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Overview of the Buddhist Path
It is said that "the dharma is good in the beginning, good in the middle and good in the end". From the first experience of relaxing on the cushion and allowing oneself to just be, the practitioner can discover the goodness of dharma, both within him or herself and in the world.The path of the practitioner of dharma is rich with opportunities for self-examination and discovery. Beginning with looking at one's own experience directly in meditation, the practitioner learns about the ways the mind works. Through meditaiton, the practitioner penetrates confusion to experience the naturalness of being awake. Through studying the wisdom of the lineage, the great practitioners dating back to the Buddha, the student is challenged and inspired to discover a direct view of the nature of mind and reality. While there are many opportunities to join with others on the path for practice and study, the journey is personal.
--Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Weekly Newcomer Events and Public Programs
The Shambhala Center hosts several introductions to meditation each week. For more information please click here. We also host at least one public day-long or weekend-long in-depth meditation program that is open to the public. For more information on those programs please click here.
For an easily download-able flyer about some of our upcoming visits with four renowned Tibetan teachers, please click here. Feel free to print and distribute these to your friends, family, and coworkers.
Picking a Path that's Right for You
While many people enjoy attending our weekly introductory programs for some time, other people are immediately inspired to jump in and take a full path of practice and study offered in our Path of Awakened Life. Others prefer to take the occassional public program or to pursue solely the Shambhala Training path. Any form of regular practice and study is a good form of practice and study and the Shambhala Center looks to support you in any way possible.
So I've been attending programs at the Shambhala Center for a while - now what?
The local Shambhala Center is only one part of a much larger international Shambhala community. There are rural retreat centers that host weeklong and monthlong programs known as weekthuns and dathuns. These are chances for you to go in depth with your practice in a way that we are often unable to offer locally. Karme Choling is the closest rural practice center to Boston and others can be found here.
That's a lot of meditation! Then what?
There are also in-depth study intensives offered at the rural practice centers such as Sutrayana Seminary and Vajrayana Seminary. Sutrayana Seminary is a month-long in-depth look at the Hinayana and Mahayana cycles of teachings matched with a rich practice component. Vajrayana Seminary is an opportunity to pursue the Tibetan Vajrayana track of our heritage under the tutelage of the head of Shambhala, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Vajrayana Seminary is the introduction to a long path of Vajrayana practice and study.
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