Courses open to all
Six Talks on Protector Principle and the Protectors
(Este curso tiene subtítulos en español.)
Teacher: Walker Blaine
This six-talk series explores the protector principle—the factor of mind that brings us back to awareness and enlightened activity—and the protector chants. The talks focus on understanding the purpose of each of the daily protector chants, the meaning of protector principle, and how it is applicable to everyday life.
World Of Gesar
In 1992 and 1999, Dr. Robin Kornman held intensive retreats at Karmê Chöling which explored the Shambhala practices and teachings related to the Epic of Gesar. Each talk was an enriching journey and a dazzling display of Dr.Kornman’s vast knowledge, humor, and profound insight.
This course is drawn from six of the talks in those retreats.
The Path to Auspiciousness—A course on The Verses of the Eight Auspicious Noble Ones
Teacher: Walker Blaine
This is a pre-recorded course exploring the famous chant by Jamgön Mipham Gyatso [1846-1912], The Verses of the Eight Auspicious Noble Ones. This short liturgy, recommended for daily practice by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, is a method to help establish positive circumstances through relying on all the buddhas and bodhisattvas—particularly those associated with auspiciousness—to pacify obstacles and increase the beneficial outcomes of whatever we do.
En español: La senda de la auspiciosidad
Meeting Shambhala—An Introduction to the Shambhala Lineage
Teacher: Walker Blaine
This course was recorded at the Sakyong’s request and discusses lineage and lineage holder, meditation, as well as the major figures from the Supplication to the Shambhala Lineage. It explores the views of basic goodness and natural hierarchy in their relationship with the Rigden and a Sakyong.
The Supplication to the Shambhala Lineage
Teacher: Walker Blaine
This three-part course is for individuals and groups wishing to look more deeply at the Supplication to the Shambhala Lineage, one of the most important chants in the Shambhala tradition. The course summarizes key points in the chant and is presented for both new and seasoned students.
Sadhana of Mahamudra: A Practice for the Dark Ages
Teacher: Acharya Suzann Duquette
The Sadhana of Mahamudra is considered one of Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s most important and enduring legacies. As a practice liturgy it is a powerful way to engage with the highest teachings.
Lineage as the Heart of Ritual
Teachers: Acharya Suzann Duquette, Timothy Quigley, Andrea Doukas and Walker Blaine
These talks explore the view of lineage as ritual, the Sakyong lineage, how lineage empowers ritual, and how we can further our training as umdzes and chöpöns to manifest from a deeper level.
Pre-requisite: Shambhala Training Level 3
Vajrayana Courses
Limitless Ayatanas: An All-Scorpion Seal Course
Teachers: Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown, Acharya Eric Spiegel, Susan Skjei
This course consists of recorded talks, mainly from the online retreat offered by Boulder Shambhala Center in September, 2020.
One of the most provocative teachings in the Scorpion Seal is that our āyatanas, or sense gates, are limitless. This points to a difference from Buddhist teachings on sense perceptions, and highlights additional skillful means in our Shambhala practice.
The Rain of Blessings: An Exploration of Guru Yoga
Teachers: Acharyas Bots, Cashman, Hessey, Pongracz, and Spiegel
Join us in this exploration of the Padmasambhava Guru Yoga —The Rain of Blessings, A Guru Yoga Combined with the Seven Line Supplication— a core practice of the Tibetan tantric tradition. Padmasambhava connects us to the principles of crazy wisdom and devotion. We will explore the central principles of the Vajrayana tradition, including lineage, blessings, guru, samaya and hopelessness.
Prerequisite: Open to all tantrikas in Shambhala who have received the lung for this practice.
Three Talks on Vajrayana Practice: Samaya, Transmission, and Gender Principle
Teacher: Walker Blaine
The first talk, Samaya explores the function of samaya, and how it is impaired and mended. Transmission examines elements in a lineage transmission, focusing on the origin of Shambhala Buddhism. Gender Principle looks at gender in relation to the Rigden principle and in vajrayana overall.
Prerequisite: Restricted to vajrayana practitioners.
Celebrating Goodness and Wisdom: Feast Practice in Shambhala Vajrayana
Teacher: Walker Blaine
This Vajrayana course is an in-depth exploration of the core elements of feast practice. It will be of interest to new and not-so-new practitioners alike.
Prerequisite: Restricted to vajrayana practitioners