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Breaking the Illusion: A Deep Dive into Transcending Madness with Melissa Moore

September 4 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm MDT
  • Three online Thursday classes | Sept 4, 11, & 18, 2025 | 7:00 to 8:30 pm MDT
  • Hybrid Weekend Retreat at the Berkeley Shambhala Center: Sat & Sun, Sept 27-28, 2025 | Sat: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm MDT • Sun: 2:00 to 5:00 pm MDT | Join us in-person or online 

In 1971, Tibetan Buddhist master Chögyam Trungpa began introducing North American students to the profound teachings of the bardos — the transitional states between death and rebirth. These early teachings, rich with insight and clarity, evolved into the seminal work Transcending Madness, a text now regarded as a foundational guide to Buddhist psychology.

In Transcending Madness, Trungpa Rinpoche presents a striking map of samsara — the endless cycles of suffering and rebirth that are experienced moment by moment in our daily lives. Far from abstract metaphysics, these teachings provide a vivid and practical exploration of how our habitual emotional patterns shape our reality.

This course invites participants to a one-month book study exploring Trungpa’s teachings on the bardos and the six realms of existence. Each session will include teaching, discussion, and guided meditation. We will then gather for a concluding weekend retreat — offered both in person and online — to deepen our understanding through contemplative practice and community inquiry.

We invite you to join us for this powerful journey into the heart of Trungpa’s teachings — an exploration of illusion, emotion, and the path to waking up.

Course Overview

  • Live online only: September 4: The Bardos – What are they, and how do they function in our lives?
  • Live online only: September 11: The Realms – Emotional intensification and how this defines our perceptions.
  • Live online only: September 18: Bringing Bardos and Realms Together – Awakening to the patterns of samsaric existence.
  • Hybrid Retreat Weekend: September 27–28 at the Berkeley Shambhala Center – Join us in-person or online for a day and a half of practice, dialogue, and experiential exploration of Trungpa’s teachings. The three prior evenings are a prerequisite to the weekend seminar.

What to Expect

  • Guided meditation
  • Talks and facilitated discussion
  • A deepening understanding of Buddhist psychology
  • Personal and group experiential explorations
  • A supportive learning community

Learn more and register here

Cost
Program Price: $200
Patron Price: $250
Low Income Price: $150
Or offer what is affordable for you. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Registration
Please register and pay in advance to ensure you receive the Welcome Letter email before the program.

Questions? For further information, please contact
Jesse Miller: shambhalaberkeley@gmail.com

Facilitator

Melissa Moore, PhD, has been a dedicated Vajrayana Buddhism and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche student since 1979. She co-founded Karuna Training in Europe in 1996 and has fostered Karuna Training North America since 2014, a professional certification program in Contemplative Psychology. Melissa holds an MA in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University and a Ph.D. in Psychological Anthropology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is also the author of The Diamonds Within Us: Uncovering Brilliant Sanity Through Contemplative Psychology.

Learn more and register here

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