March 8-9, 2025

11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET

The fruition of meekness is that, because the warrior possesses extraordinary exertion, he is able to accomplish whatever purposes or objectives he is trying to fulfill. The sense of exertion is not speedy, aggressive, or heavy-handed. Like the tiger in the jungle, you are both relaxed and energized. You are constantly inquisitive but your awareness is also disciplined, so you accomplish every activity without difficulty, and you inspire those around you to do the same.

–Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

About the Training

Deepen your meditation practice, and continue along the path of the Shambhala teachings on warriorship during this weekend retreat. The Sacred Path series of Shambhala Training Levels introduces further warriorship practices, which expand on the meditation training explored in the Heart of Warriorship Shambhala Training Levels. The practices and teachings that are presented during Sacred Path are based on societal vision and the aspiration to help the world and includes the following weekend retreats: Great Eastern Sun, Windhorse, Drala, Meek, Perky, Outrageous, Inscrutable, and Golden Key.

Meek, Perky, Outrageous, and Inscrutable are referred to as the four dignities in Shambhala, in that they are expressions of various forms of “energetic qualities” or “ways of being” that all humans can experience and train in. They are introduced as a path and developmental process, which help develop and expand the ability to be of benefit to others and the world. Each dignity is associated with an animal (either real or mythic) that acts as a helpful analogy or metaphor for the “awake energy” of that particular dignity: Meek – Tiger; Perky – Snow Lion; Outrageous – Garuda; Inscrutable – Dragon. Training in the four dignities allows one to develop greater compassion and awareness – and delight in the world. 

Meek is a study of the grounded, humble, and gentle aspects of a warrior’s journey. Here one trains to overcome arrogance – the primary obstacle to learning and deepening – and to cultivate curiosity and inquisitiveness. These qualities of Meek are associated with the Tiger, who feels the earth beneath them with full awareness – carefully placing each large paw with care and finely tuned senses.

Meek here does not mean being feeble; it just means resting in a state of simplicity, being uncomplicated and, at the same time, approachable.

–Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

As the second of the four dignities, Perky focuses on cultivating sharp, vibrant, and uplifted energy through natural discipline. Overcoming the trap of doubt, the warrior of perky is able to accomplish their activities with a sense of dignity and ease. The qualities of Perky are associated with the Snow Lion which effortlessly leaps from mountain top to mountain top.

Come join this enriching and profound exploration of the first two of the four dignities and invite the joyful energies of Meek and Perky even more deeply into your life!

*This online program will be recorded and available to registered participants around 72 hours after the course has taken place. You may find the recording under “My Programs” after signing into your Shambhala Online account.

Included in the Retreat

• Guided meditation instruction
• Sitting and walking meditation
• Talks by an experienced teacher 
• Silent periods
• Question & answer periods
• Group discussions
• Individual meetings with a trained Meditation Instructor 
• Connecting with people interested in meditation and discovering the brilliance of the world around them!

Materials Fee

*The Four Dignities–Meek and Perky fee includes the course tuition ($199), as well as the Dignities of Shambhala Sourcebook ($35) + shipping ($21), which is required to complete this level. 

We understand that due to the materials fee, this Shambhala Level is higher in cost than other levels. Please feel free to make use of our discount form if this is helpful for you. Please note that everyone must pay the full materials fee of $56 (Dignities of Shambhala Sourcebook + shipping).

Prerequisites

Drala. Meek & Perky is a retreat that is part of a progressive series of weekend retreats, meaning each weekend is a requirement for the following weekend.

About the Teachers

TBA

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.

About the Sacred Path

The Sacred Path is a series of teachings for those who have completed Shambhala Training Levels I-V. It introduces further practices to develop warriorship and extend the student’s training in meditation. These practices are based on a societal vision and aspiration to help the world. This training cultivates one’s dignity and natural gifts in order to widen one’s sphere of compassion. 

During a series of visionary experiences that took place between 1976 and 1980, Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche wrote down what became known as the Shambhala terma, a series of texts. The Sacred Path series of retreats is based on these texts and on the extensive commentaries Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche gave on these teachings and on how to practice them in modern times.