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 - Opening the Heart: The Buddhist Practice of Compassion with Austin Seeley & AnnShambhala Meditation Center of Boston, Brookline, MA
Register Here: Shambhala Boston
“All the joy the world contains has come through wishing happiness for others.
All the misery the world contains has come from wanting pleasure for oneself.”
— Santideva
Compassion is a central teaching on the Buddhist path, yet it is often misunderstood.
Buddhist compassion is not simply about being nice or self-sacrificing, nor is it about feeling pity for others from a place of superiority. Instead, compassion is practiced as a way to wake up, to free oneself from the narrow, self-centered mindset of "I, me, mine."
In Buddhism, compassion is practiced at eye level—rooted in warmth and free from self-reference. It opens the heart without placing oneself above or apart from others.
In this workshop, we will explore the classic Buddhist meditations known as the Four Limitless Ones. These contemplative practices cultivate an unconditioned wish for all beings—including friends, strangers, and even those we find difficult—to be happy, free from suffering, filled with joy, and released from destructive emotions like passion and aggression.
By uncovering a mind of openness and generosity, we begin to see a much wider world—one in which we are not the central figure. This shift in perspective becomes the foundation for genuine, compassionate action in our everyday lives.“Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source of both inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species."
— Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama
Our Approach:
2500 years ago, the Buddha recognized fundamental truths about the human experience. 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.
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.
![Family Practice [In Person] cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/f/4/7/event_514023911.webp "Family Practice [In Person]")
