class Series
with Clare Norelle
October 8th—November 5th
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a gentle, respectful approach to healing from trauma. Even if you’ve never done yoga before and don’t own any yoga clothes, you can do this. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony
with Acharya Richard John
October 9th
Bodhisattva Vows will be given by Acharya Richard John. Candidates are required to have taken the Refuge Vow on a previous occasion. Continue »
Shambhala Center of Madison
Refuge Vow Class
with Shastri Mark Blumenfeld
October 9th—October 23rd
Class to prepare for taking the Refuge Vow to become a Buddhist Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Refuge Vow Ceremony
with Acharya Richard John
October 9th
This is traditionally open to anyone who understands the nature of the vow and sincerely wants to become a Buddhist. Candidates need to take preparatory class offered by the Center. Everyone must meet with an MI and study the Refuge Sourcebook. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Book Club: Awakening Together
October 10th—November 7th
Open to All. We will contemplate the book "Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community" by Larry Yang. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
New Meditators Group
with Barbara Wolkowitz
October 12th
Looking to connect with other meditators? Join us for New Meditators Group on Friday evening. We will explore issues related to meditation practice, especially for people of all ages who are newer to meditation. Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Shambhala Training Level II: The Warrior Awakes
with Thomas Adducci & Dr. Timothy Pedigo
October 13th—October 14th
This is the 2nd course in the Shambhala Training series. Having experienced a taste of basic goodness, we want to go forward. Meditation practice allows us to observe how we create a cocoon of habits to mask our fear. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
Shambhala Training Level I: The Art of Being Human
with Patrick Dallas
October 16th—November 7th
Opening to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, we begin to see our potential as genuine and compassionate human beings. Beginners are welcome to this introduction to the Shambhala path. Continue »
Hoosier Heartland Shambhala Meditation Group
Wisdom in Everyday Life--Bloomington
October 16th—November 13th
Ashe Acharya John Rockwell teaches this five-session course. Meditation sharpens our intelligence and uncovers our wisdom. When we touch the world directly, we discover ordinary magic. No longer deterred or depressed by obstacles, we can include everythin Continue »
Shambhala Center of Madison
Rigden Weekend Preparatory Class
with Shastri Mark Blumenfeld
October 16th—October 23rd
Study Class for Rigden Weekend Continue »
