Sunday 2 April 2006

Parinirvana Day

The Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche passed away on
4 April 1987.

The anniversary of his parinirvana is commemorated by the special celebratory practice of the Feast Offering of the Sadhana of Mahamudra.

Sunday 1 April 2007

Parinirvana Day

Celebrating the life and teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

"Born a monk,
Died a king—
Such thunderstorm does not stop.
We will be haunting you, along with the dralas.
Jolly good luck!" [Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, from his will]

April 4 2007 marks the twentieth anniversary of the parinirvana (death) of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of Shambhala International and one of the greatest meditation masters and Buddhist teachers of the Twentieth Century. 

 All members are warmly invited to celebrate the life and teachings of Trungpa Rinpoche through the practice of the Sadhana of Mahamudra Feast.

During this special practice (which is usually restricted to vajrayana practitioners) the enjoyment of food and drink is included as part of the celebration of sacred world. This takes place within the context of the Sadhana of Mahamudra (as practised once a month on Wednesdays). Offerings of music or poetry are welcomed as part of the feast, which will also include showing a video of Trungpa Rinpoche teaching

Preparation for the feast will start at the conclusion of the nyinthün at 5.00 pm and we expect to be finished cleaning up by 9.00 pm at the latest (participants assist with preparation and cleaning up). It is traditional to attend the whole of a feast since it involves the creation and dissolution of a mandala. Children may attend.

We will need some assistance in advance, for example with shopping. If you are able to help, please contact Jim O'Neill. It would also be very helpful to let Jim know that you are planning to attend so that we can estimate food quantities.

Saturday 22 September 2007

Padmasambhava Feast

The time has come for a big vajra feast so the community can come together, practice, eat, drink, celebrate and formally welcome our 2007 seminary tantrikas into the vajra mandala. To this end we will be holding a Padmasambhava Feast on Saturday 22nd September at 1pm. This short feast practice — The Guru Yoga Which Pours Down a Rain of Blessings, Combined with the Seven-line Prayer — was introduced at the 1996 Vajradhatu Seminary and may be attended by all tantrikas and sadhakas. It was introduced to allow the whole vajra sangha to practise together as well as to help busy people with busy schedules come together for feast.

We aim to make this event accessible to as many vajra sangha people as possible by scheduling it for Saturday at 1pm, so that those from outside London or too busy on weekdays will be able to attend.

Participating in the setup is part of the event! Contributions include assisting with preparing food, serving, offerings and general setup.

Sunday 6 April 2008

Parinirvana Day

Celebrating the life and teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

The Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche passed away on 4 April 1987. The anniversary of his parinirvana is commemorated every year by the special celebratory practice of the Feast Offering of the Sadhana of Mahamudra.

This is a special occasion on which, at Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's specific request, all members, including non-vajrayana students, are invited to participate in ganachakra (feast) practice. In addition to the feast offerings of food and drink it is appropriate to make offerings of poetry, music or song. These can be offered spontaneously or by pre-arrangement with Ali Warner.

Preparation will start at 1.30 pm with the feast practice itself starting at 3.00 pm. Those attending are asked if at all possible to join in with preparation and take down.

Saturday 4 April 2009

Parinirvana Day

Celebrating the life and teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

The Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche passed away on 4 April 1987.

The anniversary of his parinirvana is commemorated by the special celebratory practice of the Feast Offering of the Sadhana of Mahamudra.

We are pleased to announce that there will be a live community address by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche during the Feast.

Daily from Wednesday February 3rd to Friday February 12th

Mamo Recitation Practice

The recitation of Pacifying the Turmoil of the Mamos is a protector practice associated with the "Dön Days" period at the end of the year (the Iron Tiger year starts on February 14th). It is practised in order to pacify the karmic cause of personal, social, and environmental chaos which accumulates at the year's end.

It is said that by this practice we may tune into the protector principle of awareness and reconnect with sacred outlook.

Although this is a vajrayana practice, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has for some years asked that the whole sangha be invited to take part.

Practice will generally be in the upstairs meditation room.

Sunday 4 April

Parinirvana Day

Celebrating the life and teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

The Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche passed away on 4 April 1987. The anniversary of his passing away or parinirvana is commemorated every year at Shambhala centres by the special celebratory practice of the feast offering of the Sadhana of Mahamudra.

The Sadhana of Mahamudra is a mind treasure which was received by Trungpa Rinpoche in 1968 while he was on retreat at Taksang in Bhutan. At that time he was living in Britain and was facing the problem of how to properly communicate the Buddhist teachings to Western students. It is the only vajrayana practice composed or received by Trungpa Rinpoche which is available to students who have not formally received vajrayana transmission

The feast offering or ganachakra* for the Sadhana of Mahamudra was composed by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Its practice is normally restricted to vajrayana students but at Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's specific request, all Shambhala members, including non-vajrayana students, are invited to participate at the annual parinirvana feast as a celebration of Trungpa Rinpoche's life and teachings.

We will celebrate Parinirvana Day this year on Sunday 4th of April from 7.30 pm onwards. As is customary, participants will share in the activities of preparing, enjoying and clearing away the feast. In addition to the feast offerings of food and drink it is appropriate to make offerings of poetry, music or song. There will be a charge to cover the cost of food and drink.

We will need some help earlier in the day, for example with shopping. Please let us know if you can help.

All members of the centre are warmly invited to this special celebration!

* The Nalanda Translation Committee defines ganachakra as "a practice in which desire and sense perceptions are made part of the path. By celebrating the phenomenal world, the practitioner simultaneously extends his or her understanding of sacredness and further surrenders ego."

Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September 2005

Shambhala Training Level C: Perky

Perky is represented by the Snow Lion.

"The Snow Lion is vibrant, energetic, youthful, roaming in the clear fresh highlands. A sense of newness, goodness, cheerfulness, up-liftedness - the world is vivid, fresh, clear and bright."

Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 October 2005

Shambhala Training: Great Eastern Sun

The Great Eastern Sun is a two-day programme to introduce the graduates of Level V to the Sacred Path programme, to the initial sections of the Letter of the Black Ashe, and to invite membership in Shambhala.

Please note that this programme is a pre-requisite for the Sacred Path Levels A to Golden Key.

Friday 28 to Sunday 30 October 2005

Mahamudra

with Acharya Han de Wit

Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 November 2005

Vajrayogini Teachings

with Acharya Robert Puts

Friday 25 to Sunday 27 November 2005

Being Without Deception

with Dapön Barry Boyce

How do we protect ourselves and our communities from the senseless aggression and territoriality that threatens to destroy them? Moreover, how do we do that in a way that not only exhibits but also promotes compassion? In this program we will study both the first volume of True Command: The Teachings of the Dorje Kasung, a compilation of the talks the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche gave on the Dorje Kasung, and the Art of War, the Denma Translation, a treatment of that seminal work inspired by the Chögyam Trungpa’s teaching and training.

 

Kasung Dapön Barry Boyce is a member of the group that produced The Art of War, The Denma Translation, one of the most engaging versions of the classic by the ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu, and is currently working with James Gimian on a book that will offer further commentary. He also assisted in the production of True Command: The Teachings of the Dorje Kasung. Mr. Boyce has been a practitioner and student of Buddhism for over 30 years and is a senior leader in the Dorje Kasung, the service and protection group within Shambhala. He is senior editor and staff writer for both the Shambhala Sun and Buddhadharma magazines.

Friday 20 to Sunday 22 January 2006

Shambhala Training Level D

Friday 10 to Sunday 12 February 2006

Shambhala Training Level Two: The Birth of the Warrior

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May 2006

Shambhala Guide Training

with Acharya David Hope

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 May 2006

Shambhala Training Level: Golden Key

Friday 26 to Sunday 28 May 2006

Shambhala Training Level Three: Warrior in the World

Level Three is about developing courage, the ability to step out and develop confidence in all aspects of your life.

Friday 16 to Sunday 18 June 2006

Shambhala Training Level A - Drala

with Acharya David Hope

Friday 25 to Sunday 27 August 2006

Shambhala Training Level W: Windhorse

Windhorse is a wind of delight and power. The experience of wind connects us completely and powerfully with the present, and the stability of the horse aspect allows us to ride this energy.  In this level we will receive instruction in a simple and profound practice that allows us to embody this energy to connect with the meek, perky, outrageous and inscrutable qualities of our own warriorship and to connect with the drala energy in our own lives.

Friday 15 to Sunday 17 September 2006

Shambhala Training Level Four: Awakened Heart

Level Four is about inquisitiveness and opening, allowing yourself to be touched by your experience.

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October 2006

Shambhala Training Level B: Meek

The dignity of Meek is represented by the Tiger.

Meek is the foundation and platform of the other three dignities. Any ordinary situation in our lives allows for the sense of meek to arise. Meek suspends judgement and allows our inquisitive nature to function. Ordinarily we may jump into a new situation, or pull back from it; meek allows us to stay with things as they are.

Please note that this programme was originally scheduled for 6-8 October. 

Friday 8 to Sunday 10 December 2006

Shambhala Training Level Five: Open Sky

Having developed trust in basic goodness we can appreciate the freedom of 'open sky' and celebrate our journey along the path of warriorship.

Friday 9 to Sunday 11 March 2007

The Birth of the Warrior

Shambhala Training Level Two

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 March 2007

Totally Cutting

The Razor Blade of Ashe with Ashe Acharya John Rockwell

Executing the stroke of Ashe is a simple way to arouse confidence and cut through obstacles. In the Shambhala terma, stroke is said to greatly strengthen the power of the four kinds of enlightened action: pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and destroying. As warriors in the world, we are ready and willing to do whatever needs to be done. As we engage in action, we must tune into the space of absolute Ashe, in which there is noone to cut and nothing to be cut. Otherwise, we miss the point. In this weekend, we will do intensive sitting meditation and stroke practice. Saturday will focus on the relation of stroke to the four karmas. Sunday will explore stroke practice within the dzogchen view of "totally cutting" or trekchö.

ASHE ACHARYA JOHN ROCKWELL is one of the most senior teachers in the Shambhala Community. He was a student of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and is now a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. He is in charge of leading the group of teachers who organise and prepare the curricula that are taught throughout Shambhala centres in the world. He himself travels and teaches widely and is much sought-after. He is famed for being able to present the vastness of dharma with great precision and in a very accessible and inspiring manner.

Over the years he has built an intimate friendship with the London sangha.

The programme he will present is unique and new:
- There will be a public talk on Friday open to all.
- Saturday will be restricted to students who have received Stroke transmission.
- Sunday will be restricted to Vajrayana students ONLY (including those without Stroke transmission)

Saturday 28 April 2007

Great Eastern Sun

The Great Eastern Sun introduces the graduates of Level V to the Sacred Path programme, to the initial sections of the Letter of the Black Ashe, and invites membership in Shambhala.

Please note that this programme is a pre-requisite for the Sacred Path Levels A to Golden Key.

Friday 11 to Sunday 13 May 2007

The Birth of the Warrior

Shambhala Training Level Two

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Friday 25 to Monday 28 May 2007

Shambhala Training Level D + Golden Key

(combined programme - including Bank holiday Monday) with Meino Zeillemaker

Shambhala Training Level D: "Outrageous & Inscrutable"

These fruitional dignities refer to the extraordinary skill of a practised warrior. No longer afraid of making mistakes, the unconventional and visionary perspective of the outrageous warrior combines with the skill of spontaneous inscrutability to create benefit for others on a large scale.

Shambhala Training: Golden Key

This programme is based on a Shambhala text that works with our relationship to the "material world" and our sense perceptions. It teaches the practice of enriching presence - the ability to instantly sense the inner wealth within oneself and the natural world.

Friday 1 to Saturday 2 June 2007

The Art of War in Everyday Life

Powerful Strategies for a World of Conflict and Chaos with Kasung Dapön Barry Boyce

The Art of War by Sun Tzu is the preeminent strategy text for anyone who wants to deal with conflict and chaos—without generating further confusion and harm that undermines what we work so hard for in the big campaigns of our lives.

The Sun Tzu is most famous for offering the possibility of victory without fighting. But what does it take to actually do this? The Sun Tzu is notoriously difficult to read and is open to many interpretations.

In this programme, we will examine concrete steps you can take to use the text as guide for achieving objectives in your everyday life. We will consider whether it is possible to welcome conflict and chaos—rather than run from it or reject it—as a means to bring about victory.

Contemplation Questions

Please take a few minutes periodically between now and the programme on June 1-3 to think carefully about these questions. You may discuss them with your friends and colleagues. You are looking at these from the perspective of being on the bodhisattva and warrior path, but the scope of your vision is not limited to dharma programmes and institutional concerns. It could be about your children, your job, your colleagues, your city, your world.

• What specifically are the main objectives you would like to achieve in your sphere of influence?

• In trying to achieve these objectives, what kinds of obstacles do you encounter?

• In general, what do you do in the face of these obstacles and challenges?

• How would you describe the feeling of a conflict? What are its seeds and how does it grow? What sort of patterns emerge when you find yourself encountering conflict or in the middle of a conflict yourself?

• What is chaos? How do you respond to it?

KASUNG DAPON BARRY BOYCE has served as Kasung Dapön in the Shambhala community since 1997. A Buddhist practitioner for over thirty years, he is senior editor and staff writer at the Shambhala Sun and Buddhadharma magazines. He is a co-contributor to a recent translation of and commentary on Sun Tzu’s Art of War and co-author of the forthcoming The Art of War in Everyday Life.

Dress: 4B for the Friday evening and #6 (field) in the day on Saturday but changing into #5 (barrack) for mess.

Friday 15 to Sunday 17 June 2007

Warrior in the World

Shambhala Training Level Three

Level Three is about developing courage, the ability to step out and develop confidence in all aspects of your life.

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 July 2007

Awakened Heart

Shambhala Training Level Four

Level Four is about inquisitiveness and opening, allowing yourself to be touched by your experience.

Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 January 2008

Great Eastern Sun

Shambhala Training: Great Eastern Sun

The Great Eastern Sun is a two-day programme designed to introduce Level V graduates to the Sacred Path programme and the initial sections of the Letter of the Black Ashe. The programme is also a formal invitation to membership of Shambhala.

Please note that this programme is a pre-requisite for the Sacred Path Levels A to Golden Key.

The weekend starts at 10am on Saturday 10th January (coffee from 9.30am).

Friday 14 to Sunday 16 March 2008

The Drala Principle (new dates)

Shambhala Training Level A

This first weekend programme of the Sacred Path of the Warrior introduces the study of the Shambhala root text “The letter of the Black Ashe”.

The text describes the whole path of warriorship from a beginner to master warrior who manifests completely authentically in the world and is able to show others the way to be genuine.

The programme will be taught by Jane Hope.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY. 

Friday 11 to Sunday 13 April 2008

The Birth of the Warrior

Shambhala Training Level Two

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

The programme will be taught by Orhun Cercel 

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY 

Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June 2008

Windhorse

Shambhala Training Level W - led by Jim O'Neill

Windhorse is a wind of delight and power. The experience of wind connects us completely and powerfully with the present, and the stability of the horse aspect allows us to ride this energy.

In this level we will receive instruction in a simple and profound practice that allows us to embody this energy to connect with the meek, perky, outrageous and inscrutable qualities of our own warriorship and to connect with the drala energy in our own lives.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July 2008

Warrior in the World

Shambhala Training Level Three - led by Bridget Taylor

Level Three is about developing courage, the ability to step out and develop confidence in all aspects of your life.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September 2008

Awakened Heart

Shambhala Training Level Four

Level Four is about inquisitiveness and opening, allowing yourself to be touched by your experience.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY

Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October 2008

Meek

Shambhala Training Level B

Meek is the foundation and platform of the other three dignities. Any ordinary situation in our lives allows for the sense of meek to arise. Meek suspends judgement and allows our inquisitive nature to function. Ordinarily we may jump into a new situation, or pull back from it; meek allows us to stay with things as they are.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY

Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January 2009

Open Sky

Shambhala Training Level Five

Having developed trust in basic goodness we can appreciate the freedom of 'open sky' and celebrate our journey along the path of warriorship.

Friday 6 to Sunday 8 March 2009

Perky

Shambhala Training Level C

Perky is represented by the Snow Lion.

"The Snow Lion is vibrant, energetic, youthful, roaming in the clear fresh highlands. A sense of newness, goodness, cheerfulness, up-liftedness - the world is vivid, fresh, clear and bright."

 To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 8 to Sunday 10 May 2009

The Birth of the Warrior

Shambhala Training Level Two

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY

Friday 15 to Sunday 17 May 2009

Outrageous and Inscrutable

Shambhala Training Level D

This programme teaches us how the unconventional and visionary perspective of the outrageous warrior combines with the skill of spontaneous inscrutability to create benefit for others on a large scale.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2009

Shambhala Training: Great Eastern Sun / Windhorse

This programme combines the next two Shambhala levels after Level 5.

The first programme - Great Eastern Sun - introduces students to the Sacred Path programme and to the initial sections of the Letter of the Black Ashe. It also invites practitioners to become formal members of Shambhala.

In the next programme - Windhorse - we will receive instruction in a simple and profound practice that allows us to embody this energy to connect with the meek, perky, outrageous and inscrutable qualities of our own warriorship and to connect with the drala energy in our own lives. Windhorse connects us completely and powerfully with the present, and the stability of the horse aspect allows us to ride this energy.  

Please note that both programmes are a pre-requisite for the Sacred Path Levels A to Golden Key.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June 2009

[Brighton] The Birth of the Warrior

Shambhala Training Level Two

(This programme will be organised by the Brighton Shambhala Group and will take place in Brighton.) 

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Teacher: Kevin Barrett
Coordinator: Louise Voce

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The Brighton Shambhala Meditation Group' c/o Brighton Shambhala, 15 St Lukes Terrace, Brighton, BN2 9ZE

Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June 2009

Golden Key

This programme is based on a Shambhala text that works with our relationship to the "material world" and our sense perceptions. It teaches the practice of enriching presence - the ability to instantly sense the inner wealth within oneself and the natural world.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2009

Warrior in the World

Shambhala Training Level Three

Level Three is about developing courage, the ability to step out and develop confidence in all aspects of your life.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2009

The Drala Principle

Shambhala Training Level A - CANCELLED

Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2009

[Brighton] Warrior in the World  

Shambhala Training Level Three

(This programme will be organised by the Brighton Shambhala Group and will take place in Brighton.) 

Through developing fearlessness by examining our habitual tendencies, we are willing to experience our life without relying on the cocoon. We begin to engage the world directly and extend the attitude of fearlessness to our activities.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The Brighton Shambhala Meditation Group' c/o T. Coxon 15 St Lukes Terrace, Brighton. BN2 9ZE
 

The weekend will be held at The Dharma School, Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, Brighton, BN1 8TB.

Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 October 2009

Vajrayana Weekend

With Shambhala On-line Teachings by Acharya Eric Spiegel

Saturday and Sunday vajrayana practice sessions followed on Saturday by evening on-line teachings by Acharya Eric Spiegel

This will count as two days of the Rigden Ngöndro or Werma Sadhana group practice requirement. Practitioners of Kagyü Ngöndro and Vajrayogini Sadhana are also very welcome.

 (Note last minutes time changes!)

Schedule

10:00 am Start morning Session
 1:00 pm Lunch
 2:15 pm Start afternoon Session
 4:45 pm Close afternoon Session

Followed on Saturday evening by on-line teachings by Acharya Eric Spiegel (follow links to Shambhala on-line site for details):

5:00 pm Teachings on ngöndro
7:00 pm Teachings on Werma Sadhana (Werma Sadhana practitioners only)

Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2009

Awakened Heart

Shambhala Training Level Four

Level Four is about inquisitiveness and opening, allowing yourself to be touched by your experience.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.
 

Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December 2009

[Brighton] Awakened Heart

Shambhala Training Level Four

(This programme will be organised by the Brighton Shambhala Group and will take place in Brighton.) 

Level IV encourages us to further increase our awareness and inquisitiveness about the world, just as it is.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The Brighton Shambhala Meditation Group' c/o T. Coxon 15 St Lukes Terrace, Brighton. BN2 9ZE

The weekend will be held at The Dharma School, Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, Brighton, BN1 8TB.

Friday 22 to Sunday 24 January

Open Sky

Shambhala Training Level Five

Having developed trust in basic goodness we can appreciate the freedom of 'open sky' and celebrate our journey along the path of warriorship.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 26 to Sunday 28 February

[Brighton] Great Eastern Sun / Windhorse

This programme combines the next two Shambhala levels after Level 5. It is organised by the Brighton Shambhala Group and will take place in Brighton.

The first programme teaches how to see the Great Eastern Sun, the primordial energy and brilliance that is the basis of all that exists.  It also introduces the participant to membership of Shambhala - a living context for building a sane society.

The second programme offers the opportunity to study the text giving instructions on "raising windhorse" so as to open the heart and refresh one's confidence.

Please note that both programmes are a pre-requisite for the Sacred Path Levels A to Golden Key.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The Brighton Shambhala Meditation Group' c/o T. Coxon 15 St Lukes Terrace, Brighton. BN2 9ZE

Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March

The Drala Principle

Shambhala Training Level A

This first weekend programme of the Sacred Path of the Warrior introduces the study of the Shambhala root text “The letter of the Black Ashe”.

The text describes the whole path of warriorship from a beginner to master warrior who manifests completely authentically in the world and is able to show others the way to be genuine.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Thursday 1 to Monday 5 April

Meek and Perky

Shambhala Training Levels B and C

Meek

Meek is represented by the Tiger and is the foundation and platform of the other three dignities. Any ordinary situation in our lives allows for the sense of meek to arise. Meek suspends judgement and allows our inquisitive nature to function. Ordinarily we may jump into a new situation, or pull back from it; meek allows us to stay with things as they are.

Perky

Perky is represented by the Snow Lion. As the second of the four dignities, this level focuses on cultivating sharp, vibrant and uplifted energy through natural discipline. The warriors of perky are able to accomplish their activities with a sense of nobility and ease.

"The Snow Lion is vibrant, energetic, youthful, roaming in the clear fresh highlands. A sense of newness, goodness, cheerfulness, up-liftedness - the world is vivid, fresh, clear and bright."

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 9 to Sunday 11 April

Dorje Kasung Programme

with Michael Gayner, Rupön and Jan-Frans Sturm, Rupön.

“There is a transition happening right now in the West, which will probably continue to happen throughout my lifetime and obviously through many of yours. A subtle wisdom is being transmitted. This wisdom is fragile, and that because of the timeliness of where we are, it is essential to train ourselves further – as much as we can do in our lifetime. That is one lesson that I have learned from watching the great teachers. If we don’t take care of it, practice it wholeheartedly, and thoroughly understand it—beyond our own pettiness—it will become a myth that this stuff occurred.”
Quote by the Makkyi.

This training programme for members of the Dorje Kasung builds on the skills and view presented in the Essential Heart of Kasungship (EHOK) cycle and provides an introduction to the view and skills of Close Protection Team (CPT) work.

Prerequisite: recommendation by Rusung and completion of the EHOK cycle, or with permission and the intention of finishing the EHOK cycle within a year.

Dorje Kasung who have attended STT, CPT and Denma programmes are warmly invited to share their skills, experience and heart.

The centre will be open on Friday from 19.00 hours. In the evening we will have dinner, socialise and settle in.

The programme will start on Saturday morning with breakfast and will end on Sunday at around 17.00 hours.

Friday 16 to Sunday 18 April

The Birth of the Warrior

Shambhala Training Level Two

This weekend looks at how to recognise the habitual patterns that prevent us opening to the experience of basic goodness. How to feel the fear and do it anyway!

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 23 to Sunday 25 April

Outrageous and Inscrutable

Shambhala Training Level D

These fruitional dignities refer to the extraordinary skill of a practised warrior. No longer afraid of making mistakes, the unconventional and visionary perspective of the outrageous warrior combines with the skill of spontaneous inscrutability to create benefit for others on a large scale.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 May

Ngöndro Study Course and Practice Weekend

The London Shambhala Centre will be offering a Vajrayana practice and study weekend on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of May. Practice will be on a drop-in basis.

Vajrayana Practice Schedule

9.30am - 12.pm Vajrayana practice
12pm - 1.15pm Lunch break
1.15pm- 3.30pm Vajrayana practice
3.30pm- 4pm Tea break

Ngöndro Study Schedule

15th May, 4pm: Orhun Cercel
16th May, 4pm: Richard Bleckman

(Ngöndro talk, followed by discussion groups)

Please contact Denise or Ali if you wish to participate.

Friday 28 to Monday 31 May

Golden Key

This three-day programme is based on a Shambhala text that works with our relationship to the "material world" and our sense perceptions. It teaches the practice of enriching presence - the ability to instantly sense the inner wealth within oneself and the natural world.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY.

Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June

[Brighton] Meek

Shambhala Training Level B

This programme is organised by the Brighton Shambhala Group and will take place in Brighton.

 The Sacred Path program continues to deal with bringing the principles of warriorship and the practice of mindfulness-awareness into daily life. In particular, it is designed to nurture the student's natural ability to experience the world as sacred and his or her aspiration to create an enlightened society.

"The Four Dignities" are introduced as a path and a process, which describe a warrior's maturing and widening sphere of benevolent engagement in the world. The training in the dignities allows one to maintain awareness and delight at each stage. Meek is a study of the grounded, humble and gentle beginning stages of a warrior's journey. Here one trains to overcome arrogance - the primary obstacle to learning.

The programme will be held at the Dharma School, Ladies Mile Road, Brighton.

Please note that breakfasts are not provided in the Sacred Path program.  Lunches on Saturdays will be catered; lunches on Sundays are "bring your own" or dine out.  For the Meek program, afternoon tea is provided Saturday, and Sunday closes with a reception.

Please also note that there is a materials cost for this weekend of £15 for the accompanying reader, which contains materials for Levels B, C and D. We regret that we cannot subsidize this fee.  Where possible please seek to arrange your own accommodation if required. If you have any problems with accommodation please contact Tim (01273 271012)

Friday 9 to Sunday 11 July

Warrior in the World

Shambhala Training Level Three

Level Three is about developing courage, the ability to step out and develop confidence in all aspects of your life.

To pre-register please send a deposit of £20 payable to: 'The London Shambhala Meditation Centre' c/o London Shambhala Meditation Centre, 27 Belmont Close, London, SW4 6AY