Shambhala is a legendary place in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, believed to exist beyond the physical realm. Despite extensive efforts by Europeans to locate it, Shambhala remains an enigmatic concept rather than a tangible location.
The Dalai Lama on Shambhala
In 1985, the 14th Dalai Lama described Shambhala as a non-physical place that can only be accessed through karmic connections and merits. He emphasized its existence as a pure land within the human realm, attainable only by those with the right karmic ties.
Origins of Shambhala
The earliest mention of Shambhala appears in the Vishnu Purana, an ancient Hindu text from the fourth century, possibly originating a thousand years earlier. This text foretells that Vishnu’s eighth incarnation will be born in Shambhala, rise to defeat invaders, and usher in an era of peace.
Shambhala is also referenced in the Kalachakra Tantra, a Buddhist text from the eleventh century, which predicts that a king from Shambhala will bring Kalachakra teachings back from India. Generations later, a king named Kalki will unite India and eliminate the caste system. The twenty-fourth successor of Kalki will eventually repel invaders and bring about a new golden age.
European Interpretations
European accounts of Shambhala began in the early 17th century with Portuguese missionary Estêvão Cacella, who learned of it during a visit to a Tibetan monastery in 1627. Hungarian scholar Csoma de Körös later wrote about Shambhala in the 19th century.
Some Europeans likened Shambhala to mythical lands like Atlantis, while others, including Rudolf Steiner and the Roerichs, sought it earnestly. Steiner believed its location would be revealed with the second coming of Christ. The Roerichs conducted expeditions in the 1920s, though they never found Shambhala. Alice Bailey wrote of Shambhala as an astral realm influencing good and evil. Even Adolf Hitler sent expeditions to Tibet in search of it.
Shambhala’s Influence
Shambhala inspired James Hilton’s fictional Shangri-La in his 1933 novel “Lost Horizon,” keeping the myth alive in popular culture.
Shambhala International
Chögyam Trungpa, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher, established Shambhala Training in the 1970s, inspired by the Shambhala myth. Trungpa, who escaped Chinese-occupied Tibet, founded Vajradhatu (later renamed Shambhala International) in 1973. His teachings focused on achieving an enlightened society through mindfulness and meditation.
Chogyam Trungpa. Naropa University Archives
Trungpa’s Teachings
Trungpa’s book “Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior” advocated for releasing ego-driven behaviors and embracing basic goodness. He taught that an enlightened society could be created through fearlessness, decency, and mindfulness in everyday activities. Despite his teachings, Trungpa’s life was marked by trauma and alcoholism, leading to his early death. Nonetheless, his teachings continue to inspire.
Key Tenets of Shambhala Training
- Basic Goodness: The belief that human nature is fundamentally good, opposing the concept of original sin.
- Warriorship: A path of decency, bravery, dignity, and gentleness.
- Drala: Using sensory perception to overcome mental fixations.
- Heaven and Earth: Connecting reality (Earth) to potential (Heaven).
Shambhala Training aims to cultivate contentment, joy, and wisdom in daily life. The name “Shambhala” is also used for schools, retreats, and a publishing house, and features in various video games.