The key to true peace and happiness in the world lies no further than in our own hearts and minds.

Shiwa, named after the Tibetan word for “peace,” is a non-profit charitable organization, whose purpose is to assist in the development of genuine compassion and wisdom in the world. Shiwa will help to nurture the natural inborn potential for peace and happiness which is present in all of us.

Shiwa provides a non-denominational facility where participants may attend teachings, classes and seminars on a variety of topics related to personal and community development. The facility provides a location for spiritual growth through teachings, meditation and quiet reflection away from the distractions of the everyday world. At Shiwa, our wish is to help all people in realizing and following a path towards unlimited compassion, deep understanding and true happiness.

Most people face a common situation, where there is some level of discontent and a sense of confusion regarding how to find the source of true happiness within the complexity of living in a modern world. The common response is to try to overcome unhappiness by seeking material solutions outside of ourselves. In reality, the key to true peace and happiness for our inner selves, as well as in the world, lies within our own hearts and minds. All human beings contain the potential to generate compassion and gain wisdom, uncovering the true peace and wisdom that lies within. It is simply a matter of cultivating that potential – nurturing it, developing it, and implementing it in our daily lives.

Shiwa offers the opportunity to do focused retreat and receive instruction in spiritual and meditation practices. Spiritual counseling will also be available. The Shiwa Center welcomes all, as we gather to gain access to the great wisdom traditions of the world as well as modern psychology and science.

Shiwa’s founder, Bhakhang Tulku Rinpoche, has been teaching at the Center for Inner Knowing in Atlanta and has also taught in North Carolina and Virginia. He is a Tibetan Lama from Drepung Monastery in India, and is uniquely qualified to provide leadership and advice in the areas of human development and meditation. He also provides a unique perspective on bringing the timeless wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism into the modern world in a manner open and accessible to all, regardless of their religious or personal beliefs. Through participation in the Shiwa Center, people will learn to become their own teachers, and in turn, living examples of peace and compassion.

The core essence of all wisdom traditions is love and compassion. Shiwa opens its doors to teachers from diverse backgrounds and traditions to present their insights and perspectives on development of inner and outer peace. By focusing on the unity and oneness that underlies surface differences, Rinpoche hopes to dissolve divisions and narrow outlooks that often stand in the way of our fullest potential as individuals, as communities, and across the globe.

We live in a time of great opportunity: it is up to us to choose how we wish to spend our lives on this wondrous earth. May Shiwa play its part in infusing us all with peace, compassion, and love for all beings.