Resources for helping our sangha to understand current events in Shambhala

Our Shambhala community has again been shocked by fresh allegations of sexual, physical and emotional misconduct occurring in the heart of our international community, including serious allegations against Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Our hearts go out to people within our international community who have been harmed, and also to people for whom these allegations have brought up past trauma.

The Adelaide Shambhala Meditation Group strongly disapproves of the destructive and abusive conduct that these reports have revealed.

Shambhala groups in Australia have held gatherings for sangha members to share and offer support to one another.  If you would like to find out about a gathering in Adelaide, please contact the Adelaide Shambhala Meditation Group coordinator, David Edwards, [email protected] .

We are committed to ensuring that all sangha members and visitors are treated with respect, dignity and care. Please see our statement below regarding Care and Conduct:

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Adelaide Shambhala Meditation Group Care and Conduct Statement

Shambhala is committed to a practice, study, and work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. It is each person’s right to be free from harassment, mistreatment, and discrimination. Each individual has the right to practice, study, and work in an atmosphere that is free from abuse of any type, including sexual, verbal and emotional abuse.

In addition to being bound individually and as a community to basic Shambhala and Buddhist standards of conduct, we are also citizens of larger communities and, therefore, must abide by public laws. These include but are not limited to laws pertaining to alcohol, drugs, and sexual conduct.

If any individual is concerned that the behaviour of a member of the Shambhala community, including any of its office holders, may not have been in accordance with this statement of principles, please contact David Edwards (Coordinator), Shastri Loretta Geuenich (Teacher) or any of our Council members: Rebecca Miller, Rebecca Chapman, Bill Gaston, Marg Hypatia.

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We are also committed to transparency, and offer the resources below to help you keep up-to-date with developments.  Our intent is to remain in a place of openness and listening to our community, and to try our best to pass on any information that we receive.

With warmth,

The Adelaide Shambhala Meditation Group Council:
David Edwards (Coordinator)
Loretta Geuenich
Rebecca Chapman
Bill Gaston
Bec Miller
Marg Hypatia

More information

If any of the information below causes you distress, please contact 1800RESPECT  or Lifeline Australia

A guide to the links

The links below are listed in chronological order of public release. For those who are not familiar with some of the terminology, here is a brief explanation:

  • An Olive Branch is the organisation Shambhala’s Kalapa Council has engaged to ‘support the sangha’s healing and reconciliation in the wake of complaints’.
  • The Kalapa Council is the governing body of the international Shambhala community. Its members are stepping down and a new leadership structure will be formed.
  • Acharyas are the most senior teachers in Shambhala, other than the Sakyong.
  • Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the ‘temporal and spiritual director’ of Shambhala. He has ‘stepped aside’ from his duties as the investigation is underway.
  • Project Sunshine consists of two reports by Andrea Winn that alleges sexual misconduct within Shambhala.

More detailed information including frequently asked questions and regular updates are available from websites hosted by the Interim Board (https://board.shambhala.org/) and the Process Team (https://shambhala-process-team.org/)

Correspondence and reports

Update from the Process Team 10:7:19

Update from the Interim Board 1:7:19

Update from the Interim Board 30:6:19

Update from the Process Team 3:6:19 

Update on Marpa House 16:5:19

Further correction to April update 2:5:19

Update from the Process Team 1:5:19

Correction: April update 26:4:19

April update from the Interim Board 25:4:19

Community update from the Process Team 4:4:19

Finance report to the community 26:3:19

Reports from an Olive Branch 20:3:19

March Update from the Interim Board 9:3:19

Message from the Sakyong 22:2:19

Letter to the Community from the Acharyas 20:2:19

Response to Kusung Open Letter from the Interim Board 18:2:19

An Open Letter to the Shambhala Community from Long-Serving Kusung 18:2:19

A message from the Sakyong 4:2:19

Update from the Interim Board including Wickwire Holm report 4:2:19

Update from Transition Taskforce 23.12.18

Update from Shambhala Interim Board 26.11.18

Update from the Transition Taskforce 2.11.18

Introduction letter from Shambhala Interim Board 31.10.18

Letter from the Kalapa Council 15.10.18

Letter to the Shambhala community: Ani Pema Chodron 22.9.18

Update from the transition taskforce 21.9.18

Finance Report – update to the community 20.9.18

Kalapa Council update and investigation information 11.9.18

Olive Branch: correction to Listening Post Announcement 10.9.18

Olive Branch: Listening Post open 3.9.18

Update from the Transition Taskforce 30.8.18

An Olive Branch update 23.8.18

Outgoing Kalapa Council response to recent allegations of misconduct 23.8.18

Phase 3 Buddhist Project Sunshine report with new allegations 23.8.18

Community Offerings from the Acharyas 18.8.18

Nomination Process for the Interim Board and Process Team 18.8.18

Finance Report to the Shambhala Community 16.8.18

Update and Investigation Information 12.8.18

Update from the Transition Taskforce: 8.8.18

Kalapa Council Community Update: 3.8.18

Letter from the Kalapa Council regarding Leadership Transition Announcement 30.7.18

Adelaide Shambhala Meditation Group letter to community 23.7.18

Olive Branch Introduction to Shambhala 20.7.18

Investigation Process

Kalapa Media Update 14.7.18

Letter from Shambhala Mountain Centre 10.7.18

Letter from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche 10.7.18

Letter from the Women Acharyas 8.7.18

A Message from the Office of the Sakyong 6.7.18

Letter from the Kalapa Council regarding leadership transition 6.7.18

Letter from the Kalapa Council 29.6.18

Letter from the Kalapa Council 27.6.18

Letter from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to the Shambhala Community 25.6.18

An Olive Branch Website

Shambhala Care and Conduct Policy 2015

Project Sunshine First Report

Project Sunshine Second Report

Helpful writings and teachings 

Ethan Nichtern Reflections on Shambhala

Susan Piver On Shambhala

A video message from Lama Rod Owens

Meditation in the City with Shanté Small  Holding Space, Healing Harm

Tricycle Magazine  Sex in the Sangha…Again (2013 interview)

Pema Chödrön No Right No Wrong