Customer Reviews

Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chögyam Trungpa was, if nothing else, a Character. As famous as his ideas were his Shenanigans: promiscuity, affairs with students, and heavy drinking that on the face of it seem out of step with the Buddha's teachings, but which many of his followers justified as "Crazy Wisdom" in a long Tibetan tradition.(His misbehaviour is said to have begun after an accident: he crashed his car - I place my hand over my heart as I tell you this - into a joke-shop.)

I've always felt uncomfortable with books like "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" and "The Myth of Freedom". He shows nothing short of genius in adapting Tibetan world-pictures and spiritual methods for Western readers: unlike many icons of Asian spirituality in the West, he really, thoroughly (and indeed scarily) understood the people he found himself among.

But he adapted by psychologising. For Tibetans, the Six Realms of Existence are actual and concrete; they are as real as Ecuador or Niagara Falls. Trungpa Rinpoche turns them into Mental Tendencies that we can observe in our own minds at any moment. The result is fascinating, much-praised and helpful to many, but leaves me feeling... confused, dubious.

No such reservations about this more modest book. The legendary city of Shambhala, the Way of the Warrior, may be peripheral aspects of Tibetan tradition, but they're especially accessible. This is, in a word, Wisdom, that anybody could practice anywhere, at any time. I am awed by his subtlety, poetry and delicacy of touch. His choice of the "Child's Garden of Verses", for instance, to illustrate the Buddhist concept of seeing the Universe in its smallest details, is wildly inspired. I rack my brains to think of another Asian spiritual teacher who could have used that illustration.

Wisdom is often advertised, much more seldom found, but it's certainly here, along with a fragrance of ancient heroic tales and indelible childhood stories. Even the faintly Asian English (you keep waiting to be called "Grasshopper") only adds to the appeal.

Recognized as the eleventh reincarnation of Trungpa Tulku and abbot of Surmang, Chogyam Trungpa (Mukpo) came to the United States after escaping from Communist-occupied Tibet to India in exile, and living in the UK and Canada. Although Trungpa Rinpoche's writings have spanned broad topics in buddhist studies and secular meditation, "Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior," perhaps more than any other, represents his efforts in bringing basic sanity to the western masses. Based on the inherently simple premise that "in order to establish an enlightened society for others, we need to discover what inherently we have to offer the world," he introduces Shambhala as the result of our examination of our own experience: "there is something basically good about our existence as human beings" (29). The book is not religious in any sense; there is no effort to prosyletize and no overtly religious overtones. Although the student of buddhism will see similarities, Trungpa Rinpoche regularly reminds us that warriorship is not limited to any particular culture, time period, or belief system. Warriorship is the basic birthright of all humans and is particularly accessible in both the secular and the sacred worlds.
This book was moving for me and an excellent example of a true Tibetan teacher's legacy for the western world. I recommend it to anyone who seeks a return to basic sanity.

Review of "Shambhala: The Sacred Path of The Warrior" by Chögyam Trungpa. The Shambhala teachings, named for a legendary Himalayan kingdom where prosperity and happiness reigned, follow the potential for achieving enlightenment that exist within every human being. The basic wisdom of Shambhala, Trungpa writes, is that "in this world, as it is, we can find a good and meaningful human life that will also serve others. That is our true richness." In this concise guide to enlightened living, Trungpa offers inspirational visions based upon the figure of the sacred warrior. Trungpa opines "In ancient times the warrior learned to master the challenges of life, both on and off the battlefield. He acquired a sense of personal freedom and power--not through violence or aggression, but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge." Trungpa takes the reader onto the warrior path in search of self-mastery and a feeling of greater fulfillment. He discusses skills such as synchronizing the mind and body, overcoming habitual behaviors, relaxing within discipline, facing the world with openness and fearlessness, finding the sacred dimension in everyday life, and more. In the end, Trungpa shows that is discovering the basic goodness of human life, the warrior learns to radiate the goodness out into the world for the peace and sanity of others. Five stars without reservation.

Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior This was a book recommended by my counselor. I was very skeptical since I am a Christian and this was definitely not a Biblical book. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! Trungpa does not try to convert you to Buddha or anything like that. This book is a joy to read. Easy to put into practice. Best of all, the results are more than worth whatever you pay for it! I can relax now, I could not before I read this book. I can fall asleep at night! Get this book, you will thank yourself!

This book was recommended to me by my acting teacher and I'm really glad I bought it. The book does a great job of outlining both the benefits and the challenges involved in truly BEING a human and seeing the inherent goodness of life (even the "bad" parts). It's written in modern language and is more of a practical guide, which I really like. He doesn't tell you to sell all your possessions and live a life a poverty but instead explains what it is like to live in harmony as a peaceful warrior in your everyday, contemporary life.

It's a great read and has inspired me to seek out Shambhala meditation training at a local center. I keep it in my bag so any time I need a little inspiration or guidance I can pull it out.

I love the concept of the Shambhala teachings and its possible application in "the real world," as opposed to trying to follow strict Buddha principles by meditating 18 hours a day, seven days a week. Unfortunately, like most of these books, there's a lot of overall "approach life with peace and love and egolessness," etc., but not enough real life examples or sample situations to use for guidance into those states, ESPECIALLY when there's so much negative energy and stimuli out there to combat. And once the writer started to go off on tangents about the "cosmic mirror" and the "Rigden kings" I just thought he'd totally lost his original purpose for the book, which was to make the heretofore unattainable goals of Buddhadharma attainable. It's always good to be reminded that living in a positive space, with compassion for human beings is the internal place to strive for, so this book helped accomplish that. But I'm still looking for the religion/philosophy that doesn't bog everything down in generalities and focuses instead on practical applications in order to achieve some state of nirvana in this life.

This Timeless Classic is a DIAMOND for those seeking Gentler Warrior Wisdom -- maybe quintessential for those following "Tibetan Lion's Roar Boxing" Arts -- and Arts infuenced by those. It is a very compact source of Inspiring Wisdom -- covering the main areas of an immediate and life-long Spiritual Quest -- but in modest sections that reflect well each section title and following brief theme.

Shambhala is composed of images and words that are general and specific. It is wonderfully balanced -- DETOUR AND DIRECT, calm and warm, deep and easy, East and West, ancient and present. It flows thru three parts that outline an idealistic and realistic naturally ordered Sacred Path of the Warrior. It is even nicely done in an artistic way with skill and style. I feel that many can benefit from this singular book.

Quoting from the back cover -- "In this practical guide to enlightened living, Chogyam Trungpa offers an inspiring vision for our time, based on the figure of the sacred warrior. In ancient times, the warrior learned to master the challenges of life, both on and off the battlefield. He acquired a sense of personal freedom and power -- not through violence or aggression, but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge. The Japanese samurai, the warrior-kings of Tibet, the knights of medieval Europe, and the warriors of the Native American tribes are a few examples of this universal tradition of wisdom."

Shambhala is quite like essential Dzogchen-Mahamudra-Atiyoga -- deepest Tibetan Bon or Vajrayana -- and extended in harmony with world-wide ANCIENT WISDOM -- FOR NOWADAYS +++

This book is not just for Buddhists. Chogyam Trungpa presents Buddhist teaching for living a couragous and mindful life, without any requirement to become Buddhist. However, for the Buddhist, I think this is an essential book.

An excellent work. The author succeeds in elucidating a path of peace simultaneously mindful yet adventuresome. As both a spiritual seeker and a hopeless romantic, I have longed for a life of mystic significance, one infused with passion, vibrancy & communion with nature. Like many romantics however, this quest very nearly led me down the path of narcissism, darkness, and (ultimately)... far worse. Fortunately, thanks to The Sacred Path of the Warrior (amongst other things), I have found a way to merge the most attractive elements of both the flower child and the samurai into a Way of Light, a philosophy of altruism, courage and humility that may yet save me and my world.

Thank you, Mr. Trungpa!

This is an inspiring read. It is an instruction into new awareness about basic goodness and mindfullness for us all whether or not we plan to take on a meditation practice. I highly recommend it.