London Shambhala’s relationship with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

Following extensive community consultation the London Shambhala Meditation Centre has withdrawn its allegiance to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche as leader and main teacher, but not from the Shambhala community. LSMC is committed to developing as an open, democratic, inclusive and diverse organisation where all are welcome.

 

We are part of a larger international community of Shambhala Centres worldwide, founded by Tibetan teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987). This community has been through a difficult period since 2018, when his son and then head of the Shambhala organisation, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche was found to have engaged in sexual misconduct and abuse of power. Like other communities which have been through similar crises, we had a period of soul searching which led our Centre to make a formal break from the Sakyong, and also to reshape our own structures of governance, care and conduct. Other Shambhala communities have done the same, and so we remain part of a global network with a rich offering of courses and retreats.

We are emerging from this difficult time with still some shakiness, but with fresh inspiration to share the practices that can help us all to flourish despite the crises and challenges that the world is throwing us.