Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

by Chögyam Trungpa

There is a basic human wisdom that can helpsolve the world’s problems. It doesn’t belong to any one culture or region orreligious 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 sacredwarrior conquers the world not through violence or aggression, but throughgentleness, courage, and selfknowledge. The warrior discovers the basicgoodness of human life and radiates that goodness out into the world for the peaceand sanity of others. That’s what the Shambhala teachings are all about, andthis is the book that has been presenting them to a wide and appreciativeaudience for more than twenty years.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion, Self Help, Meditation

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (Tibetan: ཆོས་ རྒྱམ་ དྲུང་པ་ Wylie: Chos rgyam Drung pa; also known as Dorje Dradul of Mukpo, Surmang Trungpa, after his monastery, or Chökyi Gyatso, of which Chögyam is an abbreviation) was a Buddhist meditation master, scholar, teacher, poet, and artist. He was the 11th descendent in the line of Trungpa tulkus of the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was also trained in the Nyingma tradition, the oldest of the four schools, and was an adherent of the rimay or "non-sectarian" movement within Tibetan Buddhism, which aspired to bring together and make available all the valuable teachings of the different schools, free of sectarian rivalry.

Trungpa was a significant figure in the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, founding Naropa University and establishing the Shambhala Training method, a presentation of the Buddhadharma largely devoid of ethnic trappings. In 1963, he moved to England to study comparative religion, philosophy, and fine arts at Oxford University. During this time, he also studied Japanese flower arranging and received an instructors degree from the Sogetsu school of ikebana. In 1967, he moved to Scotland, where he founded the Samye Ling meditation centre.

Shortly thereafter, a variety of experiences—including a car accident that left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body—led him to give up his monastic vows and work as a lay teacher. In 1969, he published Meditation in Action , the first of fourteen books on the spiritual path published during his lifetime. The following year he married Diana Pybus and moved to the United States, where he established his first North American meditation centre, Tail of the Tiger (now known as Karmê-Chöling) in Barnet, Vermont.

In 1986, he moved to Nova Scotia, Canada, where hundreds of his students had settled. That Autumn, after years of heavy alcohol use, he had a cardiac arrest, and he died of heart failure the following Spring. His legacy is carried on by his son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, under the banner of Shambhala International and the Nalanda Translation Committee.

Reviews

[Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs · Rating 4 out of 5]

IF THE VISION in one book helped to guide me past the rocks, waves and eddies of the last incredibly busy, productive and seat-of-my-pants twenty years of my career, this was IT!

Why can't we make sense of our lives? Why are things hopeless and meaningless? Simple, says Trungpa. We just can't MAKE them work. We can't "Raise Windhorse."

Huh?

Well, what he means is that we just CAN'T SUMMON UP THE WILL TO MAKE SENSE OF OUR LIVES!

Get this:

Raising WINDHORSE means to question WHETHER we dislike something - WHY we dislike it - and to Always AFTERWARDS Stick to our Guns. Otherwise we’re just DREAMING.

And what is dreaming? Freud rightly says that in it, All Our Own Repressed likes and dislikes COME TO LIFE. As we must Ourselves Come Back to LIFE. Don’t be a Fence Sitter.

This is the Quest for the Vision of Shambhala... The REAL life: the Ethical Struggle.

Trungpa’s surreally adventurous vision - back in 1985 - hauled me up by my wilting collar and set me up high on a Sky Hook. It carried me in the end to a fully pensionable retirement. Then, mulling over the whole set of felicitous circumstances that landed me back safe and sound into a reading retirement, I mulled some more:

And felt the whole upper cerulean wild blue yonder dropped down by my Sky Hook, crashing over my unsuspecting head like a gooey and “enormous blue pancake.” Those are Trungpa’s words, not mine.

It’s true. It happens. And it happened six years after I read this in 1991.

In my case, in 1991 I was transferred out of a posh job into the workplace slums.

And as I investigated life’s rationale and rubric through my books over the next fifteen years, life itself became infinitely more novel, yet exponentially more dense and inscrutable, than ever.

Life has a tendency to jar me from literary rêverie quite profoundly, disturbingly, and regularly. But that just becomes more grist for my mill. The process repeats itself endlessly. A perpetual motion machine?

Rêverie begets pancake and pancake begets more rêverie.

What a mess that pancake has become!

So what’s with this sky hook and that enormous pancake?

Well, the sky hook is our IDEALS. Our Optimism. Our Faith. Our Hope. These lead us up, up in Self Confidence to Shambala, the family seat of the Tibetan Rigden Kings, high in the ancient Himilayas. We learn there to make our Hope and Joy INDOMITABLE.

And that Blue Pancake?

Well, it’s meant to be our Dead End: the ending of all our hopes and aspirations in a deep slough of terminal disappointment. What my most unfavourite boss gave me in 1991. And what all truly insightful books give me now.

Well, that’s not the way Trungpa sees it - or we see it - if we’re following in the mystic footsteps of the Rigden Kings!

No - but that experience of suffocation by a pancake WILL leave you rocking, rolling and reeling.

For the Pancake IS our Illusions. Our foibles that always make us Fall…

At first it may be with Kublai Khan, “down to a sunless sea”, but with time and Shambhala training you’ll get back up, dust yourself off - and get back into the fray - brimming once again with Fight and Vision.

And a whole NEW take on life: It’s NOT all Roses.

So what - or rather WHO - IS a MODERN Peaceful Warrior, from Shamhala?

Well, Prince Caspian is a Peaceful Warrior.

The children Peter, Susan, Lucy and (belatedly) Edmund are Such Warriors...

And Aslan, if course, is a Rigden King, a Warrior Non Pareil.

Such is Shambhala to us moderns.

Shambhala was hope to me at the Dawn of a career in Middle Management:

It was rebirth in the new and bracing fresh air of a Tibetan morning -

And it was total abandonment of my gentrified and Cynical Sunset World.

I DID it -

For Shambhala - and

FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not knowing exactly what to write, I wanted to write a review to remind myself of the key points in this book and share something that is likely not on most people's radars. Much of this book can't be summarized or fully captured in a blog post, but I think the quote below gives you an idea of what you'll find in here. The basic premise is that we need to fully accept what it means to be human, taking our "bad" with the good, and facing this fact—embracing our humanness—is an act of being a warrior. And actually it teaches to not think of things as "good" or "bad" in our nature, but merely as a state of being what we are. Once we can accept this, then we can begin to move forward in "uplifting our lives."

A great deal of chaos in the world occurs because people don't appreciate themselves. Having never developed sympathy or gentleness towards themselves, they cannot experience harmony or peace within themselves, and therefore, what they project to others is also inharmonious and confused. Instead of appreciating our lives, we often take our existence for granted or we find it depressing and burdensome. People threaten to commit suicide because they aren't getting what they think they deserve out of life. They blackmail others with the threat of suicide, saying that they will kill themselves if certain things don't change. Certainly we should take our lives seriously, but that doesn't mean driving ourselves to the brink of disaster by complaining about our problems or holding a grudge against the world. We have to accept personal responsibility for uplifting our lives.

In order to get the most out of this book, I had to be open. There are many phrases and whole chapters in here that are written in such a way that they almost seem like something from a cheesey, B-rated kung-fu film. Being open though, I was able to get past some of these awkward styles and really see the lesson being offered. There is also a whole chapter on meditation and the author admits outright that it's really just a beginning guide and that you can't fully grasp the concept without studying with a practiced mentor. Still, I found it quite useful and have used it from time to time to gain some peace in my day-to-day.

Much of the underlying message is guiding the reader through releasing fear:

Acknowledging fear is not a cause for depression or discouragement. Because we possess such fear, we also are potentially entitled to experience fearlessness. True fearlessness is not the reduction of fear; but going beyond fear.

Another key point in this book is not just moving beyond fear but also hope. It sounds strange at first, but I think the point was that in hope, we often have expectation. And expectations often lead us to disappointment and resentment of others. I have found that practicing being in the present moment, the "now", has allowed me to move beyond fear and expectation, and therefore has allowed me to find moments of peace in the midst of my chaotic life. Most of my anger, depression, restlessness is due to regretting something that has already happened, or worrying about what will happen. This book has been an invaluable guide for figuring out how to approach and overcome fear in my life.

This book can be a lofty and awkward read at times, but if you're open, I think it's an excellent place to begin figuring out how to overcome many things rooted in fear (anger, stress, depression, resentment, etc.) It will at least provide a different way of looking at yourself and the world around you, and I think that's always something worth checking out.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession: I didn't finish this book. Realization: It doesn't matter.

Last year I read Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, also by Trungpa. Both it and this book are the kind you can read, chew on, chew on, then come back to. Its a part of a journey. That being said, they could also be used as part of a very intentional practice, which I hope to get back to.

If you've ever wondered how to delve into the layers of your psyche without the use of drugs, pick up this book. The use of imagery is particularly helpful as a part of practice, aiding the reader with memorable visions of what it looks like to act honestly and from your own heart, versus acting from a cluttered mind. In the din of daily life, these metaphors will guide you.

Trungpa is perhaps the most clear and real of the masters in syntax and structure. His words cut like a knife to the heart of the matter: recognizing ego's machinations. It is easy to read, though every mouthful is so rich and true as to be savored and held forever.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm, once upon a time Trungpa comes out to a large audience waiting to hear his lecture. He was late. When he finally appears, dead drunk, he stumbles to the mic and states simply, "You read the book" and walks away. For this the people in attendance had paid five bucks.
I'm glad that so many Americans have found Buddhism to soothe their agnostic needs to have a God who does not exist but as the author of this book states about his final (and arguably best) text, "it's secular". Trungpa was a freak and he died an alcoholic death, swollen liver. The straight forward philosophy of basic goodness, you get what you give, and pain in Shambhala is sort of trumped up with needless magical prose and Chogyam's air of self importance no doubt fueled by his naive but well meaning devotees. Here's lookin at you Boulder.

[Julian Worker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some points that resonated with me after reading this book. These are just a few examples, there are many others. This book should be read by all, so we can all find sentences, paragraphs, and chapters that will make our lives better for us.

1) Casualness has become increasingly popular, because people think in terms of efficiency rather than appreciation.

2) In some religious traditions, sense perceptions are regarded as problematic, because they arouse worldly desires. However, in the Shambhala tradition, which is a secular tradition rather than a religious one, sense perceptions are regarded as sacred.

3) The way of exercising inscrutability is that you don't spell out the truth. You imply the truth, with wakeful delight in your accomplishment. What is wrong with spelling out the truth? When you spell out the truth it loses its essence and becomes either "my" truth or "your" truth; it becomes an end in itself. When you spell out the truth you are spending your capital while no one gets any profit. It becomes undignified, a giveaway. By implying the truth, the truth doesn't become anyone's property.

[Chilly SavageMelon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say it's bad without really trying to implement the lifestyle described, but I've read other similar works that were more inspiring. For example, there's a volume I can't find on here, a series of letters complied into a volume called Advanced Meditation by Yogi Ramachakra that came out early in the 20th century. While reading the explanation of the ego, will etc. I was suddenly inspired to quit smoking.

While there's nothing wrong with what's being said here, it seems aimed at the complete Western novice.

And though it shouldn't directly reflect on the work, I can't completely forget the tales about the author, an alcoholic who died at 47, and some scandals at the Boulder center. Plus it was given to me by a drunken girlfriend, I drink myself but wasn't at the time, and we both exhibited some very non-Shambhala behavior and words during the break-up, which happened before I could finish this book. She was high on her windhorse, and I have the emails to prove it...

[David Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've probably read this book five or six times; I just seem to know when I need to. Supposedly it is talking about a secular practice that is not specifically Buddhist, but it's quite apparent that Buddhist thought and practice are behind it; only the terminology has been changed. Somehow or other I find this to be Trungpa's most inspiring and accessible book, and am always very much inspired by it. It's about basing your life in meditation practice, and learning to live out of that.

Trungpa's life is a puzzle to me, but his teaching always seems clear and beautifully phrased. He was a brilliant man, and a great teacher.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part was really interesting, the second part definitely lost me, and the third part was a mix of the previous two. Mostly what lost me in the second part was Trungpa's constant redefining of words to mean something only vaguely similar to their normal usages. It was frustrating to have to constantly remember that fearlessness didn't really mean fearlessness and magic didn't really mean magic. I know sometimes concepts don't translate well into English, but I really wish he could have come up with a better substitute or just used a closer Tibetan term. At least with a foreign term all I have to do is remember a definition, not remember and additionally try and block out an already existing definition. It really made it hard to see some of his concepts clearly. After finishing the book and taking a step back, some of his overarching concepts were interesting, but mostly I think this book just wasn't for me.

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trungpa was a con man who formed a cult, in some ways similar to Donald Trump. Contrary to the descriptions of his sexual relations with students provided by other reviewers, he was a predator who, for example, had his cult followers violently sexually assault poets W.S. Merwin and Dana Noane while he watched and taunted them with racist insults. Trungpa's Shambhala successors carried on his hateful legacy - one of them concealed his HIV infection and infected many students, at least one of whom died, and Trungpa's son has been accused of multiple accounts of rape. I attended a tradition Tibetan temple with my family for years and we were always treated with love consistent with the teachings of the buddha and when I asked about Shambhala, I was told that it had nothing to do with buddhism. I recommend reading Andrea Winn's Buddhist Project Sunshine.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiration from the ancient Tibetan Kingdom of Shambhala as a means to strive for an enlightened society in modern times carries powerful messages. The Buddhist foundation is grounding while expanding to encompass all beings in a non-religious way of life mentality focused on fearlessness, egolessness, and soft-heartedness. These and related characteristics are the "true face" of the warrior.

Recognizing and appreciating the basic goodness of life as it is, being compassionate to yourself and others, and living each moment with genuineness sounds simple but as we all know is anything but simple. Hence the need for teachers and guides (or whatever term you want to use) where Chogyam Trungpa is one that we all could learn from with this book serving as a foundational guide for a path well-worth traveling.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

People occasionally ask me if I attended Naropa University. My response is that if I was an adult when I chose were to attend university I would have attended Naropa University.

This popular text by Naropa's founder is required reading there. Though nominally secular, Buddhism is at the core of this spiritual primer. Not that different from other introductory Buddhist texts, this book is nice breath of fresh air, or a foot in the door for those wanting to learn more about Buddhism (or just the whacked out life of Chogyam Trungpa). I think though the current Dalai Lama's often humorous public persona makes Trungpa's approach very familiar.

Now that I am nominally an adult, would I still choose to attend Naropa University?

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those interested in methods for the edification of the heart and spirit without relying on ghosts or Flying Spaghetti Monsters, this book is a must read. Yet interestingly enough, most of what Trungpa is saying is mirrored in the more profound aspects of Christianity, especially in the exegesis of scholars like Bultmann or Tillich, provided the reader doesn't get hung up on cosmetic differences but thinks about the *meaning* of the words. I can recommend this book with an open heart equally to atheists and skeptics and to the religious, which is special enough; the excitement that comes off the page and into the reader's heart is of a different order entirely.

[Makmild · Rating 3 out of 5]

อ่านยาก แรกๆ ดี หลังๆ เอียน ถ้าใครไม่อินตั้งแต่แรกก็คงจะไม่ชอบ ถ้าใครอินแต่แรกอ่านๆไปเอียนก็จะเอือมๆ แต่ถ้าถามว่าดีมั้ย เอ่อ ดีคืออะไร แต่เอาเป็นว่า การได้อ่านเล่มนี้ในช่วงจังหวะชีวิตประมาณนี้ (โดยเฉพาะที่อ่านตอนต้นๆ เล่ม) ก็นับว่ามาถูกจังหวะและช่วยชีวิตพอดี แต่ดันอ่านร่วมเดือน ประมาณ 30% หลังเอียนมาก ไม่รู้ว่าเอียนเพราะมู้ดเปลี่ยน หรือเอียนเพราะมันเริ่มยากจริงๆ

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of my 2015 reading challenge I was to read the book at the bottom of my to-read list. I’m not sure why I wanted to read this, but it was my very first Goodreads “to-read” book. The title seems intimidating, as I’m suspicious if not cynical about the words sacred and warrior, and have no desire to be either. But since I inherited the book from a friend who passed away, with whom I’d shared many books, I thought it was worth a try. I needed to cross it off my challenge list anyway, plus it’s only 150 pages. I can’t claim to have understood the whole book, but the early and middle chapters contain some surprisingly good suggestions for improving one’s attitude and life experience.

First of all, the word warrior is used in the Eastern sense. It’s not about aggression, preparing for war, or doing battle with others. It’s about subduing personal habits that rob oneself of inner peace. And sacred has nothing to do with religion or being holier than thou. It seems to be more about practicing meditation and believing in the goodness of the world and the goodness of oneself in preparation for sharing one’s talents with the world.

Trungpa suggests adopting a different world-view from that which is commonly held. In what he calls the setting sun world (mindset), most people see resources dwindling, expect the worst, and are fearful of the future. In the alternative view, the great eastern sun world, all is illuminated and the world is basically good. There is no need for fear if a person truly believes in the goodness of their environment and their own person—despite anything “bad” that might happen along the way. This simple concept isn’t that easy to put into practice, but the way in which Trungpa writes about it is calming and cheering, emphasizing self-forgiveness in simple and lovely language. He also gives some specific meditation instructions that are fairly easy (except for the crossed-leg sitting on the floor part, which I skipped).

The book goes on to some more esoteric Tibetan symbology as well as quoting from children’s literature amongst its practical advice. It’s really a unique book. Even though I didn’t understand all of it, nor take the time to ponder the symbolic parts, my four-star rating reflects the feel-good aspects and simple advice in the straightforward chapters that I did understand without any effort. My advice to readers is to take what resonates with you and leave the rest.

[Linda Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will be honest - I found this difficult to read but by sheer power of stubbornness I slogged through it and tried to learn the philosophy. There's a lot of wisdom shared on right living and the path of a spiritual warrior. It was not at all what I expected! The path is very subdued and subtle. I took notes on every chapter... I'll share a few with you.

Chapter One: Creating an Enlightened Society
Basic secular human wisdom can solve the problems of this world. There's a discussion of where Shambhala is - in or near Tibet, north of the river Sita. Some believe it is still here and others believe all the residents became enlightened and so the city disappeared into a higher dimension where the Rigden rulers still help to educate and enlighten humankind. They are expected to return here to help save humankind from destruction, one of these days. Soon, perhaps? Some believe Shambhala was a real or mythical place, but this book approaches the belief that Shambhala is not external, but is "the ground or root of wakefulness that exists as a potential within every human being." Our duty is to appreciate the ideal of the perfect human society and seek to emulate it as enlightened citizens.

Chapter Thirteen: How to Invoke Magic
External drala: clean the house! Internal drala: dress with dignity and eat right. Secret drala: a result of the two other dralas and gives you a sense of 'nowness'. It brings a sense of the Windhorse, riding on basic goodness, a wind of delight and stability of a horse: movement, speed, practicality, discrimination, skill. Drala means energy beyond aggression and helps you see the world as it really is. "You actually experience being able to connect yourself to the inconceivable vision and wisdom of the cosmic mirror on the spot."

That should be enough to give you a sense of what this book contains. I learned a lot about Buddhist thought and why Buddhist monks act the way they do.

[Izak Last · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try and live my life by the wisdom contained in this book. It focuses on the rising sun and not the setting sun, a great way to adjust one's outlook on life. I try to read a few lines from it every week even though I have read it many times.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through years of meditation I have come to the realization that we have the lost our appreciation of this wonderful world we live in. We have created a mechanized universe that separates us from our appreciation of the simplicity we can only experience as creators. We now throw a switch or push a button and wahla a machine produces a product. We are no longer creators we are an appendage of our mechanized society. This separation slowly diminishes our appreciation of nature. We are no longer Numinous ( in awe of nature or our universe). This is why we are destroying our natural resources and turning our world into a junk yard. I originally heard this listening to an interview where Brian Swimme was explaining the meaning of numinous and it changed the way I view the world and my relationship to that world.
Meditation can provide the means of looking back into the history of the universe embedded within every individual and connect with the newness without the confusion generated by past and future. When we perceive in the now we are able to capture that essence within every person or object that is its individuality. We can perceive colors, sounds, etc. in their unconditioned state. A sort of primordial or cosmic mirror before man has desecrated by placing conditions on it by using words to define its meaning. When we reconnect to the simplicity before definition we can move forward using the science of today to enhance and restore our appreciation of the universe and hold modern science accountable for their actions, returning our inborn desire to create not destroy there by fulfilling our responsibility to cherish and respect the gifts bestowed.

This wonderful book can provide you with the tools and the understanding of how to use them and improve both your enjoyment and appreciation of life by becoming the qualities you want to see in others.

[Gerardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond mindfulness, before mindfulness.This is what I got from reading on the XXI Century Shambhala, Chogyam Trungpa's classic. Throughout its pages, the renowned meditation teacher and artist develops a secular approach to living a fulfilling and meaningful life according to the Shambhala teachings. Although these are rooted on Buddhism, its application can be implemented by anyone interested in making the best out of his or her life, and benefitting as many people around as possible.
So, expect to find meditation instructions, ethics and lots of inspiring tips to develop the most admirable attitudes in human existence - fearlessness, dignity, strenght and so forth. Also, I really appreciated Trungpa's work on redefining much of these concepts, giving them a brand new meaning devoid of any selfish or negative connotation.

However, on the didn't-like-it-so-much side, which is why I gave it 3 stars (although that's still a "I liked it"), is what I find is a lack of specific instructions on how to develop these attitudes. Although the meditation and developing drala instructions are very clear, there are almost none on the deeper topics (such as developing the tiger, lion, dragon and garuda attitudes). This is understandable from knowing that there are specific training programs in Shambhala centers around the world, but I still miss some more details.

Other than that, very interesting book in which a Buddhist approach to living life is adapted for the Western mind.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sacred Path of the Warrior is an amazing and rather interesting read. I didn't actually expect to relate to the lessons and methods explained within the book, but I was sorely mistaken. This book takes you through each step of becoming a warrior in life. In other words, this book helps you to become aware of yourself and the world around you. It really puts the reader in the hot seat because its so easy to find things in life that you need to work on. This book is more of a philosophical and psychological read, so its perfect for open minded people, especially those that are interested in human adaptation and interaction in the world. Trungpa elaborates on how to conquer fears, self-doubt, negativity, and aggression by getting to the root cause of these problems that most of us face from time to time. He also explains how meditation benefits the body and mind by creating synchronization. Even if you aren't interested in that sort of thing, the book is still very intuitive and relevant to a great majority of people. I would highly recommend that people should at least read a chapter or two because its such a cool and different take on self awareness.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cannot make up my mind whether this was supposed to be deep philospohical stuff that went over my head or a lot of prattling on and on about nonsense. I am leaning toward the latter. To me, this was thinly veiled psycho-babble mixed with advertising for his schools. He wants us all to live good lives, helping others, being kind, blah blah blah... but then he himself says, "but somebody's got to wear the three-piece suit" meaning if the rest of us are running around with flowers in our hair, we still need somebody to make the tough decisions? And in looking at his bio on the very last page, he certainly was driven to do quite a bit in his lifetime. Schools all over the world? Oxford? Sorry... I am not buying it. This book seemed to be a long drawn-out info-mercial. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is that this book could lead to some interesting discussions. Plus, I am in a good mood.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The key to warriorship and the first principle of Shambhala vision is not being afraid of who you are.

Shambhala vision is trying to provoke you to understand how you live, your relationship with ordinary life.

The essence of warriorship, or the essence of human bravery, is refusing to give up on anyone or anything.

Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness.

Absence of doubt is trusting the heart, trusting yourself.

To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life. That is the warrior's discipline.

You trust, not in success, but in reality.

Balance comes from joining practicality with vision, or we could say, joining skill with spontaneity.

The way to experience nowness is to realize that this very moment, this very point in your life, is always the occasion.

So it is said that the warrior of outrageous is never caught in the ambush of hope, and therefore fearlessness is achieved.

[Ariel Desouza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life tremendously.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished. Meh. Some good stuff but really preachy as well. Just not my style.

[Bonnie Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend gifted me this as he said it was very me/reminded him of me. Alas, correct. Resonant - fleshy raw tenderness is always the way to go. Always need a good reminder, carried the pocket version on me everyday and would read sections on my commute or in the sauna till I finished it during the early months of the year, a good guiding force. A bit repetitive and sometimes aimlessly descriptive w analogies but extra points for sentiment.

[กำพล สนธิเณร · Rating 3 out of 5]

หนทางสู่การเป็นนักรบแห่งชัมบาลา ในที่นี้ใกล้เคียงกับการตื่นรู้ เป็นวิธีฝึกสมาธิ

ในคำสอนมีคำเฉพาะของธิเบตที่ต้องอธิบายขยายความเยอะ ซึ่งผมมองว่าถ้าใช้ถ้อยคำง่ายๆจะเข้าใจได้ดีกว่า

[Pablo Ballesteros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Increíble

[Jennifer Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centering, darlings, centering.

[Coney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein angenehmer Einstieg in die Shambhala Lehre, der mich oft zum Nachdenken angeregt hat, aber an manchen Stellen doch etwas abstrakt war für mich. Das Cover gefällt mir aber total gut. (:

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide on how to live you life properly. Could lead to a lot of narration. Same as the Alchemist.


Quotes:

"That is the definition of bravery: not being afraid of yourself."

"In spite of all our problems and confusion, all our emotional and psychological ups and downs, there is something basically good about our existence as human beings. Unless we can discover that ground of goodness in our own lives, we cannot hope to improve the lives of others."

"The problem is that, when we begin to realize the potential goodness in ourselves, we often take our discovery much too seriously...A genuine sense of humor is having a light touch: not beating reality into the ground but appreciating reality with a light touch."

"True fearlessness is not the reduction of fear, but going beyond fear."

"In working with ourselves, cleaning up begins by telling the truth. We have to shed any hesitation about being honest with ourselves because it might be unpleasant."

"The way of cowardice is to embed ourselves in a cocoon, in which we perpetuate our habitual patterns...We cannot just reject the world of the cocoon, even though it is quite horrific and unnecessary. We have to develop genuine sympathy for our own experiences of darkness as well as those of others. Otherwise, our journey out of the cocoon simply becomes a setting-sun holiday."

"But then, once you have made a leap of daring, you might become arrogant. You might say to yourself: "Look I have jumped! I am so great, so fantastic!" But arrogant warriorship does not work. It does nothing to benefit others."

"Warriorship is a path or a thread that runs through your entire life. It is not just a technique that you apply when an obstacle arises or when you are unhappy or depressed. Warriorship is a continual journey. To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life."

"When you life your life in accordance with basic goodness, then you can be spacious and relaxed, without having to be sloppy. You can actually let go of your depression and embarrassment about being a human being, and you can cheer up."

"Bravery is the courage to be - to live in the world without any deception and with tremendous kindness and caring for others."

"Good behavior is not meant to build us up so that we can think of ourselves as little princes or princesses. The point of good behavior is to communicate our respect for others."

"If we try to solve society's problems without overcoming the confusion and aggression in our own state of mind, then our efforts will only contribute to the basic problems, instead of solving them...If you want to solve the world's problems, you have to put your own household, your own individual life, in order first...So the first step in learning how to rule is learning to rule your own household, your immediate world."

"The way of the warrior, how to be a warrior, is not a matter of making amateurish attempts, hoping that one day you will be a professional. There is a difference between imitating and emulating. In emulating warriorship, the student of warriorship goes through stages of disciplined training and constantly looks back and re-examines his own footprints or handiwork. Sometimes you find signs of development, and sometimes you find signs that you missed the point. Nevertheless, this is the only way to actualize the path of the warrior."

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book, especially after being introduced to Chogyam Trungpa's Shambhala way by some of his disciples at the ALIA Leadership Institute I just went to in Halifax and the track on "Leader as Spiritual Warrior" that I took with Meg and Jerry as the guides.

Finishing the book on my little porch on my cabana at the Finca Mistica on the Olmetepe Isle on Lake Nicaragua this morning, I delighted in the second to last chapter on authentic presence where I discovered the four dignities and finally understood more the teaching that has been grating on me since Meg and Jerry put it forth: we need to give up fear and hope to become fearless warriors. I'm still having some trouble giving up hope but am getting closer to understanding why it is necessary to do so to become the warrior they invite.

Okay, the four dignities are meek, perky, outrageous and inscrutable!

Quote:
Meekness is basically experiencing a humble and gentle state of being, while perkiness is connected with uplifted and youthful energy. Outrageousness is being daring and entering into situations without hope and fear, and inscrutability is the experience of fulfillment and uncontrived, spontaneous achievement.

The analogy for meekness is the tiger in its prime, who moves slowly but heedfully through the jungle....The tiger walks through the jungle with mindfulness. But because the tiger likes his body and his bounciness and sense of rhythm, he is relaxed. From the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, there are no problems. His movements are like waves, he swims through the jungle. So his watchfulness is accompanied by relaxation and confidence. For the warrior of meek, confidence is a natural state of awareness and mindfulness in the way he conducts his own affairs.

The principle of perky is symbolized by a snow lion who enjoys the freshness of the highland mountains. The snow lion is vibrant, energetic, and also youthful....The warrior of perky is both humble and uplifed, as well as fundamentally youthful.

Outrageousness is symbolized by the garuda, a legendary Tibetan bird who is traditionally referred to as the king of birds. The garuda hatches full-grown from its egg and soars into outer space, expanding and stretching its wings, beyond any limits. Likewise, having overcome hope and fear, the warrior of outrageous develops a sense of great freedom....The warrior of outrageous also possesses great mercy for others. Because you have no obstacles to expanding your vision, you have immense capabilities of working for others.

Inscrutability is represented by the dragon. The dragon is energetic, powerful, and unwavering. But these qualities of the dragon do not stand alone without the meekness of the tiger, the perkiness of the lion, and the outrageousness of the garuda....Inscrutability is a state of wholesomeness within which there is not gap or hesitation. It is therefore a sense of truly living, of actually leading your life; it is a feeling of hardcore solidity, but at the same time you are continuously sharpening your intelligence. Question and answer occur simultaneously and therefor inscrutability is continuous.

Chogyam Trugnpa died at 47 in Halifax. Imagine his teachings if he'd lived longer.....perhaps he does....