www.satdharma.org
Shambhala Education

The Shambhala teachings are founded on the premise that there is basic human wisdom that can help to solve the world's problems. This wisdom does not belong to any one culture or religion, nor does it come only from the West or the East. Rather it is a tradition of human warriorship that has existed in many cultures at many times throughout history.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, from
Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

The Path of Shambhala
The Shambhala teachings were first introduced by the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche to his Western students in 1976. The Vidyadhara, or Dorje Dradul (his Shambhala honorific title), had been schooled not only in Tibetan Buddhism, but also in the ancient teachings of Shambhala. They have as their foundation the legend of an enlightened kingdom whose first king received specific teachings on warriorship from Shakyamuni Buddha. Warriorship in this context is the tradition of human bravery, or the tradition of fearlessness. Whether the kingdom of Shambhala was mythological or real, the legend evokes the expression of a deeply rooted human desire for a good and fulfilling life.

Shambhala Education within Satdharma
Satdharma continues the basic forms and materials of the original Shambhala program created by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin. Shambhala Education is a series of weekend levels which include meditation practice, discussion, talks and contemplation. Levels are sequential and the entire course is accomplished over a year and a half period, culminating in a ten-day residential program.

Shambhala Levels
The introductory levels of Shambhala Education show how gentleness and fearlessness exist in the human heart as a living experience. This is becoming a warrior - one who has experienced what it is like to conquer aggression towards oneself, and understands how to manifest gentleness to others. The weekends are:

Level I: Ordinary Magic Goodness, Sacredness and Confidence
Level II: Birth of the Warrior Obstacles to that Goodness and the discovery of Fearlessness
Level III: Warrior in the World
Confidence in Daily Life
Level IV: Awakened Heart Unity of Intuition and Intellect
Level V: Open Sky, Primordial Stroke Opening Completely to Others

The continuation of the Shambhala Education program explores how to expand wisdom and skillful means in order to create an enlightened society with others.

Participating in Shambhala Levels
Shambhala Education levels at Satdharma are open to anyone. For a schedule of upcoming Shambhala Levels, please see the Program Schedule. For information on Shambhala Education or to sign up for a level, please e-mail Robert Krupnick.
Back | Satdharma Home