Halifax Shambhala Centre

Halifax Shambhala Centre Committed to offering teachings on meditation with the view of fundamental worthiness and goodness.

04/25/2026

During these challenging times of politically polarized society, rational and caring conversation may seem next to impossible. Is it somehow safer and easier to remain silent? How can we connect with true empathy for self and other?

In this series of weekly classes, you will be introduced to the principles of nonviolent communication (NVC), the work of psychologist Marshall Rosenberg.

Through practice, games, and breakout discussions we will directly experience an awareness of the universal human needs that connect us. This “dance” of connection can move us from withdrawal and isolation into life enriching relationship with one another.

📆 Tuesdays, May 19, May 26, June 2, and June 9 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm

🎟️ Open tuition: you decide what to pay (suggested donation $40).

💬 Ron Renz has been studying and practicing NVC since 2012 and is currently a candidate for trainer certification with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (cnvc.org). Ron is a member of the Halifax Shambhala Centre.

Learn more and register at halifax.shambhala.org/calendar

Kyudo, the Way of the Bow, is one of the oldest arts of the Japanese tradition of contemplative warriorship. The aim is ...
04/02/2026

Kyudo, the Way of the Bow, is one of the oldest arts of the Japanese tradition of contemplative warriorship. The aim is not the target, but synchronization of awareness and body in the present moment.

April 19th is your chance to begin a lifelong journey with the practice.

🏹 This introductory program is suited for beginners and experienced students from age 13 on. Beginners will spend the entire time learning the complex formal movements, and will release an arrow at the end of 4-6 more classes on consecutive Sundays.

‼️ You must attend consecutive classes to get to First Shot. Please make sure to visit the dojo on a previous class to this date, so you understand what is entailed. Classes take place every Sunday from 5pm to 7pm, with 4:30pm arrival for set-up.

🎟️ The program cost is $90 (generosity policy applies) for all classes until the student takes their first shot. Instruction, as well as practice equipment, supplies, Kyudo booklet, and tea & snacks are included. Partial scholarships are available—don’t hesitate to reach out to kozankyudo@gmail.com.

For more information and to register, visit halifax.shambhala.org/calendar.

Liz Richardson will be performing her acclaimed solo show UNCONFINED on Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18 at the Hal...
03/27/2026

Liz Richardson will be performing her acclaimed solo show UNCONFINED on Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18 at the Halifax Shambhala Centre.

UNCONFINED is based on the remarkable true story of a prisoner who, during his eighteen years on Death Row, became an accomplished visual artist and a dedicated Buddhist practitioner.

Liz’s show appeared Off Broadway in NYC for three weeks in December 2023 at 59E59 ST. Theatre. This salon performance runs for an hour followed by a Q&A and reception.

📆 April 17 and 18 (salon performance starts at 7:00pm, Q&A and reception at 8:00pm)

🍎 Light refreshments will be served during the reception

🎟️ Fundraiser for the Halifax Shambhala Centre

Learn more at halifax.shambhala.org/calendar

Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to enjoy the teachings we have received.The feast will include a video tea...
03/26/2026

Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to enjoy the teachings we have received.

The feast will include a video teaching of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, poems and announcements about a new book release. Some meat, torma, sake and fizzy water will be offered as part of the feast.

📆 Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm

💚 Open to all

🍴 Everyone is encouraged to bring a sharable potluck food offering (salads, vegetables, breads, cheeses, meats, or sweets). We also encourage bringing your own dish, cutlery and glass, in order to simplify our clean up after the feast.

Enjoy taking pictures? Ready to slow down and unplug from digital media?Charles Blackhall and Dr. Kerry Crofton will lea...
03/24/2026

Enjoy taking pictures? Ready to slow down and unplug from digital media?

Charles Blackhall and Dr. Kerry Crofton will lead a two-part workshop, helping participants slow down, tune in, and truly connect with their senses and the luminosity of our everyday world.

On the first Tuesday, you'll learn how to calm and focus distracted minds with Zen meditation, and about contemplative photography.

Over the following week, you'll enjoy aimless wandering with any digital camera or smartphone, then share these images at our next meeting.

📆 Tuesdays, April 14 and 21, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm Atlantic Time
📌 In-person at the Halifax Shambhala Centre or online via Zoom
🎟️ $50
➡️ Pre-registration required

Learn more and register at halifax.shambhala.org/calendar

Train your mind to become more awake in the world individually and more open to the world outside.Students will learn th...
03/19/2026

Train your mind to become more awake in the world individually and more open to the world outside.

Students will learn the meditation technique known as "sending and taking"; a meditation practice for transmuting and purifying suffering in the world. The Training the Mind book elucidates slogans for everyday life that can answer questions both absolute or existential and relative to one's daily life. The slogans guide the young meditator on a contemplative spiritual path that transforms one's personal habitual patterns and biases.
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📅 Mondays, April 13, 20, 27 and May 4 from 6:30-8:00 pm

🧘‍♀️ This Training the Mind book class is led by Cathryn Stein Abato, who met Chogyam Trungpa in 1972; M.A. Tibetan studies, 1975.
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➡️ Students are encouraged to participate during the 5-6pm meditation session in the main shrine hall before the Monday class at 6:30. If you have not had meditation instruction, please indicate that on your registration.

🎟️ This series is offered without a fixed cost and is supported by donations. Please pay what works for you.

The Future is Open by Chogyam Trungpa explores the development of insight through contemplative practice and contemplati...
03/16/2026

The Future is Open by Chogyam Trungpa explores the development of insight through contemplative practice and contemplative interaction. It covers karma in everyday life – including work, s*x, and money – and karma in connection with the Buddhist understanding of rebirth.

In this book class led by Trudy and David Sable, we'll explore Karma and Compassion in our contemporary world. Across five workshops, participants will get to experience short presentations, sitting meditation, physical space awareness exercises, and transformative learning exercises with each other. Grounded in basic mindfulness meditation, we contemplate how deeply rooted patterns and beliefs about reality can shift, leading to recognition that the future is actually open.

Previous book classes in this format have led to a sense of connectedness and supportive community for many participants.

📅 Workshop Dates:
Thursdays, April 16, 23, 30, May 7th @ 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
& Saturday, May 9th @ 10:00 PM - 3:00 PM

🎟️ Suggested Donation: $35
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➡️ Pre-requisite: All participants should have some familiarity with mindfulness meditation, whether it is with another tradition or Shambhala Buddhist. This class is for students who have already been introduced to basic meditation and are trying to apply it to their daily lives. Exceptions can be made, but we would need to vet them.

Learn more and register at halifax.shambhala.org/calendar

Are you an active Meditation Instructor or would you like to become active again? ⁠⁠Join our second gathering on March 2...
03/11/2026

Are you an active Meditation Instructor or would you like to become active again? ⁠
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Join our second gathering on March 21! We'll be exploring how we move forward together, namely around three topics:⁠
1) How we can best serve as MIs for the newer students who are coming to the Centre now;⁠
2) What issues new students are facing that we want to be aware of; and⁠
3) How we see what we are inviting new students to be a part of.⁠
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This will be an open discussion to draw out our collective wisdom, not a presentation.⁠
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📅 Saturday, March 21 from 9:30am - 12:00pm⁠
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🍵 Tea and snacks will be served⁠
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🎟️ Free to attend⁠
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Learn more at halifax.shambala.com/calendar

Join us for our third weekend of meditation, talks, conversation and community! Joseph Letvin, former Dean of Shambhala ...
03/09/2026

Join us for our third weekend of meditation, talks, conversation and community!

Joseph Letvin, former Dean of Shambhala Training in Halifax, hosts Shambhala Training Level 3 from March 13 to 15. We'll deepen our experience of meditation as the basis for daring to extend our practice of fearlessness and gentleness into our daily activities.

We'll train in becoming more open to feedback from our world and more inquisitive about how we can help others. Prepare to shift from simple mindfulness of your present experience to a larger awareness of the ebb and flow of your emotions, our environment, our society. ⁠
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📅 Weekend Training Dates:
Friday, March 13, 6:30-8:30 pm
Saturday, March 14, 9 am-noon, 1:30-5 pm
Sunday, March 15, 9am-noon

🥯 Come early to enjoy a light breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.

🎟️ Suggested Donation: PWYC⁠
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➡️ Pre-requisite: Birth of the Warrior, Weekend #2 in the series (aka Level 2), except people with Shambhala Training experience who are willing to do some reading and meet with a teacher before the weekend may be invited to attend.
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Learn more and register at halifax.shambhala.org/calendar

The Sadhana of Mahamudra, for everyone, will be practiced together in the Main Shrine Room of the Halifax Shambhala Cent...
02/03/2026

The Sadhana of Mahamudra, for everyone, will be practiced together in the Main Shrine Room of the Halifax Shambhala Centre at 9:00am, followed by tea and coffee and a stroll to Karma Changchub Ling on Young Ave.

There will be plenty of time to gather and chat over coffee and tea ☕️

You're also invited to bring baked goods or light refreshments to share!

Festivities will include:

- 108 gongs

- Outdoor lhasang

- Annual I-Ching reading

We look forward to raising lungta—and our glasses—with you all!

Please join us in celebration and gratitude.

More info at halifax.shambhala.org/calendar

Siddharthas’s practical priority was to get to the bottom of suffering. These teachings are not a grandiose intellectual...
01/30/2026

Siddharthas’s practical priority was to get to the bottom of suffering.

These teachings are not a grandiose intellectual philosophy to be read and then shelved, but a functional, logical view that can be practiced by each and every individual.

The four seals (or marks of existence) are secular truths based on wisdom.

As such, this class is open to all, regardless of spiritual or secular identification.

Feb 23 - March 23
Monday evenings @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Each Wednesday evening we meditate, read, contemplate, and discuss Suzuki Roshi's teachings as seen in his published lec...
01/21/2026

Each Wednesday evening we meditate, read, contemplate, and discuss Suzuki Roshi's teachings as seen in his published lectures.

Anyone is welcome to join at any point, no need to have the book or to have read anything before arriving.

Suzuki Roshi, author of Zen Mind Beginner's Mind, was a great inspiration to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of Shambhala. He described meeting Suzuki Roshi as suddenly finding another spiritual father. Much of the culture and aesthetics within Shambhala stem from their friendship.

This series is supported by donations. We ask only that you pay what works for you.

Address

1084 Tower Road
Tower Road, NS
B3H2Y5

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3am
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+19024201118

Website

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