Founded in 1971 by the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, now under the direction of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles (formerly known as Dharmadhatu) is a place for the practice of meditation, study of Buddhist and Shambhala teachings, and enjoyment of the community, known as sangha.

The teachings offered at SMCLA are comprised of the three wisdom streams of the Kagyü and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and the wisdom of the Shambhala lineage. For more information about the source of the teachings visit shambhala.org.

SMCLA offers weekly classes, weekend workshops, and single-evening programs in Buddhism and the Shambhala path. Meditation sessions are open to the public and free of charge. Individual meditation instruction, also free of charge, is offered during the public meditation sessions.

[Sangha] is group spirit and group sanity, which is transmitted constantly. [...]Relating to the sangha means that things are not stuck in a bottle neck situation anymore. The Kagyu tradition, which is my tradition, always works with that concept of sangha, or community, as group spirit, group sanity. And that's what we are doing here, too, in our community. Sangha is group sanity as opposed to group encounter.

--Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

So this is really a time of sangha, of community. In terms of what we are as a community, as practitioners of Shambhala buddhadharma , and how we can help the world, I think that one of the important elements is that we can be inspiring to others. Obviously, we have many inspiring teachers. But what might be most effective is if individuals in the community can get together and live cohesively and enjoy each other's company. Obviously, the world is getting smaller. Shambhala vision is how we can work together. The community should have a sense of pride about being who we are. We should be able not only to get along, but also to be able to flourish.

The Tibetan word for sangha, gendun, means "those who are engaged in virtue." At the basis, virtue really means always being concerned about others. A community is people who are engaged in virtue together. […] What is the best way to do this? Always thinking about others. In fact, it is said that if we can accomplish the welfare of others, our own wishes are immediately or simultaneously accomplished.

--Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

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Shambhala Meditation Center of Los Angeles
963 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Tel. 323 255 5472 Email:

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