This course is a progressive exploration of the core elements of the Shambhala Buddhist tradition, which is the union of warriorship and Buddhism. The root of receiving the practices of any lineage is the relationship between the living lineage-holder—who holds the stream of teachings and realization—and the student. To support that, the student must understand the lineage they want to enter, in this case the Shambhala lineage held by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The course is designed for all levels of practice and will be of interest to new and seasoned practitioners alike.
The course will cover what a lineage and lineage holder are; what meditation is in general and according to the outlook of a lineage; and will explore the views of basic goodness and natural hierarchy in their relationship with the Rigden and Sakyong. The major figures in the Shambhala tradition will be presented through the Supplication to the Shambhala Lineage, with special emphasis on Gesar of Ling and the Rigdens, who Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche named as the sources of the Shambhala terma teachings. The class concludes by examining the points of direct intersection between a student and a lineage as a way of showing the unique features of Shambhala Buddhism and its cultural container.
Topics by Class
Class One: Lineage and Lineage Holders, Teacher and Student, Cultural Aspects of Lineage
Class Two: Meditation, Basic Goodness, Natural Hierarchy, The Rigden
Class Three: The Shambhala Lineage Supplication, Dzokchen, Mahamudra, Rigdens and Dharmarajas, Gesar and Ling
Class Four: Warriorship and Buddhism, Drala and the Mukpo Lineage Teachings, How Warriorship and Buddhism Interweave
