This weekend retreat is ideal for anyone seeking to learn the practice of mindfulness meditation, develop a regular meditation practice, and cultivate a healthy and loving relationship with themselves. 

Through meditation practice, you glimpse unconditional goodness as the ground of your existence. We learn how to open to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, and see our potential as a genuine and compassionate human being.

The Art of Being Human: Shambhala Training Level I is an excellent introductory program for anyone interested in the path of meditation. It will help to open our eyes, heart, and mind to our own basic goodness and the sacredness of life.

Included in the Retreat

• Guided meditation instruction
• Periods of both sitting and walking meditation
• Talks by an experienced dharma teacher 
• Silent periods
• Question & answer periods
• Group discussions
• Individual meetings with a trained Meditation Instructor 
• Connecting with people interested in meditation and developing more compassion for themselves and the people around them! 

The Art of Being Human is the first retreat in a progressive series of weekend retreats, meaning each weekend is a requirement for the following weekend.

Note: If you complete Level 1,  participant will receive a 50% discount on Level 2 in 2024.

About the Teacher

Susan Ryan studied with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and has been a Shambhala Training Director for many years. Her most recent work for Shambhala was as Co-Chair of the Shambhala Board of Directors. Susan has been a business woman for many years and lives in Boston with her husband Frank.

About Shambhala Training

Shambhala Training is designed to help us develop fearlessness, confidence, openness and gentleness towards ourselves and our world. These qualities arise out of meditation practice and the study of Shambhala warriorship principles. 

Developed by Chögyam Trungpa in 1976, Shambhala Training offers teachings based on the vision that every human being has a natural source of innate wakefulness that we can discover, cultivate and express in our life.

This path is open to anyone seeking to develop gentleness and strength through meditation. Shambhala Training is a series of contemplative workshops suited for both beginning and experienced meditators. The simple and profound technique of mindfulness-awareness meditation can benefit people of any spiritual tradition and way of life.

Meditation practice helps us to examine our states of mind without trying to change them. This practice encourages openness to oneself and what’s around us, and transforms the way we habitually see our life and our world. Our old habits and patterns become more transparent, leaving room for a more direct appreciation of situations.

The “Heart of Warriorship” curriculum consists of five weekend retreats that include meditation training and practice, talks by senior teachers, personal interviews, and group discussions.

These retreats provide a strong foundation in mindfulness-awareness meditation practice, emphasizing the development of genuineness, confidence, humor, and dignity within the complexity of daily life.

Our Generosity Policy

In order to make our programs accessible to everyone, we have a “Price that fits me” policy. If the listed price is an obstacle for you, please decide what works for you and offer whatever you can. No one will be turned away!