The Four Dignities: Meek, Perky, Outrageous and Inscrutable
May 25–31, 2012
In this six-day intensive, The Sacred Path program introduces further practices of warriorship that extend one’s basic meditation training. These practices are based on a societal vision and aspiration to help the world.
The Four Dignities teach how warriors develop the insight and strength that enables them to further shed their cocoons and engage fully in the world. Understanding how the dignities unfold can inspire one’s journey and enable one to discern, with awareness and delight, one’s progress on the path.
Training in the four dignities—Meek, Perky, Outrageous and Inscrutable—we mature as warriors, widening our sphere of benevolent engagement in the world with humility, nobility, vision, upliftedness and delight.
Meek
Meek presents the grounded, humble and gentle foundation of the warrior’s journey. One trains to overcome arrogance and to develop friendliness toward oneself and others.
Perky
Perky teaches us how to cultivate sharp, vibrant and uplifted energy through natural discipline. One’s inherent inquisitiveness leads to further exploration that overcomes doubt and hesitation.
Outrageous and Inscrutable
The third and fourth dignities describe how the warrior’s skill develops as setting sun mentality completely falls away. Abandoning personal agendas, the outrageous warrior acts spontaneously and without strategy; as all sense of boundary and petty mind dissolves, the inscrutable warrior creates even greater benefit for others.
This program is offered as one continuous retreat, but each part can be taken separately.
To register for Meek only, click here.
To register for Perky only, click here.
To register for Outrageous and Inscrutable only, click here.
Retreat Faculty
Jim Yensan
Jim Yensan has practiced meditation for nearly 40 years. He took his Buddhist vows with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1973 and has taught Shambhala Training levels throughout North America. Jim has lived at and directed both land and city meditation centers within the Shambhala organization. He currently teaches a course based on Shambhala principles at […]