After several years of Zen practice, Shastri Henry Chapin became a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1977, and was a founding member and director of the Ottawa Shambhala Center. He has been a meditation instructor and teacher since 1978, and leads guide, meditation, ngöndro instructor and teacher training workshops as well as the courses and weekend retreats included in The Way of Shambhala 1 and 2.

Henry was appointed a regional shastri by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 2010, and currently chairs the Shastri Council. He is also involved in prison outreach and hospital chaplaincy activities in Ottawa.