Expansion and Later History

Shambhala broadened its catalog considerably from the 1980s onward beyond its founding focus on Trungpa's teaching and Tibetan Buddhism specifically, publishing across the wider field of Buddhist traditions, contemplative practice and psychology, and what became known as the mind body spirit category, while retaining its reputation as a serious publisher of translated Buddhist source texts and teacher commentary rather than a purely popular press.

The company moved its headquarters from Boulder to Boston, Massachusetts in 1986, operating for a period from Horticultural Hall before later returning its base of operations to Boulder, reflecting the shifting geography of its ownership and staff over the decades rather than any change in editorial direction. Samuel Bercholz has remained Chairman and Editor in Chief of the company for its entire history, with his children Sara and Ivan Bercholz taking on ownership and leadership roles alongside president Nikko Odiseos, appointed in 2010, keeping Shambhala a family and employee led independent press rather than passing to a larger publishing conglomerate as happened to many of its contemporaries. Shambhala Publications remains active today as one of the most respected English language publishers of Buddhist and contemplative literature, continuing to publish both classical translations and contemporary teaching more than five decades after its founding in the back of a Berkeley bookstore.