What we’re about
The Boston Shambhala Center provides space and support for following a path of meditation. Our mission is to cultivate the worthiness, wisdom and compassion of individuals and society based on the inherent goodness of humanity and the natural world. Our core path is an experiential, progressive path of meditation and study, supported by a community of other practitioners, and extending to the ordinary activities of daily life. The roots of our practices are the Shambhala lineage, the Buddhist lineages of Kagyü and Nyingma, and the earth-based Bön tradition of Central Asia.
We train in meditation to better know our minds and hearts and to cultivate the qualities of openness, bravery and kindness.
Weekly Practice Events
Our center has a rich array of ongoing offerings open to the public including weekly public sitting meditation hours and dharma talks. No prior meditation experience required to attend. All are welcome. Weekly Events Information
Getting Involved
Our community and center is almost entirely volunteer run. All of our programs are staffed by volunteers, as well as our councils and committees. People from all walks of life dedicate some amount of time to support other people to sit on the cushion and become familiar with their own basic goodness. The vision of a sane and awake society begins with one simple act: Getting Involved.
Family and Children
We welcome families at the Boston Shambhala Center as a vital part of our community. Our aspiration is to have a local Shambhala community in which families gather for practice; feel included and supported. Contact us about bringing your family to the center at: info@shambhalaboston.org
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Wednesday Night Dharma GatheringShambhala Meditation Center of Boston, Brookline, MA
Wednesday Dharma Gatherings are open to community and newcomers alike.
These gatherings draw on the sangha – the third jewel of Buddhism – as a refuge and support for waking up. Depending on the week a presenter might share a key point from the classical Buddhist teachings, a memorable passage from a dharma text, a challenge or inspiration they are working with in their own path, or an exploration of putting the teachings into daily life.
The view of Shambhala is about whole-hearted engagement in life, i.e meditation in action, not separating one’s life into spiritual and secular. So how do we dig in fully and apply the teachings to our everyday lives? What can we learn from one another on the path?
Conversations will be grounded in the experience of meditation in action
Each evening includes: Brief meditation instruction and 10-20 minutes of practice, a short presentation on a dharma topic, and 30-45 minutes of open discussion
These Open House Dharma Gatherings are each Wednesday from 7-8:30pm in person at the Boston Shambhala Center.
Registration is not required – just come by. All are welcome! There is no Fee for this event. Donations are always welcome.
Learn More:
Shambhala Boston - 21st Century Suffering: Are the Four Noble Truths Still True? with Erika WiltonShambhala Meditation Center of Boston, Brookline, MA
Registration Required: Register Here
“Although we might prefer to muse about happiness and how we can get more of it, it is our blind stumbling after happiness that has entrapped us in the first place.” - The Truth of Suffering and the Path of Liberation2500 years ago, the Buddha recognized fundamental truths about the human experience. His first teaching was to share these insights, and also present a plan of action - which came to be known as the Four Noble Truths. These truths are noble because they are universally true, and understanding them leads one to liberation.
These four are:
Suffering is real
There is a cause of suffering
By understanding the cause, it is possible to end suffering
There is a path one can followOur Approach:
The Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston proudly continues the living tradition of these teachings, with a particular connection to the rich Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. As part of our Walking the Buddhist Path series, we will explore this topic with both intellect and intuition. You will learn how to engage dharma teachings, contemplate and investigate them for yourself, and ultimately grasp their underlying wisdom.
Through talks, readings, guided contemplation, self-reflection and discussions, we will explore the transformative power of acknowledging suffering in our experience, develop insight into how it is caused through confusion, and why we consistently grab the problem the wrong way around. We will look at the possibility of ending suffering and leave with tools to begin to discover freedom by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
Who should join?
This program is for those who are ready to investigate difficult truths, and willing to see their own participation in the chain of suffering. No prior study is required. Everyone is welcome, no matter what level of practice.
Resources & Preparation
Seemingly simple teachings often benefit from the insights of experienced teachers. Here are a few quality resources, some of which we will draw on during our session:
The Truth of Suffering and the Path of Liberation, book by Chögyam Trungpa
more to comeSchedule
Approximate schedule for the day will be:
10:00 - Orientation and practice
10:45 - Presentation and discussion
11:45 - Reflection and contemplation exercises
12:30 - Lunch & reading time
1:30 - Student led discussion
2:30 - Silent reflection and application
3:00 - Discussion on continued investigation
3:30 - Wrap up
4:00 - EndTeachers:
Jim Wilton is a student of Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche. He is also a student of Dzongsar, Khyentse Rinpoche and Kilung Rinpoche. He completed ngondrö as an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP and retired two years ago as a partner in Ropes & Gray’s business restructuring group. He has practiced meditation and taught Dharma classes for more than 35 years.
Erika Wilton has been a Buddhist practitioner since 1971, when her travels brought her to a Buddhist monastery in Scotland. Returning to the States she sought and met Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, becoming his student. She attended the three-month Vajradhatu Buddhist Seminary in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado in 1985, and many Buddhist seminars, training programs and retreats. In recent years she has been studying with Dzongsar Khyentse, Rinpoche, Kilung Rinpoche, and others.
Erika met her husband Jim while both were living and working at Karmê Chöling Buddhist Meditation Center in Vermont, and are the parents of an adult son. She is also a writer and an artist in various media.
