Vajrayana Seminary
Application Deadline:

About Vajrayana Seminary

The Shambhala Vajrayana Seminary introduces the student into the vajrayana teachings and practices of our Shambhala and Buddhist lineages. During this program, students will receive authorization and training in the Shambhala ngöndro practices under Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's personal guidance. In applying for Vajrayana Seminary, students are requesting to be accepted as his vajrayana students. Thus, attendance in this program requires a personal connection and commitment to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the teachings of the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and the Shambhala Buddhist mandala.

Students must apply and be accepted to this program prior to registration with Shambhala Mountain Center.

Please note that the Sakyong will leave his one year retreat to offer transmission and enter students into the vajrayana, but will not teach the entire seminary.

Preparation

Students applying to Vajrayana Seminary will need to have completed the following in advance of the program:

• Shambhala Sutrayana Seminary (or the hinayana and mahayana sections of the former Vajradhatu Seminary) and its pre-requisites.
• Refuge and bodhisattva vows, which are required before receiving vajrayana transmission.
• The Shambhala Training Sacred Path program through Warrior Assembly. If you will not be able to complete these requirements before the program, please speak with your Shambhala Training Resident Director to discuss ways of completing at least the Sacred Path material before the program. If accepted, you would then commit to attend Warrior Assembly as soon as possible after Seminary.
• The preparatory class, Entering the Vajra World. You should plan to attend this after being accepted to Vajrayana Seminary. Some centres offer this program in the few months preceding Seminary. Alternately, you may register for the online course to be led by Acharya John Rockwell. If you are accepted to Seminary, details about the online course will br included in your acceptance letter.
• Membership in your local Shambhala Meditation Center or Group or membership in Shambhala International if you live in a remote area where this is not possible. Exposure and familiarization with the Shambhala community is important.
• A shamatha-vipashyana retreat is strongly recommended, though not required.

How to Apply

The application process for Vajrayana Seminary is managed by Shambhala International. Applications are reviewed by the Seminary Application Review Committee, under the direction of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Acceptance is determined based on the student's level of preparation and understanding of basic dharmic principles, and their readiness to undertake the further commitment inherent in becoming a vajrayana student.

Applications for this year's Vajrayana Seminary can be filled out online in the box to the right. Applications will be reviewed only after all parts of the application have been received:

1. The completed application form.
2. At least two completed recommendation forms (submitted separately from the application) from the following people:
   1. Your meditation instructor
   2. The Director, Head of Practice, or Head of Study from your local Shambhala Center or a Shambhala acharya.
3. A $25 US application fee
   (Can be paid online with Visa or Master Card)

• Please note: For those who don't have a Visa or Master Card, the application fee for programs at Dechen Chöling can be paid directly to Shambhala Europe.  For information about how to arrange payment, please contact Christine Drabek at drabek23@googlemail.com .

Scheduled Seminaries

Submitting Recommendations

To submit a recommendation for a program applicant, select the program they are applying for above and follow the instructions under Recommenders.

Financial Assistance

Shambhala International sets aside a portion of the revenue from each of its programs for financial assistance. Please note: In order to maintain consistent policies between the programs when they're held at different locations, normal discounts offered by the practice centers do not apply.

After you have applied for the program, you will be provided a link to the Shambhala International Program Financial Assistance Application. Financial assistance awards will be determined based on relative need.

For More Information

Information on pricing, application requirements, who to contact, etc., can be found in the program fact sheets for the individual Vajrayana Seminaries. To access the fact sheet, follow the link for the program you are interested in under the section, "Scheduled Seminaries" above.

Return to the Advanced Program Page.