Editing Shambhala Training (section)

==Distinguishing characteristics==
Shambhala partly derives from Chögyam Trungpa's Shambhala teachings, named after the mythical Tibetan Kingdom of [[Shambhala]]. Shambhala in its current form is a [[new religious movement]], the advanced levels of which involve secret teachings and a vow of devotion to the [[guru]], a position currently held by [[Sakyong Mipham|Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche]].

===Shambhala and Shambhala Training===
[[File:Great eastern sun.png|thumb|upright|The Great Eastern Sun]]
[[File:Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.jpg|thumb|Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche]]

The concept of Shambhala is part of the lore of Tibetan Buddhism, and is described in the Kalachakra tantra. The Kalachakra tantra was presumably introduced to Tibet still in the 11th century, the epoch of the [[Tibetan calendar|Tibetan Kalachakra calendar]]. In the [[Kalachakra]] narrative, King Manjuśrīkīrti is said to have been born in 159 BC and ruled over a kingdom of 300,510 followers of the [[Mlechha]] religion, some of whom worshiped the Sun. He is said to have expelled 20,000 people from his domain who clung to Surya Samadhi (solar worship) rather than convert to Kalachakra (Wheel of Time) Buddhism. After realizing these were the wisest and best of his people and how much he was in need of them, he later asked them to return and some did. Those who did not return are said to have set up the city of Shambhala. Manjuśrīkīrti initiated the preaching of the ''Kalachakra'' teachings in order to try to convert those who returned and were still under his rule.

The Kalachakra tantra prophesies that when the world declines into war and greed, and all is lost, the 25th Kalki king [[Maitreya]] will emerge from Shambhala, with a huge army to vanquish Dark Forces and usher in a worldwide [[Golden Age]]. This final battle is prophesied for the year [[25th century|2424 or 2425]] (in the 3304th year after the [[Gautama Buddha#Mahaparinirvana (death)|death of Buddha]]).

Shambhala Training is administered worldwide by [[Shambhala International]]. Shambhala Training is presented in a series of paid weekend programs, the first five of which are called "The Heart of Warriorship", and the subsequent seven "The Sacred Path". The Warrior Assembly is the final program in the Shambhala Training Sacred Path, after which students must take vows of devotion to the guru if they wish to continue. During Warrior Assembly, students study the Shambhala terma text, The Golden Sun of the Great East, and receive the practices of the "stroke of [[Stroke (Chinese character)|ashé]]" (said to be a ''terma'' through Trungpa<ref>Midal, Fabrice. (2001). ''Chögyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision''. {{ISBN|1-59030-098-X}}, pp 220-232</ref>) and [[lungta]].

The Satdharma community, established by Trungpa's appointed regent and [[Dharma heir]] [[Ösel Tendzin]] (Thomas Rich), offers a comparable "Shambhala Education" course of training in [[Ojai, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Shambhala Education |url=http://www.satdharma.org/Shambhala.php |publisher=Satdharma |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513111639/http://www.satdharma.org/Shambhala.php |archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref>

===Shambhala within Shambhala Teaching===
After the year 2000, with the merging of the secular teachings of Shambhala and the teachings of [[Vajradhatu]] into Shambhala Teaching, completion of Shambhala Seminary (which requires taking Buddhist refuge and bodhisattva vows, as well as Buddhist [[samaya]] vows of devotion to the guru) became a condition for progressing on the path and receiving the most advanced Shambhala teachings, such as those of Werma and the Scorpion Seal Retreat. In turn, Warrior Assembly became a prerequisite for attending the Seminary.

The Rigden Abhisheka enters the student into the practice of the Werma Sadhana. It is open to graduates of Shambhala Vajrayana Seminary who have completed their Shambhala ngöndro and to students who have already received the Werma Sadhana and completed their Kagyü Ngöndro.

===Shambhala Terma===
Certain Shambhala practices derive from specific terma texts of Trungpa Rinpoche's such as ''Letter of the Black Ashe'', ''Letter of the Golden Key that Fulfills Desire'', ''Golden Sun of the Great East'', and the ''Scorpion Seal of the Golden Sun'', in long and short versions. Trungpa Rinpoche is believed by his students to have received these teachings directly from [[Gesar of Ling]], an emanation of [[Padmasambhava]], and the [[Kings of Shambhala|Rigden]] kings.<ref>Mukpo, p. 223</ref> Their terma status was endorsed by the Nyingma teacher [[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]].

The Shambhala dharma practices derived entirely or in part from these texts include those of ''[[werma]]'', ''[[Shambhala Training#The Four Dignities.2C Drala and the Lhasang ritual|drala]]'', ''[[Wind Horse]]'' (Tib. ''lungta''), and meditations on four "dignities of Shambhala": tiger (Tib. ''tak''), lion (Tib. ''seng''), garuda (Tib. ''kyung'') and dragon (Tib. ''druk''). [[Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso]], a 19th-century Nyingma lama after whom [[Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche]] took his name, wrote about many of these practices and concepts as well. Some, such as the "stroke of Ashé", have no known precedents.

===Zen influence===
Trungpa Rinpoche was deeply influenced by his friend [[Shunryu Suzuki]] Roshi, a Japanese [[Zen]] master who was central to the introduction of Zen Buddhism to America.<ref>Seager, p. 97</ref> As a result of this influence, certain attributes of form in Shambhala are derived from Zen, rather than Tibetan Buddhism. The shrine rooms in Shambhala, reflecting the Zen aesthetic of ''Kanso'' (簡素) or simplicity, tend to be sparsely furnished and decorated, whereas traditional Tibetan Buddhist shrine rooms are elaborate, ornate, and colorful. As in Zen but unlike Tibetan Buddhist practice, meditators engage in group practice of shamatha-vipashyana.

In addition, Shambhala have adopted the practices of [[kyūdō]], [[ikebana]] (kado), [[tea ceremony]], [[oryoki]], [[calligraphy]], and other traditional Japanese arts.

===Elements of Bön, Taoism, and Confucianism===
To a lesser extent, Trungpa Rinpoche incorporated other elements into Shambhala tradition. From the [[Bön]] religion, the lhasang ceremony is performed; other elements of shamanism play a role. From [[Confucianism]] comes a framework of heaven, earth, and man for understanding the proper relationship between different elements of compositions of all kinds. From [[Taoism]] comes the use of [[feng shui]] and other incorporations.

===Dorje Kasung===
The Dorje Kasung is a paramilitary group that was formed by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche to provide security services, provide driving and personal assistance to the teachers, and address any issues of conflict or health that arise in the community. The training and model of the Dorje Kasung are based on military forms, such as hierarchy, uniforms, and drills. After the reports of misconduct became public, sixteen senior-level Kasung released a statement with their own reports of witnessing abuse while in their roles.

The organization's stated purpose for utilizing the military format is not to propagate war, but "to take advantage of the discipline and energy of military forms to embody and communicate compassion."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kalapamedia.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BSE251|title=True Command: The Teachings of the Dorje Kasung|website=Kalapa Publications|access-date=2017-11-30}}</ref>

===Maitri and Mudra===
Maitri is a therapeutic program that works with different styles of neurosis using principles of the [[Five Buddha Families]]. [[Mudra]] practice, first explored by the Mudra Theater Group, is based on traditional Tibetan monastic dance training and the teachings on [[mahamudra]].

===Traditional Buddhist practices===
Shambhala Teaching also appropriates various meditation techniques of traditional Tibetan Buddhist lineages, including shamatha/vipashyana, zazen, [[madhyamaka]], [[mahamudra]] and [[Dzogchen]], [[tonglen]], [[Lojong]], traditional yidam practices such as [[Vajrayogini]], [[Chakrasamvara]], [[Vajrakilaya]], Jambhala, [[Gesar]], [[Tara (Buddhism)|Tara]], [[Manjushri]], and [[Vajrasattva]].