How Sufficient are our Resources and Capacity?

Summary of Findings

Photo by Nina Luong on Unsplash

Compared to 2022, in 2023, fewer members were satisfied with their access to dharma study and practice features important to them.

Leaders reported that the primary positive features of their groups and centres were strong personal relationships, an accommodating physical space, new people interested in meditation and a core of committed members.

Resource needs were similar across 2022 and 2023, with the need for future teachers and meditation instructors, as well as for current leaders and volunteers most frequently identified as needs. Close to half of leaders reported that their space arrangements had changed in the last four years, and a wide variety of venues are now being used. A larger portion of leaders reported a somewhat higher level of energy and motivation in 2023, compared to 2022.

Member Survey

(Click here for more information about this survey)

Among those for whom each feature of dharma study and meditation practice were important, the portion of members who were satisfied or very satisfied with their access to these features declined between 2022 and 2023. Across all the features listed for dharma study and meditation practice, only one quarter to one half of respondents indicated that they were satisfied with access.

How satisfied are you with your access to the following features of dharma study?

How satisfied are you with your access to the following features of meditation practice?

Leaders Survey

(Click here for more information about this survey)

What positive features are you experiencing in your group or centre?

Positive features experienced by leadership – by size of centre

What positive features are you experiencing in your group or centre – other responses

Summary and direct quotes from ‘other’ responses

We asked: What positive features are you experiencing in your group or centre?

About 10% of responding leaders used the open text option to add answers to the question about positive features they are experiencing in their group or centre. Some responses reflected challenges rather than positive features:

“Our center is slowly planning to close due to lack of motivated volunteers.”

Others acknowledged challenges and noted that they were trying to adjust to keep the centre going.

“Struggling to make a large, expensive space work for what is now a smaller group. small steps towards new organizing vision.”

“Changing the culture of Shambhala to be less hierarchical and more inclusive”

A positive feature that was not fully captured in the options offered had to do with overcoming community conflicts and staying connected or reconnecting with each other.

“Return of members who were students of Chogyam Trungpa who felt disenfranchised in the last 20 plus years”

“We are half SMR and 1/2 not. We care for each other but do not do much practice together.”

Do you have enough of these resources to support your group or centre?

In four areas, the numbers of leaders identifying shortfalls in resources suggest that these needs are critical across Shambhala. These areas were: people training to be future teachers, or future meditation instructors, people to take leadership positions, and people to help as volunteers.

Resource concerns

Questions about resource needs were asked differently in 2022 compared to 2023. However, the areas that leaders had less concerns about in 2022 are nearly identical to the areas where leaders indicated they have enough resources in 2023, indicating that resource needs have changed little. Future teachers, future meditation instructors, additional leaders and volunteers all stood out as areas where very few leaders indicated that they have enough resources.

Resource concerns by size of centre

Overall, 42% of leaders reported that their space arrangements had changed in the past four years. Of those leaders whose space arrangements had not changed in the past four years, 90% had a dedicated space, 4% used a single public space, and 3% shared a space; the rest had other arrangements.

A much wider variety of spaces were reported by leaders whose centres or groups had changed spaces in the past four years.

Space Arrangements for Centres that Moved in the Last Four Years

Other comments about the impact of space changes

Summary and direct quotes from ‘other’ responses

We asked: Would you like to add anything about the impact of the change in your space situation on issues such as increasing membership, encouraging volunteers, offering programming, etc.?

About 78% of the leaders whose space arrangements had changed in the past four years offered open text responses to this question. Many reported that it is more problematic to maintain energy and engagement without a physical space.

“Loss of public space, coupled with Covid and health issues has made it impossible to bring potential new (as well as existing ) members into a physical space to join in practice and study. This has made increasing membership challenging. In addition, without meeting face-to-face it is difficult to generate lungta within the membership leading to lack of volunteers, etc.”

Others felt that a main issue was diminished membership and motivation to continue keeping the centre open. Lack of a dedicated space made this more problematic, but also lack of volunteers, participants and motivation made keeping a space more difficult.

“Enough time and motivation are elements that often hold us back.”

“When we had a space (rented) it was great, but getting volunteers was tiresome and many burned out. Then came COVID and we could not afford to maintain it.”

Several leaders noted that, although they regretted not having a dedicated space, there was a benefit in lowered financial overhead and need for volunteers.

“Loss of our physical space (along with the pandemic) changed the nature of our community. People don’t bump into each other as much, volunteer opportunities are different (and not attractive). It was a loss of lungta, but financially we were lucky that we lost the space when we did.”

Some are looking for new space and others are exploring other options for interacting in their communities.

“Not having dedicated space has offered the blessing of low expenses, so we can concentrate on non-financial priorities. We’re looking forward to holding our programs more in the community. We’re not eager to get permanent space again in the foreseeable future.”

“We lost our space a few years ago and have recently purchased a building, with a physical space we are getting new walk-in people attending and we hope this continues. Prior to the pandemic we had a very strong local presence with Sunday morning meditation followed by lunch. We also have several strong evening program groups that are growing again. We are lucky that most of the members and attendees are open to all in our community.”

“We are just this week moving back to the space we had to give up during 2020. We’ve lost the kitchen and office but are grateful to have a dedicated place to now practice together, even if it’s just ten of us.”

Finally, in both 2022 and 2023, leaders were asked to rate their own level of energy and motivation as a leader on most days, on a scale of 1 to 5. There was some shift towards higher levels of energy and motivation in 2023, compared to 2022.

How would you describe your own level of energy and motivation as a leader on most days?