Shambhala Training is a series of contemplative workshops, suited for both beginning and experienced meditators. The meditation practices introduced at these workshops are a way to cultivate increased awareness and compassion.

Shambhala Training Levels I-V , or The Heart of Warriorship, can be practiced as an independent series of workshops.

This sequential program is also part of an integrated program, called Meditation in Everyday Life, that offers an experiential overview of meditation practices, wisdom teachings, and contemplative arts rooted in the ancient traditions of Shambhala and Tibetan Buddhism.

The program unfolds through four stages and is presented as a series of contemplative workshops and classes taught by experienced Shambhala teachers. These stages represent the natural progression of awakening in our life. Many of the weekends are open to the public.

Check the calendar for upcoming programs.

The Shambhala Tradition

A basic truth of the Shambhala teachings is that we all want to lead sane, dignified lives, and that this is possible. If we look directly at our own experience, we can discover a continuity of wakeful dignity underlying all changing conditions. This wholesome, wakeful presence is referred to in Shambhala Training as basic goodness. The Shambhala teachings recognize that this truth of innate human wisdom and basic goodness does not belong to any one religion or doctrine. The Shambhala Training is inspired by the ancient legend of the Kingdom of Shambhala, said to be a society which drew its gentle and fearless sense of social responsibility from the practice of meditation. The legend of the Kingdom of Shambhala has been a guiding vision for many centuries in Asian culture and has parallels in Western traditions. Shambhala represents the ideal of secular enlightenment, a view that all aspects of civilization-family, commerce, education, science, the arts, religion-can be permeated with a natural sense of sacredness.

Read about the wisdom of Shambhala from a talk by Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche

The Heart of Warriorship

These five weekend workshops include the study and practice of Shambhala warriorship- a path of nonaggression born from the bravery and gentleness of meeting our world without bias or judgment. This path shows how to take the challenges of daily life in our modern society as opportunities for both contemplative practice and social action. Becoming a warrior in the Shambhala tradition means developing the courage to meet life’s challenges with openness and strength.

The workshops include meditation training and practice, talks by senior instructors, personal meditation interviews and group discussions.

Look at the calendar for upcoming Shambhala Training programs .

All levels are offered as weekend programs or in the Good Morning Shambhala format of four Fridays in a row - 8:30am-noon

All weekend levels except Level 1 and the Good Morning Shambhala Series, are full weekend programs starting with registration on Friday at 7 pm, 8:30am-6:30pm Saturday and Sunday.

Schedule for the weekend Level 1 is Friday night at 7 pm, beginning on Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 am with a light breakfast, and ending on Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday at 1 pm with a reception. 

Pre-registration  required. Please call 902 420-1118,ext. 10 or email halifax@shambhala.org

All programs begin at 7pm on Friday evening.

Level I: The Art of Being Human
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.

Level II: Birth of the Warrior
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.

Level III: Warrior in the World
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.

Level IV: Awakened Heart
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.

Level V: Open Sky
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

photo credit: Liza Matthews