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 monthly typically on the second Monday of the month. However, during the corona virus pandemic, we will meet online.
Council Minutes
December 12, 2019 Community Meeting
Council Minutes – December 19, 2019
Council Minutes, July 20, 2020
Council Minutes, August 12, 2020
Council Minutes, September 21, 2020
Council Minutes, October 24, 2020
Council Minutes, November 16, 2020
Council Minutes, December 9, 2020
Council Minutes, January 18, 2021
Council Members
Jan Snyder is our Group Coordinator for the Shambhala Gainesville sangha. A clinical psychologist in private practice for over 35 years, Jan has been actively engaged in the Shambhala community since 2007 and attended Scorpion Seal Assembly 2 in 2019. She is authorized as a Shambhala Path Meditation Instructor (SPMI) and has been certified to teach several Shambhala classes. Jan lives on 3 1/2 acres in SW Gainesville with her husband, several standard poodles…and 33 chickens. She enjoys kayaking, biking, swimming, and hiking (most any activity in nature!).
Nora Wiser is our Practice & Education Coordinator. A small business owner/operator for 20 years, she retired in 2012 and now spends time teaching yoga, serving the Shambhala Gainesville sangha in several capacities, and facilitating courses for Shambhala Online. Nora started on the Shambhala Path in 2007 and attended Scorpion Seal Assembly 2 in 2019. Authorized as a Shambhala Path Meditation Instructor (SPMI), she is also certified to teach several Shambhala classes. 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.
Kim Heiss is a Council member and assists with building services. Kim has had a long interest in the dharma and was introduced to the Shambhala Gainesville sangha in late 2017. She has been a member of the sangha since January of 2018. She teaches yoga at Santa Fe College and is involved in the local music community through a group of women singer/songwriters. When not at the Shambhala center, Kim can often be found gardening, walking with her husband Rich, practicing yoga or making music.
Anna Rahman joined Shambhala as a member in 2017. She serves as a council member and part of Karma cleaning crew. Anna loves trees and nature in general. As a native of Switzerland she enjoys the Alps any way she can. Here in Florida the springs all around are a favorite. She maintains a private practice as a therapist (massage, Reiki, Himalayan Salt Stones). Anna enjoys books about American history (fiction and non fiction).
Amber Paxton is a council member and also leads the Queer and Trans dharma group. By day she is a nurse and manager at a busy OB/gyn office. Amber took Buddhist refuge vows in 2006 and joined the Shambhala community in 2013. She lives in NW Gainesville with her wife, their 2 dogs, and 3 cats. “I love being in nature. I love starting the day sitting on the deck with my wife and a cup of coffee, listening to the birds and watching the trees sway.”
Sean Ochal is our Council Member At-Large. He is a visual communicator by trade and strives to inject humor, creativity, positive experiences, and inspiration into his daily work. Originally from Pennsylvania and a lover of nature, he enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and being near mountains and trees. He started on the Shambhala path in 2018 and is part of the Queer and Trans Dharma Group. He values deep connection, self-exploration, equality, inclusivity, and witty banter filled with puns. 
Former Council Members:
Laura Simmons: 2018-2020 (Membership chair)
In Memoriam:
Harold McKnight (1944 – 2020)
Sangha gatherings:
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
