Buy a Course, Gift a Course
As a special bonus for this course, you’ll have the option to gift a second enrollment to a friend, loved one, colleague, or anyone else at no additional cost right when you sign up.
Buy a Course, Gift a Course
As a special bonus for this course, you’ll have the option to gift a second enrollment to a friend, loved one, colleague, or anyone else at no additional cost right when you sign up.
Life is a lot.
It feels overwhelming in so many ways right now, and when asked by her students for the best tools for “dark times,” Pema Chödrön chose these teachings as the most pertinent and potent antidote that she knows.
In this brand-new retreat, Pema charts a course through the rising waters of inner turmoil and outer strife. Teaching from Gampo Abbey, perched atop the cliffs of Nova Scotia, she skillfully illuminates a simple and profound path to a world that is more open and kind: one that reflects the beauty and inherent goodness we all have access to, but often walk past.
Drawing from the secular Shambhala teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, she demonstrates how true bravery and confidence emerge from collaborating with reality. This is not a course that ignores the world; it is one that helps us see it exactly as it is with open eyes and a tender heart. In one of her most timely and useful teachings to date, Pema Chödrön gives us the tools we desperately need to care for ourselves and one another. Through these teachings, you will be guided to connect with the inexhaustible courage and magic of the present moment. Whatever you encounter—fear, inspiration, uncertainty, tenderness, heartbreak—you will be supported in turning toward it, learning to see whatever arises as a doorway to further awakening and connection.
Life is a lot.
It feels overwhelming in so many ways right now, and when asked by her students for the best tools for “dark times,” Pema Chödrön chose these teachings as the most pertinent and potent antidote that she knows.
In this brand-new retreat, Pema charts a course through the rising waters of inner turmoil and outer strife. Teaching from Gampo Abbey, perched atop the cliffs of Nova Scotia, she skillfully illuminates a simple and profound path to a world that is more open and kind: one that reflects the beauty and inherent goodness we all have access to, but often walk past.
Drawing from the secular Shambhala teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, she demonstrates how true bravery and confidence emerge from collaborating with reality. This is not a course that ignores the world; it is one that helps us see it exactly as it is with open eyes and a tender heart. In one of her most timely and useful teachings to date, Pema Chödrön gives us the tools we desperately need to care for ourselves and one another. Through these teachings, you will be guided to connect with the inexhaustible courage and magic of the present moment. Whatever you encounter—fear, inspiration, uncertainty, tenderness, heartbreak—you will be supported in turning toward it, learning to see whatever arises as a doorway to further awakening and connection.
What You Will Learn
Strength
Navigate dark times with courage, confidence, and humor.
Kindness
Cultivate genuine, unconditional friendliness toward yourself, your loved ones, and even those who give you the most difficulty.
Peace
Discover a fundamental spaciousness that can bring relief in the midst of stress, fear, and anxiety.
Openness
Nourish the innate “joining emotions” that guide you into a wholesome relationship with others.
Presence
Tap into the magic of the present moment, a thread of “nowness” that can support you in every circumstance and use direct perception as a gateway to liberating wisdom.
Clarity
Develop a toolkit of practices and insights that can equip you for fearless living.
What You Will Learn
Strength
Navigate dark times with courage, confidence, and humor.
Kindness
Cultivate genuine, unconditional friendliness toward yourself, your loved ones, and even those who give you the most difficulty.
Peace
Discover a fundamental spaciousness that can bring relief in the midst of stress, fear, and anxiety.
Openness
Nourish the innate “joining emotions” that guide you into a wholesome relationship with others.
Presence
Tap into the magic of the present moment, a thread of “nowness” that can support you in every circumstance and use direct perception as a gateway to liberating wisdom.
Clarity
Develop a toolkit of practices and insights that can equip you for fearless living.
This Retreat Includes
9 Hours of Brand-New 4K Video Teachings (With Subtitles)
Experience this intimate set of teachings, newly recorded with Pema at her home monastery of Gampo Abbey
Live Calls with Pema Chödrön
Join two live Q&A calls in which Pema will take your questions from the online retreat (Saturday, October 25, and Saturday, November 22, at 2:00 p.m. EDT/EST)
Live Meditation Sessions
Sit with others in the retreat community during twice-weekly live meditations with our course facilitators on Zoom (Sundays and Wednesdays, October 26–November 26, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. EDT/EST)
Interactive Discussion Forums
Connect with other students and receive guidance from senior practitioners on our facilitated discussion boards
Guided Practices & Contemplations
Bring the teachings alive with guided meditation practices and contemplation prompts themed to each lesson
Downloadable Audio Files
Take these profound teachings with you wherever you are—in the car, on a walk, or over the kitchen sink
Printable Transcripts
Review the lectures at your own pace, highlight, and take notes with downloadable PDF transcripts
Recommended Readings List
A list of readings and books recommended for deepening your study and practice
Unlimited Access
Access the course on your device or computer again and again as new insights emerge on your own path
This Retreat Includes
9 Hours of Brand-New 4K Video Teachings (With Subtitles)
Experience this intimate set of teachings, newly recorded with Pema at her home monastery of Gampo Abbey
Live Calls with Pema Chödrön
Join two live Q&A calls in which Pema will take your questions from the online retreat (Saturday, October 25, and Saturday, November 22, at 2:00 p.m. EDT/EST)
Live Meditation Sessions
Sit with others in the retreat community during twice-weekly live meditations with our course facilitators on Zoom (Sundays and Wednesdays, October 26–November 26, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. EDT/EST)
Interactive Discussion Forums
Connect with other students and receive guidance from senior practitioners on our facilitated discussion boards
Guided Practices & Contemplations
Bring the teachings alive with guided meditation practices and contemplation prompts themed to each lesson</
Downloadable Audio Files
Take these profound teachings with you wherever you are—in the car, on a walk, or over the kitchen sink
Printable Transcripts
Review the lectures at your own pace, highlight, and take notes with downloadable PDF transcripts
Recommended Readings List
A list of readings and books recommended for deepening your study and practice
Unlimited Access
Access the course on your device or computer again and again as new insights emerge on your own path
"You can expand your heart and mind limitlessly far beyond the hopes and fears of 'me.' Far beyond the cocoon of 'for me and against me'. You can dispel your own darkness."
—Pema Chödrön
"You can expand your heart and mind limitlessly far beyond the hopes and fears of 'me.' Far beyond the cocoon of 'for me and against me'. You can dispel your own darkness."
—Pema Chödrön
Bonuses
1. Buy One, Gift One
Share the gift of these transformative teachings! As a special bonus for this course, you’ll have the option to gift a second enrollment to a friend, loved one, or anyone else at no additional cost right when you sign up.
2. 4½ Hours of Video Teachings: Smile at Fear
In this recorded retreat, Pema Chödrön shares teachings inspired by the book Smile at Fear, which was written by her teacher Chögyam Trungpa. She, and her teaching assistant, Carolyn Rose Gimian, also share practices they received from Trungpa Rinpoche for courageously meeting ourselves in the present moment.
3. Coupon Code for 50% Off All Recommended Readings
Total Retail Value: $82.80 | You Save: $41.40
Expand your library and deepen your study with 50% off titles on the recommended reading list for this retreat when you order at Shambhala.com.
Bonuses
1. Buy One, Gift One
Share the gift of these transformative teachings! As a special bonus for this course, you’ll have the option to gift a second enrollment to a friend, loved one, or anyone else at no additional cost right when you sign up.
2. 4½ Hours of Video Teachings: Smile at Fear
In this recorded retreat, Pema Chödrön shares teachings inspired by the book Smile at Fear, which was written by her teacher Chögyam Trungpa. She, and her teaching assistant, Carolyn Rose Gimian, also share practices they received from Trungpa Rinpoche for courageously meeting ourselves in the present moment.
3. Coupon Code for 50% Off All Recommended Readings
Total Retail Value: $82.80 | You Save: $41.40
Expand your library and deepen your study with 50% off titles on the recommended reading list for this retreat when you order at Shambhala.com.
"Genuine means being really friendly with yourself. It doesn't mean friendly just with the parts of yourself that you admire or are proud of. Very importantly, it means opening to yourself as you are. To be a warrior is to open to yourself as you are."
—Pema Chödrön
"Genuine means being really friendly with yourself. It doesn't mean friendly just with the parts of yourself that you admire or are proud of. Very importantly, it means opening to yourself as you are. To be a warrior is to open to yourself as you are."
—Pema Chödrön
- Registration Open for a Limited Time! -
Join the Retreat
Includes Buy One, Gift One
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please email us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
- Registration Open for a Limited Time! -
Join the Retreat
Includes Buy One, Gift One
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please email us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
Course Curriculum
Lesson 1
Genuineness
This lesson will help you:
- Become familiar with the path of the warrior and how it can help you respond to a world on fire.
- Respond skillfully when you find yourself stuck in habitual patterns that cause pain.
- Experience difficult emotions on a direct, sensory level while letting go of storylines.
- Become conscious of where you hold back from full engagement with others and the world.
- See your current community, no matter what it may be, as an opportunity for creating enlightened society.
Lesson 2
Basic Goodness
This lesson will help you:
- Skillfully investigate your experience and cultivate an attitude of curiosity toward your habitual patterns.
- Befriend the feeling of “something wrong,” seeing it as a gateway to tenderness and insight.
- Harness the potency of nowness, being fully present to what is.
- Understand how the ancient practice of meditation remains perpetually up-to-date.
- Start to feel into basic spaciousness as a support that is always available to you.
Lesson 3
Tenderness
This lesson will help you:
- Turn toward fear and discover the gifts hidden within it.
- Deepen your understanding of basic goodness and its capacity to connect you with others.
- Begin to let go of that which separates you from others and your direct experience.
- Set healthy, sane boundaries even as you open yourself further and further.
- See your capacity to relate—with others and with your situation—as your most precious treasure.
Lesson 4
Natural Magic
This lesson will help you:
- Understand the Tibetan terms “drala” and “lungta,” and learn how to invite outer, inner, and secret drala.
- Work with your outer environment to uplift yourself and others.
- Let the energy of the world in by bringing wholeheartedness and close attention to your actions.
- Ease tension and suffering by “collaborating with reality.”
- Catch glimpses of how basic goodness manifests in the world.
Lesson 5
The Fruition of Fearlessness
This lesson will help you:
- Cultivate a discipline that is relaxed and joyful, rather than rigid and restrictive.
- Listen for subtle (and not-so-subtle) cues that you’ve temporarily lost your mindfulness.
- Unite wisdom with compassionate action.
- Learn to experience success and failure as information, rather than reward or punishment.
- Develop confidence in your steadiness, regardless of external circumstances.
Lesson 6
The Warrior’s Journey
This lesson will help you:
- Strengthen and internalize your understanding of the techniques of warriorship.
- Open yourself to the world as it is, in this precise moment.
- Plan the next steps of your continual journey.
Course Curriculum
Lesson 1
Genuineness
This lesson will help you:
- Become familiar with the path of the warrior and how it can help you respond to a world on fire.
- Respond skillfully when you find yourself stuck in habitual patterns that cause pain.
- Experience difficult emotions on a direct, sensory level while letting go of storylines.
- Become conscious of where you hold back from full engagement with others and the world.
- See your current community, no matter what it may be, as an opportunity for creating enlightened society.
Lesson 2
Basic Goodness
This lesson will help you:
- Skillfully investigate your experience and cultivate an attitude of curiosity toward your habitual patterns.
- Befriend the feeling of “something wrong,” seeing it as a gateway to tenderness and insight.
- Harness the potency of nowness, being fully present to what is.
- Understand how the ancient practice of meditation remains perpetually up-to-date.
- Start to feel into basic spaciousness as a support that is always available to you.
Lesson 3
Tenderness
This lesson will help you:
- Turn toward fear and discover the gifts hidden within it.
- Deepen your understanding of basic goodness and its capacity to connect you with others.
- Begin to let go of that which separates you from others and your direct experience.
- Set healthy, sane boundaries even as you open yourself further and further.
- See your capacity to relate—with others and with your situation—as your most precious treasure.
Lesson 4
Natural Magic
This lesson will help you:
- Understand the Tibetan terms “drala” and “lungta,” and learn how to invite outer, inner, and secret drala.
- Work with your outer environment to uplift yourself and others.
- Let the energy of the world in by bringing wholeheartedness and close attention to your actions.
- Ease tension and suffering by “collaborating with reality.”
- Catch glimpses of how basic goodness manifests in the world.
Lesson 5
The Fruition of Fearlessness
This lesson will help you:
- Cultivate a discipline that is relaxed and joyful, rather than rigid and restrictive.
- Listen for subtle (and not-so-subtle) cues that you’ve temporarily lost your mindfulness.
- Unite wisdom with compassionate action.
- Learn to experience success and failure as information, rather than reward or punishment.
- Develop confidence in your steadiness, regardless of external circumstances.
Lesson 6
The Warrior’s Journey
This lesson will help you:
- Strengthen and internalize your understanding of the techniques of warriorship.
- Open yourself to the world as it is, in this precise moment.
- Plan the next steps of your continual journey.
"There's always a way through, there's always a way out. There's never a dead end. The end of one thing is the beginning of another."
—Pema Chödrön
"There's always a way through, there's always a way out. There's never a dead end. The end of one thing is the beginning of another."
—Pema Chödrön
Course Excerpts
Retreat Summary
This course was designed with your needs in mind and contains all of the following:
9 Hours of 4K Video Teachings
2 Live Calls with Pema Chödrön
Live Meditation Sessions
Facilitated Discussion Forums
Home Practices & Contemplations
Printable Transcripts
Downloadable Audio Files
Recommended Readings List
Unlimited Access
Plus
Buy One, Gift One
Share the gift of transformation and insight
Smile at Fear Videos
4.5 Hours of Video Teachings
50% Off Select Books
Receive half off all books from Shambhala Publications on the course reading list.
Course Excerpts
Retreat Summary
This course was designed with your needs in mind and contains all of the following:
9 Hours of 4K Video Teachings
2 Live Calls with Pema Chödrön
Live Meditation Sessions
Facilitated Discussion Forums
Home Practices & Contemplations
Printable Transcripts
Downloadable Audio Files
Recommended Readings List
Unlimited Access
Plus
Buy One, Gift One
Share the gift of transformation and insight
Smile at Fear Videos
4.5 Hours of Video Teachings
50% Off Select Books
Receive half off all books from Shambhala Publications on the course reading list.
"Whatever is happening now is a unique moment that's never going to happen again. It's a beautiful way to look at what's going on in your life… that it's never gonna happen again. It's precious."
—Pema Chödrön
"Whatever is happening now is a unique moment that's never going to happen again. It's a beautiful way to look at what's going on in your life… that it's never gonna happen again. It's precious."
—Pema Chödrön
- Registration Open for a Limited Time! -
Join the Retreat
Includes Buy One, Gift One
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please email us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
- Registration Open for a Limited Time! -
Join the Retreat
Includes Buy One, Gift One
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, please email us within 30 days, and we will promptly refund your purchase price.
Meet Your Teacher, Pema Chödrön
Beloved Buddhist teacher, author, nun, and mother, Pema Chödrön has inspired millions of people from around the world who have been touched by her example and message of practicing peace in these turbulent times.
She has been teaching and writing extensively for many years, including authoring the best-selling books When Things Fall Apart and The Places That Scare You.
Pema first met her root teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Rinpoche, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full monastic ordination in the Tibetan lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong. She is resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery for westerners in North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course begin?
The interactive portion of the course begins on Saturday, October 25, with the first live call with Pema. You can get started as soon as you enroll. All lessons are available, and you may go through the course materials at your own pace. The discussion boards will be facilitated for the interactive period of the course (October 25–December 5). The twice-weekly meditation sessions will begin on Sunday, October 26.
How long does it take to complete the course?
There are six lessons in the course and each lesson is designed to last a week. However, the course is flexible and you can work at your own pace, benefiting just as much from the course even if it takes you longer to go through it. We encourage you to download videos as you go through the course for your own personal use in the future. You will continue to have unlimited access to the course materials online as well.
How long will I have access to the course?
Your access to the course is unlimited. It will not expire.
When are the live calls with Pema?
The dates and times for the live calls are below:
Saturday, October 25, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EDT)
Saturday, November 22, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EST)
Recordings of the calls will be made available in the course for those who are unable to attend the calls or who would like to listen to them again. If you are joining us from outside the U.S., please note that Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) shifts to Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 2, 2025, so the second call time may be different for international participants.
When are the meditation sessions?
The dates and times for the twice-weekly meditation sessions with our course facilitators are below:
Sunday, October 26, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Wednesday, October 29, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Sunday, November 2, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Wednesday, November 5, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, November 9, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Wednesday, November 12, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, November 16, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Wednesday, November 19, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, November 23, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Wednesday, November 26, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Recordings will be made available in the course for those who are unable to attend live. If you are joining us from outside the U.S., please note that Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) shifts to Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 2, 2025, so the session time may be different for international participants.
How long will the discussion boards be available?
You will have unlimited access to the discussion boards. However, the facilitators will only be available to respond to questions about the teachings until December 5, 2025.
How does the “buy one, gift one” option work?
When you purchase this course you have the option to gift a second enrollment at no additional cost. There will be a link to a form where you can enter your recipient’s name and email address after placing your order, but you can also access this form in the course if you need more time.
Can I still take this training without a desktop/laptop computer (for example, if I only have an iPad)?
Yes, you can access this course using the browser on your device. However, please note that if you’d like to save any of the course materials, you may need to download to a computer first and then transfer the files to your device.
What if I have technical difficulties with the course?
We have a dedicated course support person who can help you with any issues you may encounter in navigating or accessing the course. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Meet Your Teacher, Pema Chödrön
Beloved Buddhist teacher, author, nun, and mother, Pema Chödrön has inspired millions of people from around the world who have been touched by her example and message of practicing peace in these turbulent times.
She has been teaching and writing extensively for many years, including authoring the best-selling books When Things Fall Apart and The Places That Scare You.
Pema first met her root teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Rinpoche, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full monastic ordination in the Tibetan lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong. She is resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery for westerners in North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course begin?
The interactive portion of the course begins on Saturday, October 25, with the first live call with Pema. You can get started as soon as you enroll. All lessons are available, and you may go through the course materials at your own pace. The discussion boards will be facilitated for the interactive period of the course (October 25–December 5). The twice-weekly meditation sessions will begin on Sunday, October 26.
How long does it take to complete the course?
There are six lessons in the course and each lesson is designed to last a week. However, the course is flexible and you can work at your own pace, benefiting just as much from the course even if it takes you longer to go through it. We encourage you to download videos as you go through the course for your own personal use in the future. You will continue to have unlimited access to the course materials online as well.
How long will I have access to the course?
Your access to the course is unlimited. It will not expire.
When are the live calls with Pema?
The dates and times for the live calls are below:
Saturday, October 25, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EDT)
Saturday, November 22, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (EST)
Recordings of the calls will be made available in the course for those who are unable to attend the calls or who would like to listen to them again. If you are joining us from outside the U.S., please note that Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) shifts to Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 2, 2025, so the second call time may be different for international participants.
When are the meditation sessions?
The dates and times for the twice-weekly meditation sessions with our course facilitators are below:
Sunday, October 26, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Wednesday, October 29, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Sunday, November 2, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EDT)
Wednesday, November 5, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, November 9, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Wednesday, November 12, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, November 16, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Wednesday, November 19, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, November 23, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Wednesday, November 26, 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Recordings will be made available in the course for those who are unable to attend live. If you are joining us from outside the U.S., please note that Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) shifts to Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 2, 2025, so the session time may be different for international participants.
How long will the discussion boards be available?
You will have unlimited access to the discussion boards. However, the facilitators will only be available to respond to questions about the teachings until December 5, 2025.
How does the “buy one, gift one” option work?
When you purchase this course you have the option to gift a second enrollment at no additional cost. There will be a link to a form where you can enter your recipient’s name and email address after placing your order, but you can also access this form in the course if you need more time.
Can I still take this training without a desktop/laptop computer (for example, if I only have an iPad)?
Yes, you can access this course using the browser on your device. However, please note that if you’d like to save any of the course materials, you may need to download to a computer first and then transfer the files to your device.
What if I have technical difficulties with the course?
We have a dedicated course support person who can help you with any issues you may encounter in navigating or accessing the course. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
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