Shambhala Online is pleased to welcome back Andy Karr and the popular online course “The Buddhist Path: Karma and Emptiness”.

This five-class program is an excellent preparatory course for those planning to attend Sutrayana Seminary. It is also recommended for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the true nature of reality. This program is complimented with readings from Andy’s book “Contemplating Reality”.

DATES: Tuesday, April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5 at 8:30 p.m. ADT (Halifax, NS time).

For more information and to register, please go to http://shambhalaonline.org.

“The buddha family, or families, associated with a person describes his or her fundamental style, that person’s intrinsic perspective or stance in perceiving the world and working with it. Each family is associated with both a neurotic and an enlightened style. The neurotic expression of any buddha family can be transmuted into its wisdom or enlightened aspect. As well as describing people’s styles, the buddha families are also associated with colors, elements, landscapes, directions, seasons—with any aspect of the phenomenal world.”
- Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche -

Saturday, March 21, 2009 [7 - 9 PM]
Appreciating the Five Wisdom Energies

This year’s Shambhala Arts Festival will feature work that embodies and exemplifies each of the five wisdom energies, or Buddha families. On Saturday, March 21, 2009, the Shambhala Meditation Center of San Antonio will host an exhibition of Miksang photography, a contemplative art form based on the Dharma Art teachings of Shambhala founder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, illustrating the flavor of each Buddha family. There will also be a live performance of a new musical piece composed of five movements, each of which will provide an immersion into one of the five families through the sense of sound. This original musical interpretation of the wisdom energies will be performed by composers Phil Castillo and Travis Dierolf. The evening will begin at 7:00 pm with a brief talk about the five wisdom energies, and a celebratory reception of hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be offered.

Sunday, March 22, 2009 [9:30 - 1 PM]
Celebrating Sangha Through Sound

On Sunday morning, we will commence our public meditation practice at 9:30 am, followed by a continuation of our celebration of sound by enjoying the “Bamboo Spirit Shakuhachi Concert” at 10:00 am. The shakuhachi is a wooden flute which was traditionally played by Japanese Buddhist monks as part of their path of practice. At 11:00 am everyone will be invited to participate in a form of sonic meditation, which involves using sound to experience the vibrant sanity of our lives. A potluck lunch will follow at noon.

Complete all five levels of Shambhala Training: “Heart of Warriorship” in beautiful San Antonio in 2009.

Shambhala Training is a series of contemplative workshops, suited for both beginning and experienced meditators. The simple and profound technique of mindfulness and awareness is the basis of a secular path of meditation, which can benefit people of any spiritual tradition and way of life. Shambhala Training is the study and practice of Shambhala warriorship—the tradition of human bravery and leadership. This path shows how to take the challenges of daily life in our modern society as opportunities for both contemplative practice and social action.

For more information or to register, please visit this page, or contact Resident Director, Phil Castillo.

Shambhala Training - The Art of Being Human, Level I
with Linda Mockeridge
March 28 / 8:30 AM - March 29 / 3:00 PM (2009)
Through the practice of meditation, we glimpse unconditional goodness as the ground of our existence. Opening to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, we begin to see our potential as genuine and compassionate human beings.

Shambhala Training - The Art of Being Human, Level I
with Iris Ramos
June 6 / 8:30 AM - June 7 / 3:00 PM (2009)
Through the practice of meditation, we glimpse unconditional goodness as the ground of our existence. Opening to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, we begin to see our potential as genuine and compassionate human beings.

Shambhala Training - Birth of the Warrior, Level II
July 10 / 7:00 PM - July 12 / 5:00 PM (2009)
Having experienced a taste of basic goodness, we want to go forward. Meditation practice allows us to observe how we create a cocoon of habits to mask our fear. We begin to appreciate that there is no fundamental obstacle to experiencing basic goodness.

Shambhala Training - Warrior in the World, Level III
with Jim Tompkins
August 28 / 7:00 PM - August 30 / 6:00 PM (2009)
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.

Shambhala Training - Awakened Heart, Level IV
October 2 / 7:00 PM - October 4 / 6:00 PM (2009)
With trust in basic goodness and daring to experience the sharp edge of reality, we move forward with gentleness, increased awareness, and inquisitiveness about the world, as it is. We can extend ourselves to others fully and with kindness.

Shambhala Training - Level V: Open Sky
with Carol Lovett
November 6 / 7:00 PM - November 8 / 6:00 PM (2009)
Communicating with the world gently and fearlessly, our awareness is sharpened and we find the open clear sky of mind - a delightful source of wisdom and uplifted energy. We trust our nature enough to let go into the present moment.

In True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art, Chogyam Trungpa talks about “gaining new sight.” He goes on to explain that this new sight “is being extremely inquisitive to see things in their own nature, not always wanting to change things.” In a recent Miksang Level II class in San Antonio, we continued along the path of synchronizing the mind and the phenomenal world through vision. We were skillfully guided by John McQuade to rely on our visual perception in exploring the phenomenal world - letting the world guide our efforts to see the visual field as it is - without trying to manipulate what is seen. The outcome was magical - that elusive “ordinary magic” found in the sincerity of life. Images from this class will be used in our coming Dharma Art Festival and can also be seen here.

The following photo slideshow features photos taken throughout the Year of the Earth Mouse at Shambhala San Antonio.