Upcoming programmes
 Shambhala Training Level V - Open Sky
04 Feb 2012 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.
 Being Brave - Transforming our World
07 Feb 2012 This is a program taught by Sakyong Mipham, Pema Chodron and Adam Lobel. It is a DVD recording of a program taught in Halifax last August
 Chado (The Way of Tea)
11 Feb 2012 In the Way of Tea, we enter into an atmosphere of direct naked ordinary mind, and we find fulfillment for our deep human longing of maybe doing something nice for others. Just that! Only that! Placing others before oneself.
 Open House
14 Feb 2012 An Open House is specifically designed to welcome newcomers to our meditation and teaching style. This is free to newcomers and open to all. Welcome to Shambhala Melbourne Meditation
Look at your Mind and Accept what you Find.
WEEKLY EVENTS
PEMA CHODRON STUDY & MEDITATION GROUPS
Monday Mornings - 10:00am to 12:30pm at 4 Parkview Tce, Lysterfield Sth. Sessions are based on the work of Pema Chodron, an Acharya or Senior teacher wiithin Shambhala and author of best selling books such as When Things Fall Apart and The Places that Scare You. A CD or DVD teaching by Pema is presented, followed by some discussion and meditation.
All welcome
A Donation of $10.00 is requested.
Tuesday Nights - Warranwood 7:30 - 9:30pm - 37 Wellington Park Drive. All welcome.
The night includes two activiities - from 7:30 to 8:30pm we meditate together, interpsersing periods of sitting meditation with walking meditation. Then from 8:30 - 9:30pm we listen to a teaching by an authorised teacher. This is followed by a light supper.
Newcomers are offered one-on-one instruction in our meditation style, before joining the group. Shambhala recommends that people select a Meditation Instructor to confer with over time as this can be an important support to one's journey on the meditative path, regardless of how long one has practiced.
COST: $12 or $8 concession. It is also on Tuesday nights that we run special courses - these will be detailed in the righthand column of the website and special charges may apply. Shambhala's generosity policy applies to all our programs*.
Note: Not available during school holidays - check our calendar page above.
SHAMBHALA TRAINING
Every six weeks or so a teacher comes to run a weekend program known as Shambhala Training. These weekends are designed to introduce paritcipants to meditation as well as the teachings of Chogyam Trungpa. See calendar or Shambhala Training above for more details.
PUBLIC TALKS
When teachers come to town we like to avail of their knowledge as much as possible. So we usually ask them to give Public Talks in both venues so that the general public can access some of the main concepts of the Shambhala Enlightened Society vision. These are open to all and details can be found in the Public Talks section above.
ONLINE COURSES
Shambhala Online, based in Halifax Nova Scotia, are beginning to provide regular programs online. If you become a member of Shambhala Melbourne you could access these from your own home. They are usually taught from North America so the time differences don't always work for us but a permanent audio version of the teachings is available to all those who register for a program. Viewing a program online is the preferred method though as one has an opportunity to ask a question, live, from a teacher. These teachings put out by Shambhala Online are for everyone. They encourage us to listen to them as a group but they are also designed to cater for people located in remote regions who cannot get to a local centre. http://www.shambhalaonline.org/
MEDITATION INSTRUCTION
Perhaps the Shambhala Melbourne's most valuable offering, meditation instruction is available to anyone, free of charge. We offer introductory instruction to newcomers and follow-up instruction to other practitioners on Tuesday evenings and at other times by appointment. We encourage anyone interested in looking closely at her/his "own backyard" to work regularly with a meditation instructor.
Depending on a student's interest and experience, meditation instruction might include:
- Introducing the practice of meditation. Introductory meditation instruction presents the basic meditation practice taught in the Shambhala community. This practice combines a simple three-part technique and a particular view or attitude.
- Clarifying the view of meditation. In our tradition, meditation instruction involves more than the communication of a technique; it is, at heart, about the transmission of the revolutionary view that unconditional wisdom and compassion are the very ground of our being, and that by learning to relax more and more fully, we allow this fundamental nature to flower.
- Instruction on working with obstacles to meditation. Common obstacles to meditation include disheartenment, resistance, procrastination, discursiveness and spacing out. The obstacles are well documented in the Shambhala Buddhist teachings—and so are their antidotes.
- Guidance on the path of practice and study. The Shambhala community presents many opportunities for students to deepen their practice and study—public meditation sessions, evening classes, weekend programs, retreats and seminaries, to name a few. A meditation instructor can help one decide what to do next and when to do it.
- Guidance on joining meditation and daily life. The workaday world is where the rubber meets the road. Getting the tools to meet life's ups and downs with a strong and pliable mind and an open heart is another potential benefit of working with a meditation instructor.
Shambhala meditation instructors are senior Shambhala Buddhist practitioners specially trained and authorized to help people deepen and expand their conceptual and experiential understanding of meditation. We encourage anyone interested in this journey to establish a working relationship with the meditation instructor of her/his choice and keep working with the instructor for as long as doing so feels beneficial.
Shambhala Melbourne instructors currently available include:
- Aine Marron
- Michael Stanborough
- Rick Dawe
Shambhala Melbourne Meditation is part of an international community of over 220 meditation centres founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master. This organisation continues to expand under the leadership of his son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.
*Our Generosity Policy allows anyone to participate fully in the life of our Centre regardless of his or her ability to contribute financially. It states:
The Melbourne Shambhala Meditation Centre thrives due to the generosity of its program participants, friends and members. Recognizing that generosity, trust and openness are interconnected, we offer all of our programs on a suggested-donation basis and welcome participants to donate less or more than the suggested amounts as they choose.
Check out Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's Daily Contemplations
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Combination Half Nyinthun & Staff Training Day