Name: Shambhala Training Level 1: The Art of Being Human
Start: 2026-01-17T08:30:00-08:00
End: 2026-01-18T12:00:00-08:00
Location: Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre

Shambhala Training Level 1: The Art of Being Human

Through the practice of meditation, we begin to glimpse that goodness—rather than confusion—is the unconditional ground of our existence. Opening to ourselves with gentleness and appreciation, we begin to see our potential as genuine and compassionate human beings.
The Art of Being Human is the first in the series of Shambhala Training weekends and the first program in the Way of Shambhala curriculum. The Way of Shambhala offers a structured path of meditation and a complete introduction to the foundations of Shambhala Buddhism. Open to people of any spiritual tradition, this series provides a strong foundation in mindfulness-awareness meditation practice, wisdom teachings, and physical practices rooted in the ancient traditions of Shambhala and Tibetan Buddhism
The program includes meditation instruction, talks, periods of meditation practice, and discussion.
Prerequisites: None—everyone is welcome. (
Note: Shambhala Training Level I is prerequisite for Level II.)
Suggested reading: Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, by Chögyam Trungpa. This book is available for purchase in the Victoria Shambhala Centre’s bookstore.
Pricing and generosity: We have a Generosity Policy to make our offerings available to all who wish to participate. If the “program price” is an obstacle for you, please consider paying the “reduced price”. If you are unable to afford the reduced price, you may “pay what you can afford”; to arrange for this, please register in advance via the button below, entering the amount you can afford. For those who can offer more than the program price, we have a “patron price”. Your generosity in offering the patron price helps cover the costs for others who are not able to pay the full program price.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected].
Bill Gaston has been a student of Shambhala since 1979, when he first met Chogyam Trungpa. He is a past Director of Shambhala Training in Victoria, and recently retired professor of creative writing at the University of Victoria. He writes poetry, fiction and memoir, and his 20th book will be published this coming Spring. He and his wife Dede Gaston now live in Vancouver.
Sat January 17th: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun January 18th: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Price:
$125 Program Price
$150 Patron Price
$95 Reduced Price
Generosity Policy Option: Pay what you can