See our upcoming programs below, or browse by category using the menu.
Please celebrate with us at our Grand Reopening,
September 18-19!
Subject to changes in city and state rules, Shambhala Chicago Center will be reopening for in-person events, classes, and gatherings beginning with our Grand Reopening, Sept. 18-19. Drop into the Center anytime between 10am – 4 pm for two full days of activities. We will offer meditation sessions, Shambhala arts demonstrations, tours, and talks and discussions on appreciating life sanely. Explore our mindfulness bookstore and enjoy connecting with other practitioners. For more details and registration, go to this site.
We have deployed an upgraded ventilation system, with UV virus-zapping filters, and will be requiring masks and social distancing per local directives.
Check out the schedule of events here.
Welcome to the Shambhala Chicago Meditation Center!
For almost 50 years, the Shambhala Chicago Meditation Center has offered Chicagoans the opportunity to work with their minds and hearts through mindfulness meditation. Our mission is to inspire and awaken compassionate society through personal and collective transformation.
We offer public meditation classes, mindfulness workshops, and a wide range of teachings from the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. There is something for everyone, whether you are completely new to meditation or an experienced practitioner.
Featured Programs
Sunday Morning Meditation and Discussion ONLINE
with Alice Dan
September 19th—October 24th
Weekly group meditation (sitting and walking) with guided instruction, Dharma reading and discussion. Continue »
Heart of Recovery®
September 19th—October 24th
The Heart of Recovery® is a group meeting at the Shambhala Center focused on sharing support while bringing together contemplative practice and a commitment to sobriety. Continue »
Queer Dharma
September 19th—October 24th
Queer Dharma is a weekly meditation group where LGBTQIA+ people can form a non-judgmental community while deepening our meditation practices based on openness, curiosity, and gentleness. Continue »
Sadhana of Mahamudra ONLINE
with Alice Dan
September 20th—December 19th
All are welcome to this full moon Vajrayana practice. Please join us! Continue »
Tuesday Evening Meditation ONLINE
with Barbara Wolkowitz & Ann Shillinglaw
September 21st—October 26th
Looking for a virtual meditation group where you can drop in when you like or attend regularly and get to know other meditators? Instruction in meditation and mindfulness skills. Continue »
Be, Awake, Create: An Introduction to Shambhala Art
with Rebekah Younger
September 27th
Enhance your awareness using the creative process and meditation. Continue »
Shinrin-Yoku - Forest Bathing Walk
with Alison Paul
October 2nd
Join us for a short Forest Bathing walk at nearby Burnham Wildlife Corridor. Continue »
Coming to Your Senses - One-Day Workshop in Mindful Creativity
with Rebekah Younger & Paul Romejko
October 9th
Coming to Our Senses explores the fertile ground of connecting to our sense perceptions and meditative mind for creative expression. In person only. Continue »
Contemplative Photography: Picture of Mind
with Larry Wolf
October 14th
This six-week workshop explores the making and viewing of photographs as an expression of inner vision. On Zoom. Continue »
When Bad Lands: The Hard & Brilliant Path of Waking Up to the World As-It-Is
with Alan Anderson
October 16th
Spiritual practice doesn't mean improving ourselves, it means facing ourselves. This class is presented by Alan Anderson based on his book, "When Bad Lands: How Not to Numb Out, Freak Out, or Bottom Out--Buddhist Style“ In person & zoom. Continue »
Igniting the Heart: Awakening Compassion to Transform Your World
October 17th—November 21st
An angry mind sees an angry world. Using the Buddhist teachings on the six realms of existence, these video talks given by Pema Chödrön teach us how to work skillfully with strong emotions. In person. Continue »
Shambhala Training Level I: The Art of Being Human
with Shastri David Stone
October 22nd—October 23rd
This program captures the heart of Shambhala—the view that human beings are fundamentally good and awake and that this capacity can be cultivated and strengthened through meditation, reflection and personal conduct. Free Fri eve talk. In person & zoom. Continue »
