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Shambhala International was founded by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the eldest son of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Shambhala was created as a way to encompass the activities and teachings of Trungpa Rinpoche after his death. The teachings of Shambhala, as proposed by Trungpa Rinpoche and in the ancient tradition in which they began, encourage a way of life which awakens the qualities of Warriorship which are inborn in all men. These qualities are dignity, fearlessness, and gentleness (2).
Shambhala International is an umbrella organization to unify all of the organizations which promote ideas along this same philosophy. Most of these organizations and ways of thought existed, and continue to exist, independently of their affiliation with Shambhala International. The unifying bond is that they all share a common belief and are consistent with the ancient philosophy which is Shambhala. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet, in the province of Kham in the year 1940 (3). He was an 11th descendant in the line of Trungpa Tulkus, one of four main schools of Buddhism. At the age of 8, he was ordained as a novice monk. Since he was from the tulku line, he received training in philosophy, meditation, traditional monastic practices, and the arts, such as calligraphy. He was also trained in Nyingma and ri-me movements within Tibetan Buddhism. Ri-me is a non-sectarian movement within Buddhism which is known for bringing together various teachings without rivalry and embracing the beliefs of all schools of Buddhism. This concept was a key factor in the philosophy of Shambhala (4). At the age of 18, he completed his studies and received a degree in Kyorpon, the equivalent of a doctor of divinity, and a degree in Khenpol or master of studies. Rinpoche also became a fully ordained monastic monk (3).During the Communist invasion of Tibet by China in 1959, he fled with other monks over the Himalayan mountains to India for refuge. While in India, he was appointed as a spiritual advisor at the Young Lamas Home School located in Dalhousie, India. This appointment was made by His Holiness Jenzin Gyatso, the XIVth Dalai Lama (3).
Rinpoche once again relocated to Oxford University in 1964 where he received a Spaulding Scholarship. His areas of study were philosophy, fine arts, and comparative religion. Rinpoche brought together all his training by founding the Samye Ling Meditation Center in Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1968 (3). This was the first center for the practice of Tibetan Buddhist practice in the Western world (4).
In 1969 Rinpoche attended a solitary retreat in Bhutan, and this would be a turning point in his life. Shortly after his return, he became a lay person by leaving the monastic tradition in which he was raised. He published his first book, Meditation in Action, the first of many books teaching of spiritual truth. He also entered into marriage with an English woman, Diana Pybus, and together they moved and began his teaching in North America (4).
He established his first North American meditation center, Karme Choling, in Barnet, Vermont. Rinpoche's work was so influential because he made the teachings that he brought accessible. He did this by bringing the beliefs of the East to the West rather than making Westerners seek out teachings of the Eastern traditions. This, along with a receptive North American population can account for the success of his message in the West (4). One of the ways in which he made his teachings accesible was by becoming fluent in English. He was one of the first lamas to cross this language barrier (3).
Not only in America, but all over the world, meditation centers were being founded under his teachings. In order to unite the many centers, Rinpoche founded Vajradhatu as an umbrella organization (4). In 1974 he also founded the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. This was the first accredited Buddhist University in the West. The foundation of this learning institute was also instrumental in providing opportunities for Westerners to explore the teachings he presented.
As time progressed, Rinpoche felt the need to make the study of contemplative practice available independent of Buddhism. From this desire sprang forth the Shambhala Training program. Shambhala Training offers instruction in meditation and contemplative practice in a non-religous environment (3). This secular training which teaches stress mind-training and community involvement attracted thousands of followers. In addition, he endorsed a teaching of the fine arts, including calligraphy, dance, theater, and other disciplines, in a contemplative manner. The Nalanda Foundation is the organization he founded to encompass the pursuit of these studies. As another way to provide opportunities and exposure for the thought behind Shambhala, Rinpoche founded a periodical called the Shambhala Sun. Rinpoche moved to Nova Scotia in 1986 in an effort to escape the materialism which was so prevalent in America. Shortly thereafter, Rinpoche died at the age of forty seven (4).
After his death, leadership of the Shambhala organizations was taken over by Rinpoche's eldest son, the Sawang Osel Rangdrol Mukpo. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche had known his son would some day suceed him, and therefore had trained him closely in the teachings of Shambhala from a young age. Mukpo had continued his training extensively over the years. He returned from a period of study in Nepal with Dilgo Khyentse to take over the leadership of the Shambhala associated organizations upon his father's death. In 1992, he united all the organizations who were devoted to the propagation of the teachings of Shambhala under one worldwide organization, Shambhala International. In 1995, Mukpo was officially empowered with the title *Sakyong, or earth protector, and became committed to developing and cultivating an enlightened society (1).
Currently, the publishing firm of Shambhala Publications helps to promote the philosophy of Shambhala. The company's first publication was Meditation in Action, a book by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The company is devoted to the promotion of contemplative and mindful literature which enables one to realize his potential. Encompassing a wealth of resources, this publishing firm helps to spread the Shambhala philosophy to countless numbers of people.
Shambhala is a way of life, it is a vision. The term Shambhala refers to a worldwide network of centers which offer instruction in meditation. The group takes its name from the ancient myth of Shambhala, an enlightened society (9). The vision is to attain that state of enlightenment. Followers of Shambhala believe that, in everyday life, numerous activities are occurring simultaneously. The goal is to join spiritual vision with practicality in order to acheive a meaningful life.
The philosophy of Shambhala is that there exists for every person a natural state in which we are 100% ourselves. This natural state includes no outside influences and no interference from our own minds. The activities of day to day living constantly distract and deter us from our natural state. To return to our natural state, we must follow the teachings of Buddhism which assert that we must rediscover who we really are (5). We must stop trying to be something other than what we naturally are. The journey, or path, of Shambhala helps us to realize that we can relax and allow ourselves to be our true selves.
This acceptance and realization is acheived through meditation. It is first essential to dispel the common perceptions of meditation. Meditation, as practiced by followers of Shambhala, is not a spiritual or holy activity. It is simply a process of mindfulness (complete attention to detail) and is consequently present in everything we do. Once we learn to calm our minds through mindfulness, we will become aware that life is a compilation of moments. The only moment we can deal with at any given time is the present moment. Only by learning to experience each moment mindfully, are we able to vividly appreciate the world (5).
Through mindfulness, our basic human wisdom is attainable. We shall be able to accomplish much good through our wisdom. This wisdom does not come from any particular culture or religion, but is an innate part of our human Warriorship (2). For this reason, Shambhala is more a way of life than a religion. Followers of Shambhala can come from any walk of life, culture, or religion.
The different paths to mindfulness, or the state of being aware, are called the Gates of Shambhala. The Gates of Shambhala include three subcategories which are each methods of approaching everyday activities. The breakdown is as follows: Vajradhatu, Shambhala Training, and Nalanda.
Vajradhatu, the Buddhist Path of Practice and Study, takes its name from Sanskrit, in which it means "indestructible space." The aim is to achieve wisdom and develop skillful action through attending meditation centers known as Dharmadhatus. These centers enable a follower to achieve these goals through traditional Buddhist meditation (10).
Vajradhatu stresses the teachings of Siddhartha Guatama [the Buddha]. The Buddha's speeches at the Sarnath Deer Park in India teach of practical applications and instruction for everyday experiences. His teachings, based on his own experiences, are the truth, or dharma. These speeches teach that every person has the ability to awaken hidden potential within oneself. This is acheived through meditation. Group sessions are regularly attended to ensure that followers are developing (10).
Shambhala Training, the Sacred Path of the Warrior, utilizes a secular means to spirituality. People with previous spiritual affiliation as well as those with none embrace this path. It is a path based on innate human Warriorship and bravery.
In the mythical enlightened society of Shambhala, society was based on gentleness and fearlessness. This is also the goal of Shambhala Training. We must learn not to be afraid of our own nature. We must accept who we are. We should be able to frankly view our natural state of mind without the desire or attempt to alter it. Once we can look at ourselves and our circumstances without fear, we will realize that we can perceive the challenges of everyday life as opportunities to engage in contemplative practice. Through the practice of mindful meditation, we become aware that there is a constant state of wakefulness which underlies all our activities and moments. This wakeful state is called basic goodness. When we are attuned to our basic goodness, it allows us to fully experience our lives. Basic goodness is not acheived through any particular religion, it is an innate human quality we must discover. When we can contemplatively consider all facets of life, regardless of what religion or art form they stem from, then we can live richer and more truthful lives (11).
The practice of Nalanda, Culture and Art in Everyday Life, encompasses the arts, education, health, and business. This path takes it's name from the 11th century Indian University Nalanda which embraced the teachings and disciplines from many different traditions. Shambhala, and Nalanda, maintain this all encompassing and inclusive attitude. The goal is to have secular activities and skills integrate art and culture with everyday activities. This integration when viewed and experienced in a contemplative manner brings beauty, wisdom, and insight to our lives. Some people practice Nalanda through arts in structured organizations, and some pursue their activities individually (12).
IV. Links to Shambhala Web Sites
Gates of Shambhala
This site is a branch off of the one above. It provides in-depth analyses of the sub sections of Shambhala: Vajradhatu, Nalanda, and Shambhala Training. Each organization's philosophy is presented with a detailed description of the beliefs.
http://www.shambhala.org/int/gates.html
Rocky Mountain Shambhala Center
The Rocky Mountain Shambhala Center is a major Shambhala meditation center in the U.S. and home of The
Great Stupa of Dharmakaya. This beautifully designed site offers information about meditation programs at the Center, pictures of the Great Stupa and directions for getting to this remote location in Northern Colorado
http://www.rmsc.shambhala.org/
How to Meditate
An essay written by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche describes the philosophy behind and instructions for contemplative meditation. Step-by-step directions by the current leader of Shambhala International on how to meditate are included.
http://www.shambhala.org/centers/toronto/howmed.html
Karme Choling Buddhist Meditation Center
This is the home page of the first meditation center Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche founded in North America. It also includes biographical links as well as an excerpt on how to meditate.
http://www.kcl.shambhala.org/
Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior
This site is an excerpt of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior which gives an overview of the philosophy of Shambhala. This text is one of the main works studied in the following of Shambhala.
http://www.indranet.com/spirit/warrior/shambhala.html
Shambhala Publications
The home page for Shambhala Publications. The site includes a catalogue of the books published through the company, order forms for ordering the books, and a profile about Shambhala.
http://www.shambhala.com
Shambhala Sun
Shambhala Sun is a magazine founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and is a celebration of spirituality and contemplative practice in the arts, and social issues in the modern world.
http://www.shambhalasun.com
Basic Goodness Audio Recordings
This is a very interesting site for browsers with RealPlayer. For browsers without RealPlayer, it has a link to download it. It includes 3 audio recordings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's teachings on Basic Goodness.
http://www.kalachakra.com/Warriors/Teaching/Trungpa.htm
Created by Loveena Rajanayakam
For Soc 257: New Religious Movements
Spring Tern, 1999
University of Virginia
Last updated 11/21/01