Mut, Would, friendliness
About Shambhala
Shambhala is an international community of meditators, who share the vision, an appreciative one, open, to realize fearless society.
Our community – called Shambhala today – was founded in the 1970s by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and united the teachings of the Kagyü- and Nyingma schools in Tibetan Buddhism with Japanese Zen and other contemplative traditions and art forms in a comprehensive studies- and practice of mindfulness-immensely meditation.
The basis of the Shambhala teaching is, that every person has fundamental goodness and wisdom. This basic nature of human beings can be awakened by meditation and made visible in everyday life, so that they are on family, Friends, community and society radiates. Then we can work together positively, and create a good coexistence.
Shambhala brings people of all faiths, Phases of life and social classes together, to learn, to be kind to ourselves and others. We are committed to this, to create a society, that brings out the best in each of us.
The Shambhala Meditation Center Vienna
The Viennese center was one of the first Shambhala centers in Europe. It was founded, als Lady Diana, The wife of the Shambhala founder from the British nobility, Learned as one of the first women at the Spanish Riding School.
The non -profit association Shambhala Meditation Center Vienna has existed since 1986 and is a member of the Austrian Buddhist religious community and the mobile hospice. The association's surgical and financial buildings are independent of Shambhala Europe and Global/USA and are determined in accordance with the Austrian club law at the local level.
The Shambhala Meditation Center Vienna follows the transmission line of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (CTR) and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche (SMR) In the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the Kagyü and Nyingma line and the Shambhala tradition. The practice also includes Mudra- and Maitri space awareness, Kyudo and a number of contemplative arts like Ikebana, Miksang photography and others. The meditative practices of Shamatha/Vipashyana (Mindfulness/awareness) As well as the application of meditation in everyday life are the common basis of all these traditions.
The Shambhala center also sees itself as part of civil society and as an open space, In all the contemplative disciplines mentioned with mutual respect, Tolerance and appreciation can be followed up independently of each other.
The attitude of the fundamental goodness, The vision of the great eastern sun and the practice of illuminated society are kept up as a common basis. Under “Enlightened society” we understand a good and appreciative cooperation, that respected a variety of views based on fundamental well -being of all living beings.
The members of the Shambhala Center in Vienna are committed to a guards, considerate, careful and friendly dealings with each other and with all people, who are in any way in contact with the Shambhala Center Vienna. The one developed within the organization of Shambhala "Shambhala behavioral code" (Code of Conduct) serves as a guideline, to which the Shambhala Center Vienna has also committed.
The most important sources of the Shambhala teachings
Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa (1939–1987) – The visionary behind the Shambhala tradition was an outstanding Tibetan teacher and founder of the Shambhala tradition. As a carrier of the Kagyu- and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, he combined the deepest wisdom of these traditions with a unique skill, to make them accessible to the modern Western world.
Even as a child he was recognized as Tülku - a reincarnated teacher. His training was rigorous and comprehensive: He was considered a scholar, spiritual practitioner, Trained teachers and administrators. Even before his 20. He was abbot of several monasteries and governor of a large region in Tibet.
He fled after the Chinese invasion 1959 from Tibet under dramatic circumstances. Four years later he began an extraordinary mission in the USA: He dedicated his life to the task, to bring the living teachings of meditation and wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism to the West.
In the following decades, Trungpa Rinpoche founded over 100 Meditation centers, several retreat centers and Naropa University – the first Buddhist-inspired college in the USA. At the same time he wrote numerous books, in which he understood it masterfully, to translate the timeless essence of Buddhist teachings into a language, inspires people worldwide.
Trungpa Rinpoche was not only a teacher and writer, but also artists. His writings, Artworks and photographs demonstrate a deep understanding of humanity and creativity.
More about his work, You can find out about his art and writings here: [Link to biography].
Sakyong Mipham
Sakyong Mipham became 1962 born in India and spent his early years in a refugee camp with his mother. This is where he started, to study Buddhism. With 7 Years ago he came to the West into the care of his father Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He received teachings and empowerments from great Tibetan teachers. After his father's death he moved 1987 to Nepal, to study with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche for several years. In the year 1990 he took over the leadership of Shambhala. In the following years he contributed significantly to the growth of the community and the spread of the teachings. He wrote inspiring works like “Like the wide space: The power of meditation” and “Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind”, which have inspired many people worldwide on their spiritual path and shown new perspectives. Sakyong Mipham supports the Kunchok Foundation (named after his Tibetan mother) Schools and orphanages and the construction of a school for monks in Surmang, Tibet.
2018 Sakyong Mipham came under criticism, when allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power from his youth came to light. He publicly apologized and eventually resigned from all administrative and teaching duties within the Shambhala organization and moved to Nepal with his wife and three daughters.
Shambhala is now self-governing, independent community, who maintains and passes on the teachings of the Shambhala path.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche conducts his work as a teacher from Nepal through his own organization, the Sakyong Potrang, fort.
Pema Chödron
Pema Chödrön is one of the best-known and most popular teachers of meditation and Buddhism. Her teachings have inspired millions of people worldwide - with a clear message: With peace and compassion we can overcome difficult times. Her charming and down-to-earth manner is particularly appreciated, to make Tibetan Buddhist wisdom understandable and accessible to Western people.
In her thirties, Pema traveled to the French Alps, where she met Lama Chime Rinpoche. She studied with him for several years and became 1974 ordained as a novice. She later received her full ordination from His Holiness, dem 16. Karmapa, in Hongkong.
1972 she met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, their most important teacher. At Lama Chime's recommendation, she deepened her practice with him and stayed until his death 1987 his student. Trungpa's teachings deeply shaped Pema's understanding of meditation and compassion.
1984 she moved to rural Nova Scotia, You have, to run Gampo Abbey – the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery for Western practitioners.
Pema has authored several inspirational books, u.a.:
- “When everything collapses”
- “Be there, where you are”
- “No time to waste”
- “The places, that scare us”
- “Living with peace in times of war”
More about Pema Chödrön and her teachings:
[website]
Cooperation
Chögyam Trungpa was a pioneer of Tibetan Buddhism in the west. He undertook a cultural translation of the extensive Tibetan-Buddhist tradition, To make them alive in a western context. During his teaching, he made relationships with many spiritual teachers from different traditions, like zen, Kyudo and Kado, And forms from these traditions have become an integral part of the Shambhala community today.
He made close friendships with Suzuki Roshi, the founder of the Zen Center in San Francisco, Sowie mit Kobun Chino Roshi und Jakusho Kwong Roshi in Nordkalifornien, With Maezumi Roshi, the founder of the Zen Center in Los Angeles, And with Eido Roshi, the abbot of the New York Zendo. Kyudo master Shibata Sensei also became an important teacher for the community.
As the founder of the Naropa Institute. Many forms have from it, Practices and offshoots developed, including calligraphy, Photo, Theater and creative writing.
Our teachers in Vienna (alphabetically last name)
Ingrid Hoffellner
Wien
Practiced for almost 30 years in Shambhala. She has been teaching for more than 20 Years of Shambhala training, Shambhala and Buddhist courses and seminars.
Ingrid loves it,
Ikebana (Japanese floral arrangement) and Miksang (contemplative Photographs) to
practice, and the Dralas (awake energy around us) to explore.
This is your particular interest, how we can connect with our reality through direct perception.
Ingrid is an architect (now in retirement) and lives in Vienna. For years she has been working mainly in the study + practice area at the Shambhala Center in Vienna.
Stefan Kapeller-Mercado
Vienna surroundings
has been since 2009 Disciple of the Shambhala lineage and since 2019 Meditation instructor.
In addition to the Shambhala teachings, he is interested in Zen Buddhism, Qi-Gong and body-based mindfulness experience.
He also co-coordinated the Shambhala youth group in Vienna during his student days, was an active Kasung and led the monthly Shambhala Sadhana in Vienna for several years.
Stefan lives in the Vienna area, is married, has a daughter and works as a doctor.
Sabine Kuen-Fillapher
Weissenbach a.d. Triesting
has been practicing meditation in various traditions since her youth. Already in puberty, a time full of questions and uncertainties, began her search for a deeper understanding of life. 1995 she found her way to the Shambhala tradition, which became an integral part of life for her and her family.
Sabine is involved in Shambhala, among other things. for the youth- and family offering and teaches both Shambhala- as well as Buddhist courses and seminars. Your focus is on that, to slow down the mind and consciously experience the carousel of thoughts.
Professionally, she is a teacher and school counselor with a focus on mindful pedagogy and “new authority” and particularly enjoys working with young people and parents.
She lives with her husband in southern Lower Austria and has three adult children.
Gernot country note
Wien
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Karin Schenz
Wien & Gampo Abbey
Karin is since 2012 at Shambhala Vienna and completed the Hinayana and Mahayana path in Shambhala.
Since 2018 She spends a lot of monastic time in Canada in Gampo Abbey, the only monastery of the Shambhala tradition, under the spiritual direction of Pema Chödron.
Nina leads
Wien
Ninas Weg begann mit geführten Meditationen über Apps in den eigenen vier Wänden.
Später interessierte sie sich für die Vipassana-Meditation nach der Tradition von S. N. Goenka.
Während der Corona-Pandemie begegnete sie erstmals der Wiener Shambhala Sangha und den Lehren von Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, die sie sofort tief ansprachen.
Seitdem meditiert sie regelmäßig bei Shambhala, koordiniert Programme und engagiert sich im Team, das die offenen Sitzabende im Amidazentrum an den Montagen organisiert.
Nina ist zudem Teil des Teams der Meditationsunterweiser:innen in Wien.
Beruflich ist sie als Radiologin in einem Wiener Krankenhaus tätig.
Peter Nowak
Wien
Peter met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche 1985 for the first time and attended the last three-month seminar, that he taught Trungpa.
He has three grown children and worked 35 Years in the reform of the health system.
By developing strategic initiatives in close collaboration with the Austrian Ministry of Health, he had a rich training ground for creating an enlightened society – with and without success.
He had many roles in his home Shambhala Center in Vienna, has been since 1986 Meditation instructor, was from 2020 bis 2024 on the board of Shambhala Global and during this time also part of the Shambhala Europe Advisory Board. Only in recent years has he begun to teach more in Shambhala.
Otto Pichlhöfer
Wien
Otto Pichlhöfer schätzt sich glücklich, dass er persönlich mit Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche studieren konnte.
After his death, he set his studies with various teachers of the Kagyü- and NyingMA traditions continue.
His most important spiritual connection always applied to the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, to which he always returned.
As a householder yogi, the Shambhala-Weg became its main form of "meditation in everyday life".
He has two daughters, who also practice Buddhism, and lives in Vienna, Where he works as a general practitioner.
Mathias pongrácz
Wien & Switzerland
Mathias “stumbles” since almost 40 years along the path of Dharma. In the early 1980s he studied and served with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche 16 As an Acharya for years (Senior teacher) in the Shambhala tradition for his son Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. He also dedicated himself to Zen practice under the guidance of Kobun Chino Roshi and works as a teacher in his lineage.
Mathias teaches MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and studied with Jon Kabat-Zinn, even before MBSR became widespread in France.
For many years, Mathias has been leading Zen-, Buddhist and secular meditation retreats in Austria, Belgium, Hungary and France.
He currently leads the Zen Buddhist Felsentor Retreat Center in Switzerland.
Sabine Putze
Wien
Sabine had the first contact with teachings from Chögyam Trungpa 1984 and has been practicing the mindfulness-in-face meditation in the Shambhala since then- and in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.
1986 She attended the three-month retreat program “Seminary” with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and has been since 1987 Meditation instructor. She attended the first Maitri space awareness program
1989 in Germany. 2022 she was a co-teacher for the first time, after years of assistance in Maitri programs and
Co-teacher in Mudra Mandala programs (Connection mudra & Maitri-Praxis) in Poland and France.
She has been since 20 years of teaching Mudra space awareness.
Sabine worked as a doctor and teacher. She has 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
Our administration in Vienna (alphabetically last name)
The Shambhala Meditation Center Vienna is one non -profit organization. It is guided by one Voluntary board, who has one term of two years and is elected by the general assembly.
Gerhard Blasch
Finance
Ingrid Hoffellner
Praxis & Studies
Sabine Kuen-Filafer
Stv. Chairwoman
Gerlinde Lunzer
Association & Code of Conduct
Franz Nowak
accounting
Hannah Nowak
Chairwoman, IT
“After extensive meditation alone in the living room, I discovered a place called the Shambhala Center, where I learn a lot about meditation and have the opportunity, to share my experiences, and in a very low-threshold way.”
SABINE, 62
Where are we??
Locations
The Shambhala Meditation Center is currently rented at two main locations.
Please pay attention to that “Venue” in the event description!
Meditation for you, Your loved ones and society
Meditation = wegbeamen? No, look!
Shambhala Vienna is a place, where people can grow and practice together,
How you can contribute to a better world in your personal environment and beyond.
Your support enables us, to reach and inspire many people from all income layers.