“The world is in absolute turmoil. The Shambhala teachings are founded on the premise that there is basic human wisdom that can help solve the world’s problems… Shambhala vision teaches that, in the face of the world’s problems, we can be heroic and kind at the same time.”
–Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
In the center of the nation’s capital lies the Shambhala Meditation Center of Washington, D.C., where practicers go to gain a deep understanding of an Americanized form of Buddhism. The center welcomes anyone and everyone, and strives to be the peace and kindness-promoting place on which it’s name is based.
Shambhala is the Sanskrit word for “place of peace.” This magical kingdom is said to appear when the world is in misery, and will lead to a “Golden Age.” Such a place has been depicted in many religious texts, and is said to be accessible to those who have accumulated good karma. While physically reaching the kingdom is extremely rare, meditation and mindfulness can allow an individual to reach this utopia-esque place through the mental and physical peace they gain through their practices.
Pictured above: a depiction of the Shambhala kingdom
The Shambhala teachings are centered around the idea that “every human being has a fundamental nature of basic goodness.” All living beings have the capacity to create good for the world, and can do so by having a wholistic view towards our earth’s challenges. It is necessary to look not only at the issues facing human beings, but issues facing our environment as well. The Shambhala Vision claims that courage, generosity, and kindness are key elements in combatting challenges, and deems a society based on these values to be an enlightened society.
Through Shambhala, an individual learns to benefit their mind and the world, as practice is centered towards compassion and kindness towards others and oneself. The major issues practitioners of Shambhala Buddhism address center around the overarching goal of Shambhala teachings: discovering and maintaining our nature of goodness. The most prominent issue discussed is the harm we are causing ourselves and the earth due to being influenced by the three poisons (ignorance, hatred, and greed). Community members acknowledge that indulging in aggression, desire, hatred, greed, materialism, and ignorance will not lead to peace and happiness. Instead it is essential to meditate and act on loving-kindness and compassion to reduce problems facing people and the environment.
Chogyam Trungpa
Shambhala meditation was founded by the meditation master, Chogyam Trungpa (1939-1987). Born and raised in Tibet, Trungpa was a teacher of Kagyu Buddhism who dedicated his life to spreading his teachings far and wide. Amongst his many achievements was bringing Tibetan Buddhist practices to the West, and reshaping the practices into an accessible, Western form for persons of any religious background to experience.
In 1959 at twenty years old, Trungpa was forced to leave China after the communist party seized leadership over Tibet in 1950. Such tumult inspired his practice of meditation and self-reflection, and in pondering the issues facing Tibet, Trungpa became inspired by Shambhala and believed it’s teachings could solve society’s problems. During this tumultuous time, he escaped to India before moving to the United Kingdom in 1963. While in the UK, Trungpa studied philosophy, fine arts, and religion at Oxford University. Four years later he moved to Scotland and created the first Western Tibetan Buddhist practice center: the Samye Ling meditation center. Shortly after in 1969, the incredibly driven and hard-working Trungpa published his first book (of fourteen) titled Meditation in Action.
Still dedicated to spreading Tibetan Buddhism, the newly married Chogyam Trungpa brought Buddhism to the United States in 1970. He created several meditation centers in the US, the first location being in Vermont. His career in the US, and other regions in North America (including Nova Scotia), was significant as he spent a great portion of his life traveling and teaching Buddhist practices to Americans. His ability to present material in a way that was comprehensible to those raised in the West was unique and played a large role in his popularity. Another lasting impact Trungpa had on the US was his establishment of the first Buddhist higher education center, Naropa University, in 1974. The university’s overarching goal continues to focus on the combining of classic religious practices and teachings with newer methods of education.
The foundation of Chogyam Trungpa’s teachings are from his early lessons in the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu and Nyingma schools, with the heaviest influence arising from his self-reflection, meditation, and study of Shambhala Buddhism. The Kagyu school has a heavy emphasis on meditation, while the Nyingma school is based on old, classic Buddhist scriptures. Trungpa’s achievements in spreading Buddhism throughout North America continued until his death in April 1987. His legacy has lived on, though, as Shambhala meditation communities continue to grow and educate North Americans.
Washington, D.C.’s Role in the Shambhala Community
The Shambhala community as a whole is composed of a diverse group of people from around the globe, with the majority of communities being in Europe and the United States. The communities are located on six continents in over 50 countries, with 220 centers and groups. In addition to physical centers being located worldwide, there is also a vast online community welcoming anyone and everyone to the practice of Shambhala meditation. This online community requires each individual to register, and offers members the unique opportunity to interact with Shambhala communities across the globe.
The Shambhala Center of Washington, D.C. encapsulates the inclusive atmosphere that the worldwide community strives to project: people of any race, religion, and sexuality are welcome to practice. The center even provides resources for non-locals, in dedicating a section of their website to hotels and restaurants in the area.
While membership is required to be part of the Shambhala community, the D.C. center offers an open public sitting on the first and third Sundays of each month. During these sittings, participants gain instruction in meditation and are provided a chance to practice. The practices on the first Sunday are tailored toward a wider audience than the class on the third Sunday, as the session focuses on newcomers to meditation, children, families, and ill persons. Meditation practices are also available during the week (excluding Wednesdays and Fridays) to anyone, including non-members. Monday and Tuesday meditation times do not include instruction, though Thursdays offer a “Learn to Meditate” program for beginners.
When becoming a member of the Shambhala Center of Washington, D.C.’s community, one is exposed to numerous programs including The Way of Shambhala, Meditation, the Children and Families Program, Contemplative Arts, Maitri Bhavana, and Kyudo. The Way of Shambhala is a training comprised of five courses, five weekend retreats dedicated to Shambhala training, a weekend retreat on unconditional confidence, a “Basic Goodness series,” and a Sacred Path series consisting of six weekend retreats. The Contemplative Arts sessions offer the opportunity to merge culture and art through flower arranging, archery, photography, and writing. Loving-kindness is practiced through the Maitri Bhavana program, where an emphasis is placed on the physically and mentally ill during the meditation. The Children and Families Program includes what is offered on the first Sunday of every month. In addition to this, the Shambhala Center of D.C. holds celebrations that include activities that appeal to kids. The events celebrated include Shambhala Day, Shambhala Arts Day, Midsummer’s Day, Harvest of Peace, and Children’s Day. Lastly, Kyudo (meaning “the Way of the Bow”) is practiced on Sundays from 11am-1pm. This class teaches Zen archery, and is a form of standing meditation, which is said to provide the participating individual with dignity and confidence.
Aside from the local and online community, the Shambhala Center of D.C. offers an opportunity to be part of the Dorje Kasung–a group that promotes a safe and comforting environment for Shambhala instructors and followers. Those within this group may do tasks such as gatekeeping, transporting teachers, controlling crowds during events, assisting in rituals, and providing crisis intervention. The Dorje Kasung motto is “Victory over War,” meaning that through loving-kindness and wisdom one is able to acknowledge the presence of the three poisons (such poisons being ignorance, hatred, and desire).
Behind the scenes of the Shambhala Center of Washington D.C. are a team of volunteers. Anyone can be a volunteer, and it is required of all members. Opportunities to help at the Center include cleaning, managing the Center’s blog, shopping for food for upcoming programs, greeting practitioners for public sittings, and helping with set-up and clean-up on Shambhala Sun Day. Beneficence for the Center is a venerable duty, but never a chore, as it enriches one’s experience and is a major player in creating an enlightened society.
In being part of a community that promotes love, kindness, peace, and compassion, the Shambhala Center of Washington, D.C. continues to accept every individual that steps foot on the property. Their impact as part of a worldwide Buddhist community is predicted to thrive and expand as we delve into the future.
By Anna DeGarmo
Works Cited:
Holloway, A. (n.d.). Mysteries of the Kingdom of Shambhala. Retrieved from http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/mysteries-kingdom-shambhala-001529
Shambhala – Making Enlightened Society Possible. Retrieved from http://shambhala.org/
Bodhi Path: The Kagyu Lineage. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bodhipath.org/lineage/
Shambhala: Making Enlightened Society Possible (Washington, D.C.). Retrieved from http://dc.shambhala.org/