Customer Reviews

Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chogyam Trungpa

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As one who was there, I was very impressed by the accuracy and the balanced view of this account. I too remembered, and shed a tear or two.

Diana Mukpo wrote about Trungpa Rinpoche, as his wife, John Perks, as idiot servant; this is the story from the point of view of a genuine student.

Making it more than just a memoir, Jeremy has woven in the background and rationale for the presentation of the Shambhala Teachings, and illustrates how they relate to the more traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings.

Jeremy as scientist, convincingly presents the proposition that nowadays we accept scientific materialism as truth, religion, without ever knowing it. This point, illustrated though his own journey and hesitations, might be the most important insight, in terms of benefiting people right now.

Most of us wonder what it would be like to live in an enlightened society. Perhaps we even yearn for that. Jeremy Hayward has written a completely absorbing narrative of his encounter with a warrior-king and the creation of an enlightened society. Perhaps if one of Arthur's knights had written such a narrative it would read like this. Highly recommended for an authentic and heartfelt rendering of his experience.

Jeremy Hayward was one of Trungpa Rinpoche's very first students on Trungpa's arrival in the US in 1971, and remained close to him during the rest of his life. This book is intelligent, open-hearted and sincere without being slavishly devoted in any way.

I'm deeply grateful to Jeremy Hayward for writing this book. More than a simple remembrance, it offers clear glimpses into the spacious mind and heart of the great Buddhist teacher and meditation master, the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa.

I had brief encounters with Chogyam Trungpa at Naropa Institute in the early 70's, but didn't stick around long enough to get to know him personally. I followed his brilliant career through his writings, and lamented his death in Nova Scotia in 1987. For me, Jeremy's book fills a gap between knowing Chogyam Trungpa as a teacher and knowing him as a human being.

Warrior-King of Shambhala is written with piercing honesty and clarity. I return to it frequently, opening it at random and reading a few pages at a time. It doesn't fail to uplift and inspire me. Thank you, Jeremy, for your faithful service to your most demanding teacher, to basic sanity and the kingdom of Shambhala.

This is an engaging and compelling look back at the author's life and experience with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. It's well-told, candid, and fascinating, and recommended to anyone with an interest in the subject.

Scientism meets Tibetan Buddhism.

A long slow journey,

Wayward Hayward, Ashe on head.

A pony plops over the fence

Rinpoche laughs,

Sir Jeremy smiles.

A great book.

Read it.