The Birmingham Shambhala Center leadership is beginning a “soft” reopening with some meditation sessions conducted hybrid (both in the Center and on Zoom), but for now most public gatherings are still closed. See below to learn which sessions are hybrid. We continue to offer remote meditation and study opportunities through Zoom.
We have missed being able to provide individual meditation instruction for new visitors and are now incorporating guided meditation as part of the Monday night meditation session!
The Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday night meditation sessions begin at 7 pm and finish at 8 pm. Thursday Compassion Practice follows meditation. Wednesday Morning meditation begins at 7:00 am.
If this is your first visit, please arrive at the Center or log in on Zoom five minutes early so we can introduce ourselves and provide some orientation.
The Zoom links for our recurring meditation and practice sessions are:
- Monday Adaptive Meditation (Hybrid)
- Monday night including guided meditation for new and experienced meditators (Hybrid)
- Tuesday night
- Wednesday morning (30 minutes)
- Thursday night including compassion practice after meditation (Hybrid)
- New: Every weekday 11-11:30 am: The Art of Health Studio, brief mind and body exercises
- Friday and Sunday night Recovery Dharma also has several weekly meetings on Zoom; their full online meeting schedule with Zoom links is on their Facebook page.
The following activities are cancelled until further notice:
- Tuesday Young Adults Group
- Sunday Unplugged
- Sunday afternoon Zen Group Meditation
In the Center, the COVID guidelines we will be following are:
- Masks will be required. People can use single or double masks.
- Cushions will be spaced. Consequently, not as many people can participate, but we don’t expect large crowds at first and will adjust procedures as needed.
- Ventilation will be enhanced: windows open, HVAC fan circulating constantly with new filters.
- Hand sanitizer will be freely available.
- Thorough cleaning of the center will take place weekly; touch up cleaning will be done as needed.
- Participants will declare they have no COVID-19 symptoms or recent exposure.
- Vaccination is desirable but not required.
May all beings be well!
Getting Started with Meditation?
The Birmingham Shambhala Center offers several supports for helping someone begin or reestablish a meditation practice. A simple way to begin is to attend any of our weeknight sitting meditation sessions. More →
New to Shambhala?
Shambhala is an international community of urban meditation and rural retreat centers founded by the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, continued by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and now led by senior teachers and an Interim Board.
Ongoing Offerings
BSMC offers a rich array of weekly ongoing offerings free to the public. No prior meditation experience required to attend. Most programs offer meditation instruction upon request. All are welcome. More →
Membership
Becoming a member of BSMC is a statement about your personal inspiration, curiosity, and commitment to the path of awakening. Shambhala operates entirely through the care and contributions of its members. We depend upon More →
Featured Programs and Events (More >>)
Full Moon Shambhala Sadhana Practice
November 28th—June 26th
The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion (Birmingham)
with Judy Lief
March 21st—June 20th
Learn to Meditate
with Marion Buckley
June 19th
