Community
Our community is diverse, capable, and heartfelt. Our members and friends include dedicated senior teachers who have walked the Shambhala Buddhist path for many years, and enthusiastic newcomers who are just discovering our teachings on realizing basic goodness and building enlightened society. You’ll find resources detailing issues and/or events affecting our global community, our local community and our Gainesville sangha.
Shambhala Culture, Crisis, Conduct & Care
Here are links to statements, media, letters and concerning issues of sexual misconduct, unaddressed harm, prejudicial attitudes/actions.
A Statement from Shambhala Gainesville regarding the unjust treatment of people of color
A Statement from Shambhala Gainesville about the Queer & Trans community
Shambhala Gainesville on the current GLOBAL Shambhala Community Crisis
Shambhala Gainesville: Healing Harm Statement
Council Meetings
Our council meets online monthly typically on the second Monday of the month depending on scheduled classes. Any member is welcome to attend the council meeting. For the date of next meeting and the link, please email [email protected].
Council Minutes
Council Minutes: January 8, 2024
Council Minutes: February 11, 2024 2024
Council Minutes: March 13, 2024
Council Minutes: April 17, 2024
Council minutes – June 10, 2024
Council Minutes: August 7, 2024
Council Minutes, September 11, 2024
Council Minutes: December 2019 through 2020
Council Minutes: January – December 2021
Council Minutes: January to December 2022
Council Minutes: January to December 2023
Council Members
Jan Snyder has been the Director of Shambhala Gainesville since 2013. A clinical psychologist in private practice for over 40 years, Jan grew up and was educated in the northeast US before she moved to north central Florida in 1990. Jan has been actively engaged in the Shambhala Community since 2007 and is currently a student of the Sakyong. She is authorized as a Shambhala Path Meditation Instructor and has been certified to teach several Shambhala levels and classes. Jan also currently serves as a Care and Conduct Facilitator for the Shambhala global community. She lives surrounded by nature in Micanopy, Florida, with her husband, several standard poodles, and lots of fish. She enjoys biking, swimming and hiking (most any activity in nature) as well as spending time with children and grandchildren and friends.
Nora Wiser is our Practice & Education Coordinator. A small business owner/operator for 20 years, she retired in 2012 and now spends time as a senior caregiver, hospice volunteer, and occaional yoga teacher. She serves the Shambhala Gainesville sangha in several capacities, and often facilitates courses for Shambhala Online. Nora started on the Shambhala Path in 2007 and is currently a student of the Sakyong. Authorized as a Shambhala Path Meditation Instructor (SPMI), she is also certified to teach several Shambhala classes. Most recently she is focusing on Buddhist death and dying teachings and practice. She enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, kayaking and yoga. Nora and her husband Randy are “snowbirds” dividing their time between Gainesville, Florida, and Traverse City, Michigan.
Alice Kelly became a member of Seattle Shambhala in 1987. She moved back to Florida in 2016 and splits her time between Gainesville, Cocoa, and Seattle. Alice serves Shambhala Gainesville as the membership chair.
Council Hall of Fame
In Memoriam
Harold McKnight (1944 – 2020)
Sangha gatherings:
Harvest of Peace – Clay Workshop, September 17, 2023
Code of Conduct presentation for the Southeast Region, September 26. 2021
Harvest of Peace celebrated at Depot Park and Soma Art Media Hub on September 18, 2021
Earth Day Sit A Thon – April 24th, 2021
Congratulations! We raised nearly $8000!
New Year’s Lhasang and Memorial Garden Dedication, January 3, 2021
Awakened Heart – Level IV Shambhala Training with Jonathan Barbieri and Jan Snyder, July 31 – August 2, 2020
Social distancing on July 10. 2020
Social distancing as we begin to emerge from self-isolation May 16, 2020
Outrageous & Inscrutable with Shastri Will Ryken, April 4-5, 2020
Book launch for “The Power of Bhakti”by David Wolf, PhD with Satvatove group
Who Am I? the Basic Goodness of Being Human (BG 1) with Shastri Bill Brauer and Ella Reznikova, February 15-16, 2020
2019 Community Meeting & Holiday Gathering
Meek and Perky: with Shastri Brett Ferrigan, November 16-18, 2019
Joy in Everyday Life (JIEL): Fall, 2019
Drala: July 27-28, 2019 with Shastri Gayle Van Gils
Dharma Movie Night – June, 2018
Contentment in Everyday Life with Jan Snyder: April – May, 2019
Gainesville LGBTQ Pride Day: October 20, 2018
Rigden Weekend: Sept 28 – 30, 2018
Wisdom in Everyday Life: July 6-8, 2018
Shambhala Training Level I with Shastri Brett Ferrigan: May 26-27, 2018
Fearlessness in Everyday Life: May 4-6, 2018
Shambhala Training Level I with Shastri Will Ryken: April 20-22, 2018
Shambhala Training Level V with Nick Kranz: March 2-4, 2018
Shambhala Day – Year of the Earth Dog observed: Febuary 17, 2018
Shambhala Training Level IV with Paula Bickford: January 20-21, 2018
Happier at Work with Shastri Gayle Van Gils: January 13
Contentment in Everyday Life with Jan Snyder and Nora Wiser: Dec 2-4
Shambhala Training Level III with Will Ryken: Nov 4 – 5
Shambhala Training Level II with Shastri Brett Ferrigan: Sept 30 – Oct 1
Dharma Night: August 11, 2017
Dharma Night: June 9, 2017
Level I with Rachel Faro: June 2-4, 2017
Level V with Shastri Ferrigan: May 5-7, 2017
Shambhala Day Celebration: March 5, 2017
Shambhala Training – Level IV: February 11-12 with Paula Bickford
Open House – February 5, 2017
Mala Workshop – February 4, 2017 with Toni Miller
Shambhala Training – Level III: November 11-13, 2016 with Richard White
An evening with Peace Activist and Author Scott Brown: October 18: 2016
Shambhala Training – Level II: September 17-18, 2016 with Travis May
Shambhala Training – Level I: June 17-19, 2016 with Shastri Brett Ferrigan
Pottery Outing: June 5, 2016
Basic Goodness 3: May, 2016 (Teachers: Will Ryken and Paula Bickford)
Open House: April 16th, 2016
Moving weekend. Feb 26th – 28th, 2016
Basic Goodness I – Who Am I? January, 2016 with Shasti Gayle & G Van Gils
Talk by Paula Bickford from the St. Petersburg Shambhala centre, November 29, 2015, on unconventional protection in the face of fear.
Dharma Night on November 13, 2015
Ikebana Class with Brooke Pohl September 19-20, 2015
Wisdom in Everyday Life October 23-25, 2015
Dharma Night October 9, 2015
