Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

by Chogyam Trungpa, Carolyn Rose Gimian (Editor), Sakyong Mipham (Foreword by)

Overview

The classic guide to enlightened living that first presented the Buddhist path of the warrior to Western readers—with a new foreword and cover presentation.

There is a basic human wisdom that can help solve the world’s problems. It doesn’t belong to any one culture or region or religious tradition—though it can be found in many of them throughout history. It’s what Chögyam Trungpa called the sacred path of the warrior. The sacred warrior conquers the world not through violence or aggression but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge. The warrior discovers the basic goodness of human life and radiates that goodness out into the world for the peace and sanity of others. That’s what the Shambhala teachings are all about, and this is the book that has been presenting them to a wide and appreciative audience for more than thirty years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611802320
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	06/16/2015
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	344,554
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

CHÖGYAM TRUNGPA (1939-1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University, Shambhala Training, and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of many books, including Meditation in Action and Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism.

Read an Excerpt

Foreword by Sakyong Mipham

My father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, was in the last generation to receive the full spiritual wisdom and culture of Tibetan Buddhism. His teachers, some of the time’s most renowned, poured into him their spiritual wealth. Even among his peers, he was regarded as exceptionally gifted. When he was escaping from the great Tibetan plateau into the plains of India, he stood at the top of the Himalayas, reflecting deeply on the purpose of his own spiritual tradition and the human condition. Amidst the tumult, what arose in his mind was the vision of Shambhala, a society rooted in humanity’s basic goodness. Later, at Oxford University and then in North America, he taught not only the rich tradition of Buddhism but also what was dearest to his heart: a vision for enlightened society.

Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior was my father’s first public attempt to explain this approach to personal and social well-being, a journey of understanding and realization he called “warriorship.” This path revolves around two key themes. First, humans are innately awake and dignified, “basically good.” And second, society, as an expression of human nature, is also basically good. Thus, becoming a Shambhala warrior has nothing to do with making war or acting aggressively. Rather, it is the discovery of the seed of bravery within us all.

The geopolitical make-up of the world has changed significantly since this book was first published thirty years ago. However, its teachings and message are more vital now than ever before, for humanity is at a crossroads. Either intuitively or explicitly, we are all wondering what kind of world we have created, and what its future might be. As we look at the news, there is a palpable feeling of uncertainty about our goodness and dignity. Why, with such a broad base of spiritual and worldly knowledge, did my father choose to expound so intently on Shambhala? He had a deep intuition about the future plight of humanity. He believed that if we are brave enough to cultivate our own dignity, we will be able to engage in life with a sense of worthiness and heroism. These teachings are not simply the wisdom from his own particular tradition. They are an acknowledgment of the deep-rooted wisdom inherent within all cultures and traditions—the universal desire to live a good human life. In this way the message of Shambhala is presenting the truth of humanity itself.

When so many of us feel overwhelmed and frustrated, it is essential to understand that how we regard ourselves and our society can affect the outcome of the entire planet. This book encourages us to reconnect to how we feel and think, and to recognize that when we touch our own humanity, society reflects it.  A society that has awakened to its natural inborn strengths becomes illuminated with kindness. This is enlightened society.

Since its first publication, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior has affected many lives. A worldwide community has grown and is now flourishing. People have applied the principles of basic goodness and enlightened society to all aspects of daily life and in healthcare, environmental issues, the economy, politics, and education.

In my own life, these teachings have played a central role. From an early age I was trained in their disciplines, and now I am their lineage holder. Along the way, the messages of basic goodness and enlightened society have been themes of deep—and at times, challenging—contemplation for me. I discovered that the principles of Shambhala may seem simple at first, but that their profound depth and magnitude have seismic implications. Their wisdom is my father’s greatest gift.

In many ways Shambhala vision is still in an embryonic stage. I am delighted that you will be able to experience it through reading this book. May it enable you to touch your own goodness and dignity, and may it give you the strength and inspiration to uplift the world.

The Sakyong
25 June 2014
Boulder, Colorado

Table of Contents

Illustration|xiii

Foreword to the 2015 Edition|xv

Editor's Preface|xvii

Author's Preface|xxiii

Part 1 How to Be a Warrior 1

1 Creating an Enlightened Society 5

2 Discovering Basic Goodness 13

3 The Genuine Heart of Sadness 19

4 Fear and Fearlessness 23

5 Synchronizing Mind and Body 27

6 The Dawn of the Great Eastern Sun 31

7 The Cocoon 35

8 Renunciation and Daring 39

9 Celebrating the Journey 43

10 Letting Go 49

Part 2 Sacredness: The Warrior's World 57

11 Nowness 61

12 Discovering Magic 67

13 How to Invoke Magic 73

14 Overcoming Habitual Patterns 81

15 Overcoming Habitual Patterns 85

16 Sacred World 89

17 Natural Hierarchy 97

18 How to Rule 103

Part 3 Authentic Presence 111

19 The Universal Monarch 115

20 Authentic Presence 119

21 The Shambhala Lineage 131

Afterword Ösel Tendzin 137

Resources 141

Selected Books Chögyam Trungpa 145

About the Author 147

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Trungpa's warrior is a most appealing figure, embodying qualities that every spiritual tradition would hold dear. The principal discipline recommended here—being genuine moment after moment—allows one to discover the magic inherent in phenomena, where the synchronization of body and mind becomes an attunement to the natural order."—Yoga Journal

"Trungpa's clear-headed vision shows us that celebrating life is based on appreciating ourselves. This book is a masterpiece of clarity and insight."—East West Journal

"Shambhala provides a clear depiction of the results and, thus, the reasons for meditation practice as a source of strength for daily living and spiritual growth."—Body, Mind & Spirit

Editorial Reviews

"Trungpa's clear-headed vision shows us that celebrating life is based on appreciating ourselves. This book is a masterpiece of clarity and insight."—East West Journal

"Shambhala provides a clear depiction of the results and, thus, the reasons for meditation practice as a source of strength for daily living and spiritual growth."—Body, Mind & Spirit

"Trungpa's warrior is a most appealing figure, embodying qualities that every spiritual tradition would hold dear. The principal discipline recommended here—being genuine moment after moment—allows one to discover the magic inherent in phenomena, where the synchronization of body and mind becomes an attunement to the natural order."—Yoga Journal

From the Publisher