Resources for Helping our Sangha to Understand Current Events in Shambhala
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your interest in the Shambhala Meditation Centers of Los Angeles. Since June 2018, our worldwide Shambhala community has been going through a lot of upheaval from allegations of sexual misconduct against the Shambhala lineage holder, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. As of February 21, 2019, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has stepped back from all teaching and administrative duties in Shambhala for the foreseeable future due to findings of sexual misconduct and other reports of harm.
We have put together a virtual reading room for our community that contains a statement from the Shambhala Centers of Los Angeles, as well as some links to letters from Shambhala governance and the Sakyong, news articles, helpful blog posts and teachings. We will continue to update this page with new information as it becomes available. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
We offer this with broken hearts as we hold our sangha in kindness. Our intent is to remain in a place of openness and not-knowing, to listen to our community, and to try our best to pass on any information that we receive, even as we come together to work on holding and healing the community. These are confusing, painful, and sorrowful times for everyone.
Thank you for your patience, kindness, and understanding.
Statement by the Shambhala Meditation Centers of Los Angeles 3/7/2019
—2021—
Joint Statement from the Shambhala Board & Sakyong Potrang Board (2) 6/24/2021
Rebuttal of Matthew Remski’s Media Coverage by J. Sagebien 6/6/2021
Update from the Office of Community Care and Conduct 5/7/2021
April Shambhala Board Update 4/02/2021
Joint Statement from the Shambhala Board & Sakyong Potrang Board (1) 2/13/2021
New Code of Conduct Implementation and Recruitment 2/1/2021
—2020—
Letters from the Shambhala Board
December Update from the Board 12/16/2020
Reparative Process: Therapy & Counseling Offering 12/8/2020
Shambhala 2019 Annual Report 10/29/2020
Release of New Code of Conduct Policies 8/4/2020
Applications Open for Community Grants 7/17/2020
Retirement of Acharyas 7/8/2020
Message from the Shambhala Board of Directors 6/9/2020
May Update from the Board of Directors 5/21/2020
COVID-19 – Community Care Message 3/28/2020
Child Protection Policy (CPP) Release 3/22/2020
March Update from the Board 3/17/2020
Finance Update: 2019 Year End Summary and 2020 Budget 2/14/2020
Community Message from the Board 2/2/2020
Letters from the Process Team
April Message from the Shambhala Process Team 4/17/2020
January Update from the Shambhala Process Team 1/20/2020
Letters from the Acharyas
Letter to Community from Shambhala Acharyas 8/16/2020
Acharya Resignation Letter 7/8/2020
Letter from Ani Pema Chödrön 1/16/2020
Letter from Lady Diana Mukpo
Letter to the Sangha from Lady Diana Mukpo 7/16/2020
Letters from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
A Message from the Sakyong Regarding the Fires at SMC 9/29/2020
Upcoming Acharya Retirements 7/6/2020
Letter from the Dharma Brats
Open Letter from 72 Dharma Brats to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche 6/24/2020
—2019—
Letters from the Shambhala Board
Communication Regarding Rigden Abhisheka in 2020 at Dechen Chöling 12/29/2019
December Update from the Board 12/7/2019
Financial Report to the Community 11/17/2019
October Update from the Interim Board 10/13/2019
August Update from the Interim Board 8/21/2019
Moving Forward with Sale of Marpa House 7/30/2019
Investigación sobre el Tratamiento de los Casos de Abuso Infantil 7/26/2019
Investigation into Handling of Child Abuse Issues 7/24/2019
Recent Arrests of Former Shambhala Members 7/1/2019
June Update to the Shambhala Community 6/28/2019
Update on Marpa House from the Interim Board 5/16/2019
Further Correction to April Update 5/02/2019
CORRECTION: April Update from the Interim Board 4/26/2019
April Update from the Interim Board 4/25/2019
Financial Report to the Community 3/26/2019
Message from the Interim Board Regarding the Olive Branch Report 3/19/2019
March Update to the Community 3/9/2019
Response from the Interim Board Regarding the Kusung Letter 2/18/2019
Message from the Interim Board Regarding the Wickwire Holm Report 2/3/2019
Financial Update from the Interim Board Regarding Marpa House 2/3/2019 (log in)
Letters from the Process Team
An Update from the Process Team 11/12/2019
A Message from the Process Team Steering Committee 9/05/2019
July Update from the Process Team 7/10/2019
Update from the Process Team 6/03/2019
Update from the Process Team 5/01/2019
Community Update from the Process Team 4/04/2019
Introduction to the Process Team 3/06/2019
Letters from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
A Message from the Sakyong 12/14/2019
A Message from the Sakyong 2/21/2019
A Message from the Sakyong 2/4/2019
Letter from the Acharyas
Letter to the Community from the Acharyas 2/20/2019
Letter from Lady Diana Mukpo
Letter from Lady Diana Mukpo to the Shambhala Community 2/19/2019
Letters from the Transition Task Force
Final Letter from the Transition Task Force 1/27/2019
Process Team Announcement 1/20/2019
News Articles
The Arrest of William Karrelis 2/1/2019
Reports
Olive Branch Report 3/19/2019 (scroll down page)
—2018—
Letters from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
A Message from the Sakyong 7/10/2018
A Message from the Office of the Sakyong 7/6/2018
Letter from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to the Shambhala Community 6/25/2018
Letters from the Shambhala Interim Board
Message from the Interim Board about Shambhala Day 12/27/2018
Message from the Interim Board about the Care and Conduct Policy 12/23/2018
Community Letter from the Interim Board 11/26/2018
Introduction Letter from the Shambhala Interim Board 10/31/2018
Announcement from the Shambhala Interim Board 10/11/2018
Letters from the Transition Task Force
Update from the Transition Task Force 12/22/2018
Update from the Transition Task Force 11/2/2018
Letter from the Transition Task Force 9/21/2018
Letter from the Transition Task Force 9/13/2018
Letter from the Transition Task Force 8/30/2018
Letter from the Transition Task Force 8/18/2018
Letter from the Transition Task Force 8/7/2018
Letters from the Kalapa Council
Letter from the outgoing Kalapa Council 10/15/2018
Letter from the outgoing Kalapa Council 9/11/2018
Letter from the outgoing Kalapa Council 8/23/2018
Letter from the outgoing Kalapa Council 8/11/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council 7/30/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council 7/20/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council regarding leadership transition 7/6/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council 6/29/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council 6/27/2018
Finance Reports / Communications
Finance Report Update to the Shambhala Community 9/20/2018
Finance Report to the Shambhala Community 8/15/2018
Letter from the Shambhala Director of Finance 7/18/2018
Letters from around the Shambhala mandala
Letter from the Office of Practice and Education 8/19/2018
Letter from the Northern California Leadership 8/1/2018
Letter from Shambhala Mountain Center 7/10/2018
A Letter from the Women Acharyas 7/8/2018
Letters from An Olive Branch
Letter from An Olive Branch 9/10/2018
Letter from An Olive Branch 9/3/2018
Letter from / Introduction to An Olive Branch 7/20/2018
Letter from Ani Pema Chödrön
Letter from Ani Pema Chödrön 9/22/2018
Letters from other Buddhist Communities
A Letter from Kwong-roshi to the NorCal Shambhala Community 8/8/2018
Project Sunshine Reports
Announcement from Project Sunshine 9/28/2018
Project Sunshine Second Report
Other Resources
Shambhala Care and Conduct Policy 2015
Kay Pranis: The Art of Holding Circle—on circle practice
Buddhist News & News Articles
Lion’s Roar Report alleges sexual misconduct by leader of Shambhala community
New York Times The ‘King’ of Shambhala Buddhism Is Undone by Abuse Report
Helpful writings by Shambhala Teachers
Susan Piver On Shambhala
Ethan Nichtern Reflections on Shambhala
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche When a Buddhist Teacher Crosses the Line
A video message from Llama Rod Owens to the Shambhala Community
A video message from Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo & Lama Tsultrim Allione
Teachings
Meditation in the City with Shanté Small Holding Space, Healing Harm
Pema Chödrön No Right No Wrong
Tricycle Magazine Sex in the Sangha…Again (2013 interview)