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
The Path of Transformation
with Shastri Mark Blumenfeld
October 23rd—November 13th
An Introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism Continue »
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga - Class Series
with Clare Norelle
October 28th—November 25th
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a gentle, respectful approach to healing from trauma. Continue »
Shambhala Guide Training
with Shastri Marita McLaughlin & Shastri Deborah Zarate
November 7th—November 11th
The training will begin late afternoon on November 7 and end by 6:00 PM on November 11. This is a midwest regional training and takes place at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago. Continue »
What can we rely on? Advice from the Buddha and Atisha
with Acharya Richard John
December 13th—December 15th
Weekend program on the Four Reliances and some Lojong slogans Continue »
Upcoming Great Lakes Regional Programs
Shambhala Chicago
The Joy of Letting Go with Ani Pema Chodron
September 16th—November 30th
A new online video course from Shambhala Publications, “The Joy of Letting Go,” is led by Acharya Pema Chodron, beloved Shambhala teacher, author, and Buddhist nun. Release fear, dissolve expectations, and embrace an open-hearted life. Continue »
Cleveland Shambhala Meditation Center
Meditation In Everyday Life
with Barbara Cromer, Ann Palomo, Melissa Van
October 3rd—October 31st
Meditation in Daily Life provides an opportunity to deepen the experience and
understanding of meditation for new students. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Stepping Into Radical Responsibility
with Alan Anderson
October 5th—November 16th
View Acharya and author Fleet Maull videos and discuss his new book on turning your meditation practice into a life-changing force. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
Center Reserved for an Approved Program
October 10th—December 5th
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend
with Grace Jessen
October 10th—November 7th
In this class we will be studying Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend. Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend is a fundamental Mahayana text. Nagarjuna answers a king who wanted to know how to live a dharmic life with all his responsibilities, but it is also addressed Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
A Fall Forum for Performers
with Kirk Ferguson
October 15th—December 10th
I’m a symphony musician and I get nervous. I'm also a meditator. Praise and blame, gain and loss…these are powerful forces we all work with. Join us in exploring how we can use meditation to work with these pitfalls. This group is for performers of all ki Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Tuesday Open House: Science and Buddhism, an Alan Watts Video Presentation
October 22nd
Alan Watts was an early popularizer of Buddhism in America. He said he wished to act as a bridge between the ancient and modern, between East and West and between culture and nature. He was a self-described "philosophical entertainer."
This video, from Continue »
Shambhala Center of Madison
The Path of Transformation
with Shastri Mark Blumenfeld
October 23rd—November 13th
An Introduction to Vajrayana Buddhism Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Exploring the Sadhana of Mahamudra
with Shastri Deborah Zarate
October 26th—October 27th
In this Buddhist program we will delve into teachings of The Sadhana of Mahamudra, a terma teaching of Trungpa Rinpoche. We will get a feeling for the structure of the sadhana and work with themes within it. This program introduces an important part of Continue »
Shambhala Center of Lexington
Playing with Mandalas: Art Workshop
with Thomas Baker & Mary Sehlinger
October 26th - Date postponed or cancelled
Shambhala Center of Madison
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga - Class Series
with Clare Norelle
October 28th—November 25th
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a gentle, respectful approach to healing from trauma. Continue »
Hoosier Heartland Shambhala Meditation Group
Basic Goodness 3: What is Real? The Basic Goodness of Reality
October 28th—December 2nd
In this course with Acharya John Rockwell, participants explore the ordinary magic of reality and learn about the progressive stages of discovering non-dual perception of the elements, and thus, the nature of mind. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Columbus
Physicians Leadership Academy Alumni Retreat: The Art of Being Human
with Shastri Janice Glowski
November 1st—November 2nd
The Art of Being Human is a secular meditation program that invites participants to explore fearlessness, confidence, openness and gentleness towards themselves, others, and the world. Open to Alumni of the Physicians Leadership Academy (PLA), Columbus, Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Taoist Qigong Level 5
with Eva Wong
November 2nd—November 3rd
In Level 5 you'll continue on the path of internal and external strengthening by learning the 3 remaining Wudang Shan Five Animal Forms and completing the Immortals Guide and Red Phoenix. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
Introduction to Meditation
November 2nd
Free introductory course, open to all. Offered the first Saturday of every month. Continue »
Shambhala Center of Lexington
Making Friends with Yourself Retreat Full Week
with Shastri Shelley Heinz
November 2nd—November 9th
We will spend the week studying Pema Chodron's "Making Friends with Yourself" along with practices and contemplations. Continue »
Shambhala Center of Lexington
Making Friends with Yourself: Weekend Only
with Shastri Shelley Heinz
November 2nd—November 3rd
Weekend Only - Making Friends with Yourself Retreat Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Learn to Meditate
with Thomas Adducci
November 2nd
Ideal for beginners as well as students who want to work on stabilizing their meditation, this half day program gives you the essential techniques and reasons for meditation practice in everyday life. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Milwaukee
Shambhala Guide Training
with Shastri Marita McLaughlin & Shastri Deborah Zarate
November 7th—November 11th
Shambhala Center of Madison
Shambhala Guide Training
with Shastri Marita McLaughlin & Shastri Deborah Zarate
November 7th—November 11th
The training will begin late afternoon on November 7 and end by 6:00 PM on November 11. This is a midwest regional training and takes place at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago. Continue »
Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis
Shambhala Guide Training
with Shastri Marita McLaughlin & Shastri Deborah Zarate
November 7th—November 11th
Prepare yourself to support new practitioners on their paths. Continue »
Hoosier Heartland Shambhala Meditation Group
Hoosier Heartland Shambhala Meditation Guide Training Candidates
with Winnie Edgerton
November 7th—November 11th
Shambhala Guide Training Continue »
Shambhala Chicago
Shambhala Guide Training
with Shastri Marita McLaughlin & Shastri Deborah Zarate
November 7th—November 11th
Prepare yourself to support new practitioners on their paths. Continue »
Cleveland Shambhala Meditation Center
The Art of Being Human: Shambhala Training Level I
with Fred Schwieg
November 9th—November 10th
This introductory level of the Path of Warriorship is open to beginners and those new to meditation! Discovering basic goodness in the world and ourselves is the seed of developing confidence, gentleness, and healing from difficult situations. Continue »
