At the heart of this wisdom tradition is the view that a dignified life based on meditative understanding is accessible to everyone and can blossom into an enlightened society. Contemplative practices bring into our ordinary lives a natural sense of goodness, fearlessness, and humor.

The Shambhala and Buddhist teachings can be studied and explored in the worldwide association of meditation centers founded by Vidyadhara the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and now directed by his son and spiritual heir, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Shambhala Meditation Centers welcome anyone interested in the practice of meditation and anyone who aspires to expand the experience of gentleness and nonaggression into all areas of life.

The Shambhala community draws on a wide variety of contemplative traditions. The core practice is mindfulness-awareness meditation. Instruction follows the tradition of oral transmission from teacher to student-an unbroken lineage that goes back twenty-five hundred years.

At each Shambhala Meditation Center, senior members teach meditation and work with their students in how to join the view and experience of meditation with everyday life. Meditation instruction is available free of charge at all Shambhala Meditation Centers.

A comprehensive path of Buddhist practice and study is offered through the network of local centers.

The Buddhist tradition provides a well-defined, graduated method of developing skillful action and wisdom through meditation practice and study of the dharma.