Way of Shambhala Courses

shambhala-online-icon-smallThe Way of Shambhala is a complete training in authentic meditation practices and teachings, open to all interested students. The curriculum was designed by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, based on the Shambhala teachings of his father, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The Shambhala Path emphasizes the development of genuineness, confidence, good humor, and personal human dignity.
The online curriculum is comprised of 5 courses in the In Everyday Life series, and 3 courses in the Basic Goodness series. Together they provide an experiential overview of meditation practices, wisdom teachings, contemplative arts, and physical disciplines rooted in the ancient traditions of Shambhala and Vajrayana Buddhism.
Shambhala Online multi-week courses feature senior teachers and interactive learning experiences. These Way of Shambhala classes are designed for those without access to teachers or who need a class before it’s offered at the local center. Each course offers weekly video talks that can be viewed at your convenience, plus meditation assignments, reflection prompts, readings and online discussion forums.

Click on the course titles below for registration information.

Meditation in Everyday Life

Shastri Janet Solyntjes presents peaceful abiding meditation, basic goodness, and ways that meditation practice can improve the quality of our daily life. By deepening our experience and understanding of ourselves through the practice of meditation, we more fully become who we already are.

Contentment in Everyday Life

Contentment can be hard to find. Much of the time we search for contentment in things, achievements or relationships. In this course Acharya Eve Rosenthal shows how, with meditation and contemplation practice, we can relax with ourselves as we are and appreciate simple human experience.

Joy in Everyday Life

Holly Gayley teaches on awakening the heart and cultivating a compassionate view. As meditation practice expands and we develop trust in basic goodness, we can begin to discover the confidence and personal energy to go forward on the journey. Joining gentleness with discipline leads to a sense of joy. The mahayana teachings on compassion can become the inspiration for a life of bravery and freedom from doubt.

Fearlessness in Everyday Life

Acharya Gaylon Ferguson leads this class on working with fear and cultivating a fearless approach to life. Learning to work with our anxiety, we are not blocked by fear. Through an exploration of the Buddhist teachings of mind and nature of reality, we learn to see clearly.

Wisdom in Everyday Life

John Rockwell teaches this five-session course. Meditation sharpens our intelligence and uncovers our wisdom. When we touch the world directly, we discover ordinary magic. No longer deterred or depressed by obstacles, we can include everything as part of the path and play with whatever arises. The challenges and richness of daily life become opportunities for both contemplative practice and social and ecological action.

The Basic Goodness Series

In this 3-minute clip, Adam Lobel provides an overview of the Basic Goodness series.

Basic Goodness of Being Human:  Who Am I?

Adam Lobel leads participants on a journey of contemplative inquiry focused on the timeless question, “Who am I?” Course participants will:
  • Learn Buddhist teachings on how our sense of self arises moment by moment to provide a reference point.
  • Use meditation practice as a way to contact and express the mind of basic goodness.
  • Join a community for discussion, contemplation and dialogue exercises.

Basic Goodness of Society: How Can I Help?

Acharya Arawana Hayashi teaches this six-session course exploring our relationships with others, the aspiration to help our world, and specific aspects of social transformation. We look at a Shambhala understanding of society, and what enlightened society may be. Is society something that is ultimately confused, or is there goodness in human society?
The course focuses on transforming four aspects of society: relations with family (household), professional life, entertainment, and economy. We learn the traditional mahayana practice of “sending and taking” (tong len).

What is Real? The Basic Goodness of Reality

In this course taught by John Rockwell, participants explore the ordinary magic of reality and learn about the progressive stages of discovering non-dual perception of the elements, and thus, the nature of mind. Students will be taking sense perceptions and the elements as their teachers. The course is experientially oriented to see, hear, touch, taste and smell reality afresh. We awaken to the innate capacity we all possess to explore and directly experience the essence of reality, the essence of basic goodness.

How the Courses Work. Designed for those without access to teachers at a nearby Shambhala Center, these online courses feature recorded talks by senior Shambhala teachers, and an online community of participants. Over 6 to 8 weeks, course participants view recorded teachings and engage in contemplations and exercises aimed at deepening their understanding. Please note that one aspect of the course involves meeting with your meditation instructor to discuss the contemplations. Credit will be noted upon completion of a course.

Pricing and Registration Options

1) Regular Amount. The regular course rate is $99 per course in the In Everyday Life Series, and $108 per course in the Basic Goodness Series.
2) Patron. The Patron rate of $149 supports our efforts to connect teachers and learners through online programs. In particular, it helps us offer the generosity policy to those in need.
3) Generosity Policy.  We want to make the teachings available to all and will work with you to ensure your participation. Use the “Request a discount” link just above the Register Now button for any program to receive a discount coupon code. For a further discount or scholarship, contact [email protected].
4) Centers, Groups, Shambhala teachers, meditation instructors, and guides. You may use the “talks only” version of the courses at a reduced rate. Centers and Groups, use this option when a teacher is unavailable but you can provide facilitation to participants. Teachers, assistant directors and guides, use this option to prepare for staffing or teaching a Way of Shambhala course. See the Centers and Groups page for more information.