About Us

The Calgary Buddhist Meditation Centre is dedicated to the education, practice, and transmission of Buddhism. It emphases a non-sectarian approach with Mahayana leanings. It teaches one how to purely course through life leading to the great awakening.

Various courses on meditation, Buddhist practices, and teachings are given on a regular basis and are open to all regardless of one’s stage of development. The community (sangha) of individuals associated with the Centre are diverse, non-discriminative, and warmly welcoming to monks, nuns, men and women of all types. New comers are welcome and made to feel comfortable in this growing community.

The Calgary Buddhist Meditation Centre is directed by Shirfu Samanta.

About Shirfu

Born in the USA and a Canadian, Shirfu Samanta has been training in Buddhism for 40 years. He has trained under more than 35 Tibetan Lamas including some of the most distinguished masters in the 20^th century. He has also studied with masters of the Newar tradition, Vipashyana tradition, Tien Tai tradition, Chan/Zen tradition and Pure Land schools. Shirfu has received many initiations, ordinations, transmissions and was ordained as a Buddhist priest in Japan (Kyoto, 1999). He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies and an MA in psychology. Shirfu has lived in India, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, and extensively traveled in other parts of Asia. He has completed many retreats from the Himalayas to the Sierras.

Noted for his ability to connect Buddhism to life in the 21^st century, Shirfu has taught various types of meditation for 30 years. His teachings strongly emphasize non-sectarianism with a leaning to Mahayana.