Resources for Understanding Current Events in Shambhala

Dear Shambhala Friends,

In the spirit of openness, it feels important to let new as well as longstanding community members know that this is a deeply challenging time in Shambhala. During the week of June 25th, allegations regarding the past conduct of the Shambhala lineage holder, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, were released to the public. These allegations are bringing up many conflicting emotions for our teachers, leaders and students.

The Shambhala community and its leadership, both locally and globally, are attempting to process these allegations, and an independent third-party investigation has begun. Although we are not able to provide answers to all of the questions that are coming up, we would like to support you through open-hearted listening. Please feel free to contact Charley Rosicky, our representative for Societal Health & Well-Being, at [email protected] (he will respond via email or by phone as you like). If you prefer to speak to a woman, Charley will gladly arrange that. We’re now creating a contact list of additional local resources for listening and will post that list soon. You are also welcome to contact Melanie Klein, BSC’s Executive Director, at [email protected] or 303.444.0190 x125.

As more information comes to light, we will share it with you—you can join our email list on our homepage. We will also continue to offer the community conversations we have held since the #metoo movement met Shambhala last March with its implications for necessary cultural change—including better awareness and support for the diversity of our students. Our priority is to hold each other with kindness and safety. We do not tolerate sexual or other abuse at BSC and have protective policies in place to preclude such harm. We are here to support you and your journey on the path of meditation, confidence, and compassion.

With sad and open hearts,
Melanie Klein, Executive Director, and All the BSC Staff

Resources for Helping our Sangha to Understand Current Events in Shambhala

Here are several links to relevant letters, articles, and teachings. We will update this page with new information as it becomes available. The list is not intended to be exhaustive. We offer this with broken hearts as we strive to 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.

Interim Board: October Update from the Interim Board 10/13/19
Process Team: A message from the Process Team Steering Committee 9/5/19
Interim Board: August Update from the Interim Board 8/21/19
Interim Board: Moving Forward with Sale of Marpa House 7/30/19
Interim Board: Mid-Year Financial Report to the Community 7/29/19
Interim Board: Investigation into Handling of Child Abuse Issues 7/24/19
Interim Board: June Update to the Shambhala Community 6/28/19
Process Team: Update from the Process Team 6/3/19
Interim Board: Update on Marpa House, 5/16/19
Interim Board: Further Correction to April Update, 5/2/19
Process Team: Update, 5/1/19
Interim Board: April Update Correction, 4/26/19
Interim Board: April Update, 4/25/19
Process Team: Community Update, 4/4/19
Interim Board: Reports from An Olive Branch, 3/19/19
Interim Board: March Update to the Community, 3/9/19
Process Team Introduction to the Community, 3/6/19
A Message from the Sakyong, 2/21/19
Letter to the Community from the Acharyas, 2/20/19
Letter from Lady Diana Mukpo, 2/19/19
Interim Board: Response to Kusung Letter, 2/18/19
An Open Letter to the Shambhala Community from Long-Serving Kusung, 2/16/19
A Message from the Sakyong, 2/4/19
Interim Board: Wickwire Holm Report, 2/3/19
Shambhala Transition Task Force: Ongoing Communications
Interim Board: December Update to the Community, 12/30/18
Interim Board: Message about Shambhala Day, 12/27/18
Interim Board: Care and Conduct Update, 12/23/18
Interim Board: Community Letter, 11/26/18
Kalapa Council: Reflections and Farewell, 10/15/2018
Shambhala Transition Task Force: Announcement of Shambhala Interim Board, 10/11/2018
Shambhala Transition Task Force: Update and Process Team Information, 9/13/2018
Shambhala Online: Relevant Teachings, including Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown’s Talk on the Four Reliances
Women Acharyas: Community Offerings from the Acharyas, 8/18/2018
Shambhala Transition Task Force: Nomination Process for the Interim Board and Process Team, 8/18/2018
Shambhala Department of Finance: Finance Report to the Community, 8/15/18
Shambhala Transition Task Force: Update from the Transition Task Force, 8/7/18
Kalapa Council: Community Update, 8/3/18
Kalapa Council: Leadership Transition Announcement, 7/30/2018
An Olive Branch: Introduction to the Shambhala Community, 7/20/2018
Kalapa Council: Investigation of Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, 7/20/2018
Buddhist Project Sunshine Update, July 19, 2018
Message from the Shambhala International Director of Finance, 7/18/2018
Kalapa Media Community Update, 7/13/2018
Update on the Findings of Sexual Misconduct of the Sakyong, 7/10/2018
Letter from Shambhala Mountain Center, 7/10/2018
A Message from the Sakyong, 7/10/2018
A Letter from the Women Acharyas, 7/8/2018
A Message from the Office of the Sakyong, 7/6/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council regarding Leadership Transition, 7/6/2018
Letter from the Kalapa Council, 6/29/2018
Project Sunshine Second Report, 6/28/18
Letter from the Kalapa Council, 6/27/2018
Letter from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to the Shambhala Community, 6/25/2018
An Olive Branch Website
Project Sunshine First Report
Shambhala Care and Conduct Policy 2015

Susan Piver: On Shambhala
Ethan Nichtern: Reflections on Shambhala
A video message from Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Lama Tsultrim Allione