Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston

Address: 646 Brookline Ave, Brookline, MA 02445

Years Active: 1971–Present

Tradition: Shambhala Buddhism

The Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston was founded in 1971 by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche as one of many meditation centers aligned with the lineage of Shambhala founded by Rinpoche. Shambhala Buddhism is a meditation and study heritage that draws on the teachings of the  Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. These teachings include understanding the origins of suffering as well as the remedy for suffering, the continuous practice of compassion, and engaging in meditation practices that help foster the realization of one’s inner goodness. Central to Shambhala teachings are the ideas that “personal liberation is not separate from social liberation” and that by recognizing the basic goodness within everyone, “we can work together to create a better world.” Shambhala is a not-for-profit organization and most meditation centers are almost entirely volunteer-run. 

The Boston Shambhala Center is meant to be a supportive space to engage in meditation. The mission of the Boston Shambhala Center “is to cultivate the worthiness, wisdom and compassion of individuals and society based on the inherent goodness of humanity and the natural world.” The center holds to the belief that any coming together of people is imbued with “intrinsic sacredness.” The center hopes to be a space that is welcoming for all who wish to explore their spiritual journey. The code of conduct of the Boston Shambhala Center clearly prohibits discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, disability, and other protected categories; it also emphasizes  respect for others, respect for the environment, making the community and its teachings accessible, and recognizing one’s privilege as aspects of good conduct. 

As part of cultivating respect for people of different backgrounds, the Boston Shambhala Center clearly professes the idea that no identity category should be seen as definitive for any individual. The center, drawing from Buddhist teachings, commits itself to “ending cycles of suffering caused by… structures of racism, patriarchy, materialism, and many other -isms and -phobias.” The Center draws on the teaching of Rev. angel Kyodo Williams, a Black mixed-race Zen woman priest, that we should not “use meditation to avoid pain and confusion of social challenges, but to deepen our capacity to meet them directly.” As part of this commitment, the Boston Shambhala Center works to dismantle patterns of domination, recognize that there is no neutral position, and support the healing of trauma. This work includes subgroups that focus on antiracist action, inner work, and education—including screenings, book talks, community gatherings, and programs addressing unconscious bias and cultural humility. 

The Boston Shambhala Center hosts an LGBTQ+ meditation group on the evenings of the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. The group aims to “provide a welcoming environment for individuals of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity” who are interested in exploring Shambhala Buddhism with the goals of learning how Buddhist teachings can be incorporated into everyday life and cultivating friendliness. The groups are structured as meditation practice followed by discussions on a suggested topic. 

Sources and Further Information: 

https://boston.shambhala.org/ 

https://shambhala.org/ 

https://revangel.com/ 

Relevant Pages: 

https://boston.shambhala.org/lgbtq/

Entry written by Peter Goswami in 2026.