Membership
Becoming a member of the Shambhala Meditation Centre is a statement about your personal inspiration, curiosity, and commitment to the path of awakening. It means participating in a community of practitioners who aspire to relate to each other with honesty, warmth, and openness. We inspire one another to deepen our practice of mindfulness, awareness, and compassion. We also provide each other an opportunity to practice compassion and patience.
We invite anyone interested in our Shambhala Centre to consider becoming a member. Becoming a member of our Centre simultaneously brings membership in Shambhala, a global community committed to cultivating mindfulness, awareness and compassion―personally and in society.
Membership is a way to express appreciation for what Shambhala provides and help make it available to others. This involves three areas of engagement and support:
Practicing Meditation
Making a connection to mindfulness-awareness meditation or related contemplative practice and integrating this practice into daily life is considered the best way for members to support Shambhala and benefit the world and ourselves.
Volunteering
Much of the work of the Shambhala global community is done by volunteers. But here at Fredericton Shambhala Centre, all of the work is done by volunteers. Giving our time and talents to the work of the community is a vital form of support and viewed as part of members’ practice.
Providing Financial Support
We rely on membership to pay our basic operating expenses and view financial giving as part of our practice as well, the path of generosity and helping others. Suggested Fredericton Shambhala Centre dues are $20 per month, but some members are able to offer considerably more and some able to offer less. Financial capacity should not be a barrier to membership. Members are welcome to give as they feel inspired and able at the present time. The amount one gives may also fluctuate over time depending on the member’s personal situation.
How to Join
Your membership dues and donations will be added to any other donations you are making to Shambhala Canada, meaning they are tax deductible. A annual charitable tax receipt will be sent to your email.
- Paypal
After submit your information on our membership form, a Paypal payment option page will be available. Please note that regular monthly donations can be changed or cancelled at any time through the PayPal site, using your personal PayPal account. - Direct Payment (Recommended)
After submit your information on our membership form, please contact our treasurer, Diane McKinnon, at [email protected]. Please note that you can increase or decrease your monthly donation at any time by contacting our treasure. - Interac E-Transfer
After submit your information on our membership form, please send your transfer to our treasurer, Diane McKinnon, at [email protected].
Why does membership matter?
Although membership is not required to participate in much of what the Center has to offer, without our community’s financial and volunteer support, we would not be able to offer all the wonderful programs, practice sessions, and events that we do. It is because of our members that the profound tradition of meditation is able to survive and flourish. Payment of membership dues is the financial backbone of our Shambhala Centre.
What are the benefits of membership?
Connection with our community by becoming a member helps support your practice and strengthen your understanding of Shambhala Buddhism in many ways:
- Members receive ongoing meditation instruction with a personal meditation instructor
- Members are invited to community events, programs, and classes
- Tax receipts – membership dues are tax deductable
- Joy & Merit! – of helping the tradition of meditation to flourish and benefit others
- Membership pin
- Automatic membership in Shambhala’s world-wide network
- Access to member resources at www.shambhala.org
Those who are in the sangha are warriors, because they are trying to overcome samsara. Members of the sangha support one another and care for one another. They are not perfect, but they inspire us because they are people who want to deepen their practice of mindfulness, awareness and compassion. The sangha is also a container. When we practice together, the sangha helps our discipline. We realize that there are other people around who are going through the same thing. That gives us a feeling of encouragement.
– Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
