Study Activities

1 Participation in Buddhist study activities

Graph

Figure 1

Table

Table 1

Have you ever participated in a teaching or study related to Buddhism?
N = 1,277
Response	Percent
Yes, I have	95%
No, I have not	4%
Not sure	2%

Almost all the survey respondents have participated in some form of Buddhist study.

2 Sources of Buddhist teaching study activities

Graph

Figure 2

The ordering in the chart reflects which approaches were most widely used across the community.

Table

Table 2

Study patterns among those who participated in Buddhist study activities
N = 1,164 respondents participated in at least one study activity
Source of study activities (all selected)	Percent participating
A Tibetan Buddhist teacher not directly associated with Chögyam Trungpa	57%
A teacher from a non-Tibetan Buddhist tradition	24%
A Shambhala group or centre, a Shambhala land or retreat centre, or Shambhala Online	77%
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, as supported by the Sakyong Lineage Support Team	23%
A community associated with Chögyam Trungpa, but not under the auspices of Shambhala Global, for example Ocean/Chronicl	29%

In this question, survey respondents could check as many sources as applied to them. The sources of Buddhist study that respondents have engaged with are notably diverse. While over three quarters have studied Buddhism at a Shambhala location, well over half have studied with a Tibetan Buddhist teacher outside the Shambhala environment, and nearly a quarter with a teacher outside Tibetan Buddhism. Almost 30% have explored Buddhism within Chogyam Trungpa’s tradition but outside Shambhala. Almost one quarter study with Sakyong Mipham.

3 Participation in Shambhala Path programs

Graph of ever participating

Figure 3

Graph of which levels

Figure 4

Nearly 90% of respondents have participated in a Shambhala Path program, and over 80% have participated in more advanced study. A majority have participated to Warrior Assembly or beyond. This reflects that those who have responded to the survey include more longer-term Shambhala members.

Table of which levels

Table 3

What was the most advanced Shambhala Path program that you participated in?
N = 1,122
Shambhala levels	Percent that participated
Levels 1-4	12%
Shambhala Training Level 5	7%
Some or all of the Sacred Path program	10%
Golden Key	12%
Warrior Assembly	17%
Post Warrior Assembly	42%

What studied by generation

Figure 5

While it is clear that longer term members have generally studied at a more advanced level, of the members and friends who have been with Shambhala for at least nine years, nearly 30% have not studied beyond Shambhala Training Level 5.

A substantial majority, over 80% of the longest term participants have studied beyond Warrior Assembly. However, only 40% of those who first came to Shambhala between 1990 and 2007 have done so, and only a tiny portion of those joining after 2007 have done so.

A substantial majority of surveyed members report having participated in a Shambhala Path program at some point.

4 Interest in continued study

Figure 6

Interest in continuing Shambhala Path studies is high across all levels of prior study. Those at intermediate levels often express the strongest desire to advance further.

5 Availability of guidance resources

Table 4

Availability of guidance sources
Source	Useful	Somewhat useful	Not useful or don't know	N
A sangha or community member whom I respect	82%	15%	4%	1,154
A meditation instructor in the Shambhala community	55%	25%	20%	1,121
One or more teachers connected to Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche	71%	19%	9%	1,150
Books by Chögyam Trungpa	77%	18%	5%	1,152
One or more teachers not connected to Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche	68%	22%	10%	1,117
Other books about Buddhism	77%	20%	3%	1,131

For this question, respondents could check as many boxes as they wished. By far the most respondents said that a sangha member whom they respect was useful to them. Over three quarters find books useful as guidance sources, whether or not by Chögyam Trungpa. Many respondents found teachers helpful. Only just over half of respondents found an MI to be helpful as a guidance resource.

136 respondents added comments to the question about whether they were interested in continuing their study of the Shambhala teachings. The largest category of responses were simply uncertain about whether they would continue. Others felt that their continuing was conditional:

Examples…

“I think so, although I’m seriously exploring Vajrayana, and possibly in the CTR tradition.”

“I’m feeling it out. The teachings are very valuable, I have some uneasiness about aspects of the community and hierarchies.”

“In some ways, but I don’t know what it means without a/the Sakyong”

“Uncertain, timing of offerings and my location in the world don’t align well”

For many respondents, this depends on what is offered, and there was a lack of certainty about whether there is a path for continuing to advanced teachings:

Examples…

“I’ve completed the SS10 paths, and going forward would like to participate in Shambhala programs ”non-linearly””

“not sure what else may be available to me”

“Will decide based on teachings offered, teachers provided and details surrounding any programming.”

A relatively small number of respondents noted that they have decided they are no longer interested in the Shambhala path, and/or have many concerns about power abuses in the Shambhala community:ß

Examples…

“While I’m not ruling anything out, it is not my primary practice path/priority”

“Still bothered by the sexual misconduct ongoing talks and accusations”