Resources for Helping our Sangha to Understand Current Events in Shambhala

Many of you know that reports regarding harm and sexual misconduct by the Shambhala lineage holder, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and other leaders have recently come to light.  This information is bringing up many conflicting emotions for our teachers, leaders, students and community friends. On February 21, 2019, the Sakyong sent a letter to the international Shambhala community indicating that he would step back from his teaching and administrative roles for the forseeable future.

We offer the information below as a resource to allow transparency to our community and friends regarding the situation as it is unfolding. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.  As new resources become available we will continue to add them to this page.  Please check back over the coming months as matters proceed. 

INDEX:

• Communications from the Shambhala Board (including Interim Board)
• Communications from the Process Team
• Communications and resources from Seattle Shambhala Leadership
• Finance Reports & Communications
• Communications from Shambhala International
• Communications from the Sakyong
• Communications from An Olive Branch
• Communications from the Transition Task force
• Other Reports
• Other Resources
• A new Ethics Policy and Grievance Procedure is in the process of development.  When it has been distributed we will add it to this page.

 

Important highlights

• A Message from the Sakyong 2/21/2019
• Seattle Shambhala Statement of Principles and Commitment
• Shambhala Community Care Website
• A Letter from Ani Pema Chodron 1/16/2020
• Process Team Website
• Olive Branch Reports 3/19/2019
• Wickwire Holm Report 2/3/2019
• Shambhala Care and Conduct process, 2015 (currently under revision)

 

Communications from the Shambhala Board (including Interim Board)

• A Message from the Shambhala Board 6/9/20
• May Update from the Board 5/21/20
• COVID-19 – Community Care Message 3/28/20
• Child Protection Policy (CPP) Release 3/22/20
• March Update from the Board 3/17/20
• Community Update on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) 3/13/20
• Community Message from the Board 2/2/20
• Announcement of new Shambhala Global Services (SCS) Staff 1/30/20
• Important Information about Grants and Board Nominations 12/30/19
• Communication Regarding Rigden Abhisheka in 2020 at Dechen Chöling 12/29/19
• Shambhala Community Fund 12/16/19
• Board Nomination, Details and Process 12/12/19
• Director of Community Care and Conduct position funded, announcement 10/26/19
• October Update from the Shambhala Board 10/13/19
• August Update from the Interim Board 8/21/2019
• Moving Forward with the Sale of Marpa House 7/30/2019
• 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 5/16/2019
• April Update from the Interim Board 4/25/2019
• Olive Branch Reports 3/19/2019
• March Update to the Community 3/9/2019
• Response to Kusung Letter 2/18/2019
• Wickwire Holm Report 2/3/2019
• Process Team Announcement 1/20/2019
• December Update to the Community 12/30/2018
• Message from the Interim Board About Shambhala Day 2019 12/27/2018
• Care and Conduct Update 12/23/2018
• Community Letter from the Interim Board 11/26/2018
• Introduction of Shambhala Interim Board 10/31/2018
• Announcement of Shambhala Interim Board 10/11/2018

Communications from the Process Team

• Message from the Process Team 4/17/2020
• January Update from the Process Team 1/20/2020
• July Update from the Process Team 7/10/2019
• Update from the Process Team 6/3/2019
• Update from Process Team 5/1/2019
• Community Update from the Process Team 4/4/2019
• Process Team Introduction to the Community 3/6/2019

Communications & Resources from Seattle Leadership

• A Letter from your Practice and Education Team 2/22/19
• Seattle Shambhala Call to Action 2/22/19
• Response to ex-Kusung Letter 2/19/19
• Shrine Photos Decision 10/10/18
• Reaching out to you for feedback 9/12/18
• A message regarding shrine photos at our center 9/4/18
• A letter from the Governing Council: commitments moving forward 9/3/18
• A letter from the Governing Council 7/5/18
• A Letter from the Governing Council 3/11/18
• Seattle Shambhala Statement of Principles and Commitment

Finance Reports & Communications

• Seattle Shambhala 2019 Community Finance Update 2/17/2020
• Finance Update: 2019 Year End Summary and 2020 Budget 2/14/2020
• March Finance Report from the Interim Board 3/26/2019
• Finance Update from the Interim Board 2/1/2019
• Seattle Shambhala 2018 Community Finance Update 11/30/2018
• Finance Report Update to the Shambhala Community 9/20/18
• International Finance Report to the Shambhala Community 8/15/2018
• Letter from the Shambhala Director of Finance 7/18/2018

Communications from Shambhala International

• Upcoming Acharya Retirements 7/6/2020
• Letter to the Community from the Acharyas 2/20/2019
• A message from the Kalapa Council 10/15/2018
• A Letter from Ani Pema Chodron 9/22/2018
• Update and Investigation Information 9/11/2018
• Letter from Shambhala International in response to most recent allegations 8/23/2018
• Community Offerings from the Acharyas 8/18/2018
• Letter from the Kalapa Council regarding transition task force & interim board, dated July 30th
• A Letter from the Women Acharyas 7/18/2018
• Letter from Shambhala Mountain Center 7/10/2018
• A Letter from the Women Acharyas 7/8/2018
• 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
• Community Update from the Kalapa Council 3/6/2018
• Letter from the Kalapa Council addressing harm 2/12/2018
• Shambhala Care and Conduct process, 2015 (currently under revision)
• Shambhala International Community Care page

Communications from the Sakyong

• A Message from the Sakyong 12/14/19
• A Message from the Sakyong 2/21/2019
• 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
• A Message from the Sakyong 2/4/2018

Communications from An Olive Branch

• Correction to Listening Post Announcement 9/10/2018
• Regarding the Listening Post via An Olive Branch 9/3/2018
• Update from An Olive Branch 8/23/2018
• Letter from An Olive Branch 7/20/2018
• An Olive Branch website

Communications from the Transition Task force

• Final Message from the Transition Task Force 1/27/2019
• Update from the Transition Task Force regarding the Process Team 11/2/2018
• Update from the Transition Task Force 9/21/2018
• Update and Process Team Information 9/13/2018
• Update from the Transition Task Force 8/30/2018
• Update from the Transition Task Force 8/18/2018
• Update from the Transition Task Force 8/7/2018
• The Transition Task Force website

Other Reports

• Open Letter and Statements from Ex-Kusung 2/16/2019
• Buddhist Project Sunshine Home Page
• Buddhist Project Sunshine News Service

Other resources

• A Letter from Ani Pema Chodron 1/16/2020
• A talk from Khandro Rinpoche to the Shambhala Community
• Video: Lama Rod Owens: Working with Sexual Misconduct in the Shambhala Community Part 1
• Video: Lama Rod Owens: Working with Sexual Misconduct in the Shambhala Community Part 2
• Susan Piver: On Shambhala
• Ethan Nichtern: Reflections on Shambhala
• A video message from Lama Rod Owens to the Shambhala Community
• A video message from Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Lama Tsultrim Allion

If you have questions about this page, please contact [email protected]