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The Shambhala Principle: Discovering Humanity's Hidden Treasure
One of Tibet's highest and most respected lamas elucidates for us the principles of Shambhala, or the path to happiness, set down by his legendary father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Dear Reader,
We humans have come to a crossroads in our we can either destroy the world or create a good future. The Shambhala Principle offers the principle of basic goodness as a way of addressing the personal and social challenges that we face. Do we, as humans, have confidence in the basic goodness of humanity, as well as of society itself? As a Tibetan lama and spiritual leader, this strikes me as our most compelling global issue.
The book revolves around a dialogue with my father, the legendary Chögyam Trungpa. Whether his responses were direct or mystical, he continuously returned to the topics of basic goodness and enlightened society. Not only did he show me how I could become confident in their existence through awareness and meditation, he also taught me how basic goodness is a socially viable standard that could stabilize and transform our world.
However, this book is not a memoir, or even a message. It is an invitation to readers to reflect on their own basic goodness and the basic goodness of society, and then contemplate the question, Can we rouse our energy and confidence to create a good world that is founded on this principle?
I encourage you to join me in this contemplation.
—Sakyong Mipham
Dear Reader,
We humans have come to a crossroads in our we can either destroy the world or create a good future. The Shambhala Principle offers the principle of basic goodness as a way of addressing the personal and social challenges that we face. Do we, as humans, have confidence in the basic goodness of humanity, as well as of society itself? As a Tibetan lama and spiritual leader, this strikes me as our most compelling global issue.
The book revolves around a dialogue with my father, the legendary Chögyam Trungpa. Whether his responses were direct or mystical, he continuously returned to the topics of basic goodness and enlightened society. Not only did he show me how I could become confident in their existence through awareness and meditation, he also taught me how basic goodness is a socially viable standard that could stabilize and transform our world.
However, this book is not a memoir, or even a message. It is an invitation to readers to reflect on their own basic goodness and the basic goodness of society, and then contemplate the question, Can we rouse our energy and confidence to create a good world that is founded on this principle?
I encourage you to join me in this contemplation.
—Sakyong Mipham
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
66 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Sakyong Mipham
41 books180 followersSakyong Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, The Kongma Sakyong II Jampal Trinley Dradül (born Osel Rangdrol Mukpo in 1962), most commonly known as Sakyong Mipham, is the head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage and Shambhala International, a worldwide network of urban Buddhist meditation centers, retreat centers, monasteries, a university, and other enterprises, founded by his father, the Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (XI Trungpa Tulku). Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is a high lama in the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. He is believed to be the second incarnation of Mipham the Great, who is revered in Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. Rinpoche is an honorific (meaning "precious one" in Tibetan) commonly afforded to tulkus.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 19, 2016
To do this book justice--and it’s a good one, it deserves to be done justice to—it needs to be reviewed for people who are not a part of the Shambhala kingdom, as well as those who are.
To Those Who are not Shambhalians: If you are looking for a reason to read this book I believe it’s worthy of your time and attention. First of all, as one of the few Tibetan masters who was raised in the west, Jamgön Mipham has the unique ability to use English precisely and speak without the slightest bit of jargon to the spiritual problems that face people in North America today. He does this with clarity and passion and wisdom and force. He serves up a palatable alternative to the miasma of negativity that Fox news, Murdoch Inc., the Koch brothers promote—one that pervades our every waking moment.
Put it this way some one recently said to me, “What makes you feel better when you fall down: 'You suck at walking,' or 'Good for you getting up. I knew you could do it!'?" This may sound like Hay House claptrap but make a little test here and know. How do you feel when you say, “I am good” and “People are good.” Now say, “People suck” and “I suck.” Be honest. Is there a difference? There is. Scientific study of positive thinking using fMRI tells us there is. So the next time someone offers you a version of “L’enfer c’est les autres” just say no.
At this point I was going to write a funny little riff on the difference that positive thinking makes, like this: what is the biggest force on the planet? Could it be the positive, ever reaching human soul? Do you think we would’ve ever gotten to the moon if Bill Koch had been around back then to whisper: “Once we go there aliens are going to start flooding in through our unguarded gates. Then they’ll all want to go on welfare.” But I figured I wouldn't bother. Oops, too late.
For Shambhalians:
I think The Shambhala Principle is a wonderful addition to the canon. The Sakyong’s clearly done trying to convince the hold-outs. By this point we’ve all put him through enough garbage that he’s earned the title legitimately. Honestly, there's no one alive who could do it better job guiding Shambhala than he. He's sincere, he's dedicated and he's living for us. Let's get over ourselves and just recognize that he's a teacher worthy of our love and affection. When are we going to shush those whiners still longing for CTR? What he's saying is topical, rational and urgent; we should all be listening.
There are some appalling mistakes of erudition in this book, especially, I am told when he discusses biology, and etymology—well that’s my particular area. It doesn’t really make sense; he is surrounded by smart guys! Why was he not better served by his advisors, those he thanks so profusely in the acknowledgments? "Vir" for example does not mean humanity as he claims, but is the root for "hero" or "male" and arrives to us today in such forms as "virile" and to a lesser extent "virtue" via a word that enjoyed a surge in popularity in Renaissance Italy as "virtù", which was used exclusively for male courtiers and men’s things until the mid 18th century. That the Buddhist lineages are passed down through men's hands and that in the twenty-first century we are still making these kinds of uncalculated omissions tires me out. Hasn't anyone noticed women inevitably comprise more than half of any population at any given time? Surely there is one woman who could be a successful lineage holder, couldn't there be? A friend pointed to the acknowledgments page where the only women thanked are done so in a pro forma way as if there weren't any women making tangible contributions to his learning. What about Judith Lief? Ani Pema? ... ? I certainly hope Shambhala isn't turning into The Vatican.
Disgruntlement aside, my general impression of the book is that the Sakyong makes his point well and with energy and intention behind it. If his editors would clean up the those muffled vaguetiesabout Confucian thought, Darwinism, and that appalling linguistic faux pas this ought to be a classroom text for every eight grader in North America. It’s time we start creating our own reality.
To Those Who are not Shambhalians: If you are looking for a reason to read this book I believe it’s worthy of your time and attention. First of all, as one of the few Tibetan masters who was raised in the west, Jamgön Mipham has the unique ability to use English precisely and speak without the slightest bit of jargon to the spiritual problems that face people in North America today. He does this with clarity and passion and wisdom and force. He serves up a palatable alternative to the miasma of negativity that Fox news, Murdoch Inc., the Koch brothers promote—one that pervades our every waking moment.
Put it this way some one recently said to me, “What makes you feel better when you fall down: 'You suck at walking,' or 'Good for you getting up. I knew you could do it!'?" This may sound like Hay House claptrap but make a little test here and know. How do you feel when you say, “I am good” and “People are good.” Now say, “People suck” and “I suck.” Be honest. Is there a difference? There is. Scientific study of positive thinking using fMRI tells us there is. So the next time someone offers you a version of “L’enfer c’est les autres” just say no.
At this point I was going to write a funny little riff on the difference that positive thinking makes, like this: what is the biggest force on the planet? Could it be the positive, ever reaching human soul? Do you think we would’ve ever gotten to the moon if Bill Koch had been around back then to whisper: “Once we go there aliens are going to start flooding in through our unguarded gates. Then they’ll all want to go on welfare.” But I figured I wouldn't bother. Oops, too late.
For Shambhalians:
I think The Shambhala Principle is a wonderful addition to the canon. The Sakyong’s clearly done trying to convince the hold-outs. By this point we’ve all put him through enough garbage that he’s earned the title legitimately. Honestly, there's no one alive who could do it better job guiding Shambhala than he. He's sincere, he's dedicated and he's living for us. Let's get over ourselves and just recognize that he's a teacher worthy of our love and affection. When are we going to shush those whiners still longing for CTR? What he's saying is topical, rational and urgent; we should all be listening.
There are some appalling mistakes of erudition in this book, especially, I am told when he discusses biology, and etymology—well that’s my particular area. It doesn’t really make sense; he is surrounded by smart guys! Why was he not better served by his advisors, those he thanks so profusely in the acknowledgments? "Vir" for example does not mean humanity as he claims, but is the root for "hero" or "male" and arrives to us today in such forms as "virile" and to a lesser extent "virtue" via a word that enjoyed a surge in popularity in Renaissance Italy as "virtù", which was used exclusively for male courtiers and men’s things until the mid 18th century. That the Buddhist lineages are passed down through men's hands and that in the twenty-first century we are still making these kinds of uncalculated omissions tires me out. Hasn't anyone noticed women inevitably comprise more than half of any population at any given time? Surely there is one woman who could be a successful lineage holder, couldn't there be? A friend pointed to the acknowledgments page where the only women thanked are done so in a pro forma way as if there weren't any women making tangible contributions to his learning. What about Judith Lief? Ani Pema? ... ? I certainly hope Shambhala isn't turning into The Vatican.
Disgruntlement aside, my general impression of the book is that the Sakyong makes his point well and with energy and intention behind it. If his editors would clean up the those muffled vaguetiesabout Confucian thought, Darwinism, and that appalling linguistic faux pas this ought to be a classroom text for every eight grader in North America. It’s time we start creating our own reality.
September 11, 2013
While I can't argue with the good intentions and basic principles the Sakyong espouses, I can argue that this book is far too vaguely written and full of boring new age boilerplate. He attempts to cite Greek philosophers and Tibetan sages, but not rigorously--there's no bibliography or direct quotes. I agree that creating an enlightened society via the direct experience of the and now is the most vastly important thing ever, but I wouldn't start by reading this book. Meanwhile, I'm starting to take one of the public classes based on the principles behind this book at a Shambhala Center, and even though I've only been to one thus far, I give it five stars. The Sakyong is a much better administrator and teacher than he is a writer.
July 21, 2015
I read this book last summer and am currently reading it again with my Buddhist Meditation Group. I really loved it when I first read it, it flowed nicely and I found the ideas easy to grasp and often very moving.
Upon second reading I am getting even more out of the book and realizing how much went over my head the first time despite my feeling that the book was an easy read.
Even if you are not of the Buddhist persuasion, this book is worth reading because of it's central idea, that all human beings are good. From this principle emerges explanations of this enduring truth as well as ways to get back to trusting in this goodness and reminding oneself to be compassionate and look for the good in others, difficult as this can often be.
Sakyong Mipham is the current lineage holder of the Shambhala tradition, initially brought to the West and developed by his father Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Each chapter begins with an anecdote about the Sakyong and his father, describing a lesson he learned from his father that helped him in his own development, preparing him in his eventual destiny to become the next lineage holder of the Shambhala tradition.
Upon second reading I am getting even more out of the book and realizing how much went over my head the first time despite my feeling that the book was an easy read.
Even if you are not of the Buddhist persuasion, this book is worth reading because of it's central idea, that all human beings are good. From this principle emerges explanations of this enduring truth as well as ways to get back to trusting in this goodness and reminding oneself to be compassionate and look for the good in others, difficult as this can often be.
Sakyong Mipham is the current lineage holder of the Shambhala tradition, initially brought to the West and developed by his father Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Each chapter begins with an anecdote about the Sakyong and his father, describing a lesson he learned from his father that helped him in his own development, preparing him in his eventual destiny to become the next lineage holder of the Shambhala tradition.
February 5, 2021
This book felt very forced and uninspiring to me. I believe in the author's intent, but the text nonetheless felt uncompelling. The author discusses talks he had with his father, Chögyam Trungpa, and expands on statements that his father made to him over time, while expanding these statements into the message of the book. Unfortunately, if his father said something like "It's just you and me here", this gets expanded to include all the dynamics of mindful presence in communicating with all the people in one's universe. This may indeed have been the intent of his father, but ultimately to me it felt very forced as a narrative.
May 20, 2013
This is a simple but potentially important book. Sakyong Mipham gently points toward our relationship with human nature itself as the key social issue. The book is not prescriptive, nor simply spiritual, but explores the actual feeling and experience of being human, and shows how that core feeling spirals out to create either good human society or social and environmental degradation. Mipham draws from the depths of his own tradition, but opens up a conversation that is universal and urgent, as well as inspiring.
May 15, 2014
This is a book to take time with -- many of the statements that Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche makes are challenging, often flying in the face of what seems obvious. I have found that taking the time to contemplate these, to feel where my resistance is provoked and what it is that I'm holding on to, to be very productive and insightful.
May 28, 2013
This is a book I will need to re-read in order to do its contents justice
October 18, 2018
I feel Shambhala is a sex cult and I threw this away.
Note: the key word being “sham”
Note: the key word being “sham”
September 27, 2017
Такої літератури я ще не зустрічала. Звичайно (як і більшість книг), привернула її обкладинка та досить не звична форма. Відкривши зміст — зрозуміла це саме те, що зараз треба, адже книгу написав Сакйонґ Міпам Рінпоче — тибетський лама, син уславленого Чоґ’ям Трунґпа Рінпоче, який приніс вчення Шамбали в сучасний світ.
Шамбала — означає джерело щастя, а також це королівство в Центральній Азії — Шанґрі-Ла, яке існувало в 5 ст. до н.е. Шамбала була країною, громадяни якої дійшли настільки глибокого розуміння поняття добра, що всі разом досягли просвітлення та намагалися створити просвітлене суспільство довкола себе. Протягом всієї книги автор наводить діалоги зі своїм батьком, роздуми, твердження та доводи, які можуть змінити життя кожного. Головне — покладатися на людські риси та знати, що щастя ґрунтується не тільки індивідуальному задоволенні, а й пов’язане зі здатністю ділитися.
Мені сподобалася ця книга тому ще це не одне з тих видань "мотиваційної літератури", які прочитав та забув і тут не йдеться, про те що треба робити, які вправи виконувати, щоб стати щасливішим. Читаючи її, ти якось сам розумієш, що ж воно таке це щастя.
Шамбала — означає джерело щастя, а також це королівство в Центральній Азії — Шанґрі-Ла, яке існувало в 5 ст. до н.е. Шамбала була країною, громадяни якої дійшли настільки глибокого розуміння поняття добра, що всі разом досягли просвітлення та намагалися створити просвітлене суспільство довкола себе. Протягом всієї книги автор наводить діалоги зі своїм батьком, роздуми, твердження та доводи, які можуть змінити життя кожного. Головне — покладатися на людські риси та знати, що щастя ґрунтується не тільки індивідуальному задоволенні, а й пов’язане зі здатністю ділитися.
Мені сподобалася ця книга тому ще це не одне з тих видань "мотиваційної літератури", які прочитав та забув і тут не йдеться, про те що треба робити, які вправи виконувати, щоб стати щасливішим. Читаючи її, ти якось сам розумієш, що ж воно таке це щастя.
March 26, 2017
This book is hugely dissapointing. i bought it upon visiting shangrila, hoping to learn more about tibetan thoughts but felt like it did not offer anything substantial. the writing is so incoherent, the nuggets of wisdom offered seems naive, and the insertion of western philosophical quotes here and there is really annoying. i tried to persevere through this book but after reading half of it and still feeling exasperated, i quit.
June 12, 2024
Я вірю кожному слову, що сказав Сакйонг Міпам Рінпоче - високий лама, вчитель тибетського буддизму. Крізь призму стосунків зі своїм батьком автор розповідає про принципи Шамбали. Добро існує природньо і завжди буде зверху. Кожна людина це відчуває, тому життя на цій землі ще можливе. Темінь теж частина нас, але нам дано священне право - обирати, що й коли випускати назовні. Тому важливо культивувати добро не лише в собі, а й у суспільстві. Бережіть добро у серці, тримайте цей фронт постійно і будьте розкішними.
⠀
🖤 Коли ми ставимося до хаосу як до доброї звістки, то все, що в��никає на нашому шляху має менше сили для перешкоди нашому поступу. Можемо почати вітати хаос як можливість практикувати терпіння, щедрість, дисципліну.
🖤 Плекаймо культуру доброти. Цієї миті ми визначатимемо долю світу.
🖤 Сила церемонії в тому, що завдяки ритуалам свого дня ми розуміємо, хто ми є. Що саме святкують наші церемонії?
🖤 Навіть видовища трагедії не поглинають нас повністю, - усім своїм єством ми чекаємо на щасливий кінець.
🖤 Втрата впевненості у своїй вартісності може вкрасти нашу вдоволеність.
🖤 Повага до того, де ми є просто зараз, - корисна протиотрута від депресії.
🖤 Агресія є наслідком егоїзму та страху. Автоматично великого очищення не буде, потрібна важка праця.
🖤 Досягнувши просвітлення, працюєш іще наполегливіше.
🖤 Бадьорість - синонім впевненості, яка виникає з нашої довіри до фундаментального добра.
🖤 Я часто отримував від батька передачу «тепер», часом він називав це «бути». Він говорив «Давай побудемо». Цієї миті він передавав фундаментальне добро. Якщо ми не можемо відчувати, то можемо просто бути.
🖤 Коли ми піднімаємося над негативом, то підносимо свій дух і дух іншої людини, що прояснює оточення, таку здатність освітлювати батько називав «відчуттям розкішності».
🖤 Поки ми не визнаємо власної гідності, вся свобода світу не зможе нас задовільнити. Хоробрість - це жити, приймаючи виклик, саме такі важкі часи, як тепер, роблять нас цікавими людьми.
#бібліотекапроніної
⠀
🖤 Коли ми ставимося до хаосу як до доброї звістки, то все, що в��никає на нашому шляху має менше сили для перешкоди нашому поступу. Можемо почати вітати хаос як можливість практикувати терпіння, щедрість, дисципліну.
🖤 Плекаймо культуру доброти. Цієї миті ми визначатимемо долю світу.
🖤 Сила церемонії в тому, що завдяки ритуалам свого дня ми розуміємо, хто ми є. Що саме святкують наші церемонії?
🖤 Навіть видовища трагедії не поглинають нас повністю, - усім своїм єством ми чекаємо на щасливий кінець.
🖤 Втрата впевненості у своїй вартісності може вкрасти нашу вдоволеність.
🖤 Повага до того, де ми є просто зараз, - корисна протиотрута від депресії.
🖤 Агресія є наслідком егоїзму та страху. Автоматично великого очищення не буде, потрібна важка праця.
🖤 Досягнувши просвітлення, працюєш іще наполегливіше.
🖤 Бадьорість - синонім впевненості, яка виникає з нашої довіри до фундаментального добра.
🖤 Я часто отримував від батька передачу «тепер», часом він називав це «бути». Він говорив «Давай побудемо». Цієї миті він передавав фундаментальне добро. Якщо ми не можемо відчувати, то можемо просто бути.
🖤 Коли ми піднімаємося над негативом, то підносимо свій дух і дух іншої людини, що прояснює оточення, таку здатність освітлювати батько називав «відчуттям розкішності».
🖤 Поки ми не визнаємо власної гідності, вся свобода світу не зможе нас задовільнити. Хоробрість - це жити, приймаючи виклик, саме такі важкі часи, як тепер, роблять нас цікавими людьми.
#бібліотекапроніної
June 14, 2017
I liked this book more than I thought I would. it's a great concept: the Sakyong ponders things that his father taught him over his childhood, and explains their relevance to contemporary situations. He is a great orator and handily puts the terms of Shambhala in layman's terms.
December 27, 2017
A framework for moving Buddhist principles into contemporary Western culture. Insightful, easy to follow, and practical. This is a good overview of a system that holds profound potential for a society that has lost its way.
June 22, 2024
It is the most exciting thing I ever read!
You should read too and be calm and attentive, many more life things you pass through will stay less rough for you mentally and become much more understandable. Real treasure!
You should read too and be calm and attentive, many more life things you pass through will stay less rough for you mentally and become much more understandable. Real treasure!
February 1, 2021
Good principles but no feeling of spirituality or personal belief - an attempt perhaps to portray his father in a better light
September 20, 2015
I believe we are at a time in our existence where miraculous changes are happening. More people than ever are seekers, looking within and beyond to find a spiritual path to walk on their way to awareness and enlightenment. And then there are more still who have accepted the calling of teacher to show us the way. Sakyong Mipham is one of them.
Sakyong Mipham has given us an amazing gift. In a simple, yet eloquent and intelligent way, he uses his poetic voice to guide us. As you read, you feel him inside of you - body, mind, and spirit. You find yourself saying "Yes!" many times, out loud.
This book is in part a memoir, a son sharing intimate details of his relationship with his father. And when that father happens to be Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the great Tibetan teacher and Buddhist meditation master, perhaps our attention is grasped even more tightly. But this book is also part textbook. But a gentle, beautiful textbook I held to my heart many times over.
The foundation of The Shambhala Principle is that we, all humans, are good, that we share a goodness within all of us. It is this goodness that allows for hope and possibility. It is this goodness that we must share with others. It is this goodness that will help us all become enlightened together. "It is not something we create. It is something we discover."
Sakyong Mipham talks about becoming warriors, instead of staying worriers. He talks about "meditation in action," being mindful. And my favorite: "Life is a ceremony...The power of ceremony is that through the rituals of our day, we understand who we are...We need to find small victories in the day - and slow down enough to appreciate them...We want to be happy, we want to have purpose, but we are spinning out in an attempt to find it in something outside ourselves. All this leads to suffering." YES!
It's not that what Sakyong Mipham is saying has not been said before. Many books - mostly longer books using very big words - have tried to convey a similar message. And I've read most of those. It is in the way he chooses to deliver his message that is so absorbing. I felt as if this man was sitting across from me saying the words I was reading. He touched my heart.
The Shambhala Principle is a heartfelt testament to Sakyoung Mipham's father and to the world. A quick read, I wish I could buy every single one of you this book and watch you read it. I wish everyone was ready for it.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
Sakyong Mipham has given us an amazing gift. In a simple, yet eloquent and intelligent way, he uses his poetic voice to guide us. As you read, you feel him inside of you - body, mind, and spirit. You find yourself saying "Yes!" many times, out loud.
This book is in part a memoir, a son sharing intimate details of his relationship with his father. And when that father happens to be Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the great Tibetan teacher and Buddhist meditation master, perhaps our attention is grasped even more tightly. But this book is also part textbook. But a gentle, beautiful textbook I held to my heart many times over.
The foundation of The Shambhala Principle is that we, all humans, are good, that we share a goodness within all of us. It is this goodness that allows for hope and possibility. It is this goodness that we must share with others. It is this goodness that will help us all become enlightened together. "It is not something we create. It is something we discover."
Sakyong Mipham talks about becoming warriors, instead of staying worriers. He talks about "meditation in action," being mindful. And my favorite: "Life is a ceremony...The power of ceremony is that through the rituals of our day, we understand who we are...We need to find small victories in the day - and slow down enough to appreciate them...We want to be happy, we want to have purpose, but we are spinning out in an attempt to find it in something outside ourselves. All this leads to suffering." YES!
It's not that what Sakyong Mipham is saying has not been said before. Many books - mostly longer books using very big words - have tried to convey a similar message. And I've read most of those. It is in the way he chooses to deliver his message that is so absorbing. I felt as if this man was sitting across from me saying the words I was reading. He touched my heart.
The Shambhala Principle is a heartfelt testament to Sakyoung Mipham's father and to the world. A quick read, I wish I could buy every single one of you this book and watch you read it. I wish everyone was ready for it.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
December 8, 2014
Let me first say that I am biased as I am a student of Shambhala and have deep admiration for Chogyam Trungpa and the Sakyong.
This is not only a beautiful reflection on human nature, not only an incredibly beautiful vision, but a message we need to take to heart. As the Sakyong clearly explains, we must reflect on our nature as humans if we are going to survive and thrive. We have to get in touch with our goodness and our innate worthiness to be on this planet as this is our birthright.
I slowly made my way through this book, reflecting on what I believed myself as I read the Sakyong's reflection. I'm planning on reading and rereading it to digest it further and reflect more deeply.
In particular, chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 16 were the most the profound and insightful. At moments I shook my head in dismay at how beautifully the Sakyong captured the heart of the matter. These chapters in particular will call for many rereadings. I'll share some quotes from these chapters below.
"If we doubt our own dignity, no matter how much education we receive, we will always feel inadequate."
"If we don't orient our day toward spiritual growth, the speed of our life takes over, fueled by habitual patterns."
"Tyrants do not arise because humans are by nature evil, but because society does not acknowledge human goodness."
"Without a feeling of worthiness, human society and communication become vehicles of manipulation and deception."
This is not only a beautiful reflection on human nature, not only an incredibly beautiful vision, but a message we need to take to heart. As the Sakyong clearly explains, we must reflect on our nature as humans if we are going to survive and thrive. We have to get in touch with our goodness and our innate worthiness to be on this planet as this is our birthright.
I slowly made my way through this book, reflecting on what I believed myself as I read the Sakyong's reflection. I'm planning on reading and rereading it to digest it further and reflect more deeply.
In particular, chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 16 were the most the profound and insightful. At moments I shook my head in dismay at how beautifully the Sakyong captured the heart of the matter. These chapters in particular will call for many rereadings. I'll share some quotes from these chapters below.
"If we doubt our own dignity, no matter how much education we receive, we will always feel inadequate."
"If we don't orient our day toward spiritual growth, the speed of our life takes over, fueled by habitual patterns."
"Tyrants do not arise because humans are by nature evil, but because society does not acknowledge human goodness."
"Without a feeling of worthiness, human society and communication become vehicles of manipulation and deception."
August 14, 2013
THE SHAMBHALA PRINCIPLE: DISCOVERING HUMANITY'S HIDDEN TREASURE is an amazing book, It describes the Sakyong's journey from some doubt in Basic Goodness to a full understanding and belief in its truth and power in transforming society in to enlightened society. Basic goodness it the truth at Humanity's primordial core.
In this book the Sakyong not only discusses the effects of basic goodness generally but also how it can be used to enlighten such aspects of today's society as:the economy, power and wealth, education, health, human rights . This discussion is given in the hope that it will encourage specialists in those fields and others to think how the the principles of basic goodness can be applied in those areas of society.
More information on this can be found: www.sakyong.com.
This book is available at Amazon.com
Sakyong Mipham
In this book the Sakyong not only discusses the effects of basic goodness generally but also how it can be used to enlighten such aspects of today's society as:the economy, power and wealth, education, health, human rights . This discussion is given in the hope that it will encourage specialists in those fields and others to think how the the principles of basic goodness can be applied in those areas of society.
More information on this can be found: www.sakyong.com.
This book is available at Amazon.com
Sakyong Mipham
April 3, 2014
Mipham Trungpa provides a window into the mind of his father, Chogyam Trungpa, in this series of dialogues between father and son. Chogyam founded the Shambala school of Buddhism in America and Mipham presents its foundational principle as "Wind Horse." Wind Horse is virtue, which derives from the fundamental goodness of humanity. Mipham elucidates this principle with many examples of real-world moral dilemmas that he believes can be solved by applying Shambala wisdom. The voice of Chogyam Trungpa plays a key role as he transmits his illuminations to his son, telling him for example that his health derives from his faith in the healing power of his body, and that he needs to study economics to truly understand how morality plays out in the modern world. Mipham follows his father's advice and presents his findings to us in a series of short stories and dialogues. Though the conclusions seem simple and intuitive, this book reaffirms a faith in humanity that we can all benefit from.
November 20, 2014
A solid meditation on what is possible in our society if we make the choice to fundamentally alter our view on what humanity deserves. Although I thought it lacked some practicality, the book made no such claim to utility in the first place. It is simply a meditation on the future of humanity, and what is possible if we assume that humans are "basically good". In other words, I took it as Sakyon Miphan's interpretation of the power of love. You may not get much more than a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart, but sometimes that is enough.
September 12, 2013
Just read it
May 31, 2014
It was interesting to have a peek into the Sakyong's relationship to his father and to see how his learning of the Shambhala Principle developed.
November 14, 2016
Sakyong is a good guy.
August 28, 2016
Awesome book; Great teachings!
November 30, 2016
Exceptionally insightful. I recommend this book to everyone.
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