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July 2021 Page 1 of 21 [TSPOTW]

The Sacred Path of the Warrior Chögyam Trungpa Dorje Pradul of Mukpo Synopsis by Mireia I. Negre (Yogimani) July 2021 Page 2 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

Book Overview: “In this practical guide to enlightened living, Chögyam 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. With this book the warrior's path is opened to contemporary men and women in search of self-mastery and greater fulfillment. Interpreting the warrior's journey in modern terms, Trungpa discusses such skills as synchronizing mind and body, overcoming habitual behaviors, relaxing within discipline, facing the world with openness and fearlessness, and finding the sacred dimension of everyday life. Above all, Trungpa shows that in discovering the basic goodness or human life, the warrior learns to radiate that goodness out into the world for the peace and sanity of others. The Shambhala teachings--named for a legendary Himalayan kingdom where prosperity and happiness reign--thus point to the potential for enlightened conduct that exists 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.”

Editor’s Preface: “Although the author acknowledges the relationship of the Shambhala teachings to Buddhist principles, nevertheless, this book presents an unmistakably secular rather than religious outlook. Part One explains How to Be a Warrior. The word warrior as used here has nothing to do with violence. It refers to developing bravery so that you aren’t afraid of being yourself. Facing problems and challenges with kindness and compassion rather than cowardice and selfishness. Sitting is a way of Discovering Your Basic Goodness. Part Two of the book focuses on The Warrior’s World and describes life from the perspective of the warrior, who is now able to start discovering magic and thereby transform his/her life into an expression of the sacred. Part Three is titled Authentic Presence, and here the author explains how mundane reference points can – and must – be appreciated in order for them to be transcended, and for the warrior to become The Universal Monarch – a king or queen, ruler of their world. This book is much more than the sum of its parts; it is an enthralling read, but for those who actually apply the principles as they are presented, it also serves as a powerful guide to a brand new way of life…Secular outlook. Speaks directly to the experience and the challenge of being human. Path of warriorship; path of bravery open to any human being who seeks a genuine and fearless existence. Draws on ancient, perhaps even primordial, wisdom and principles of human conduct. Inspiration from the warrior culture of Tibet. Tantric texts discuss the legendary kingdom of Shambhala, the path to it and its inner significance. In 1976, Chögyam Trungpa began to emphasize the importance of the Shambhala teachings and gave several talks on the Shambhala principles. In 1977, the author began a series of writings on Shambhala, and he requested his students to initiate a secular, public program of meditation, to which he gave the name ‘’ including the ”Warrior of Shambhala’ taught jointly with Ösel Tendzin at Institute in Boulder, Colorado, in the summer of 1979. The Shambhala teachings present, not only the logic of the mind, but also the logic of the heart. Based as much on intuition as on intellect, may the power of these teachings help to liberate all beings from the warring evils of the setting sun.”

July 2021 Page 3 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

Foreword: “Delighted to present the vision of Shambhala. This book does not reveal any secrets of the Buddhist Tantric tradition of Shambhala teachings, nor does it present the philosophy of Kalacakra. Rather, this book is a manual for people who have lost the principles of sacredness, dignity and warriorship as they were embodied in the ancient civilizations of India, Tibet, China, Japan and Korea. It shows how to refine one’s way of life and how to propagate the true meaning of warriorship. Inspired by the example and the wisdom of the great Tibetan king, Gesar of Ling by using the principles of Tiger, Lion, , Dragon (Tak, Seng, Khyung, Druk) which are discussed as the four dignities. We can conduct our lives as warriors with fearlessness and without destroying one another. In this way, the vision of the Great Eastern Sun (Sarchen Nyima) can be promoted and the goodness in everyone’s heart realized without doubt.” July 2021 Page 4 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

PART ONE: How to Be a Warrior

CH1 Creating an Enlightened Society: "In Tibet, there are stories about a legendary kingdom that was source of learning and culture for present-day Asian societies. This was a place of peace and prosperity, governed by wise and compassionate rulers. placed an important role in the development of the Shambhala society. These teachings are preserved as the Kalacakra and are considered to be among the most profound wisdom of . The people of Shambhala began to practice meditation and to follow the Buddhist path of loving kindness and concern for all beings. Not just the rulers but all of the subjects of the kingdom became highly developed people. Some legends say that the entire society had become enlightened and that the kingdom vanished into a more celestial realm. Other legends say that Gesar will reappear from Shambhala leading an army to conquer the forces of darkness. Many scholars, however, believe that the stories of Shambhala are completely mythical. It is possible to see in all these legends the expression of a deeply rooted and very real human desire for a good and fulfilling life. The kingdom of Shambhala was the ground or root of wakefulness and sanity that exists as a potential within every human being. The Shambhala kingdom represents the idea of secular enlightenment; the possibility of uplifting our personal existence and that of others without the help of any religious outlook. The Shambhala teachings are founded on the premise that there is basic human wisdom that can help solve the world’s problems. This wisdom does not belong to any one culture or religion, it is a tradition of human warriorship that has existed in many cultures at many times throughout history. Warriorship does not refer to making war. In this context, is the tradition of human bravery; the tradition of fearlessness. The first principle is not being afraid of who you are; not being afraid of yourself. The important point to realize is that you are never off duty. You can never just relax because the whole world needs help. We first need to discover what inherently we have to offer to the world. We make an effort to examine our own experience in order to see what it contains that is of value in helping others. The second principle is that discovering real goodness comes from appreciating very simple experiences. We experience glimpses of goodness all the time, but we often fail to acknowledge them. We ignore them as mundane but they reveal non- aggression and sanity. The way you step out of the shower, the way you comb your hair, the way you dress, the way you wash your dishes - all of those activities are an extension of sanity; a way of connection with reality. We can uplift ourselves in order to work with reality in a dignified and humorous way. In this book we discuss the ground of an enlightened society and the path towards it."

CH2 Discovering Basic Goodness: “By simply being on the spot, your life can become workable and even wonderful. You realize that you are able to sitting like a king or a queen on a throne. An upright posture is extremely important because having an upright back is natural to the human body. Plus, there is dignity that comes from being still and simple. A great deal of chaos in the world occurs because people do not appreciate themselves. We have to accept personal responsibility for uplifting our lives. When you don't punish or condemn yourself, when you relax more and appreciate your body and mind, you begin to contact the fundamental notion of basic goodness in yourself. This provides ground for helping yourself and others. Because we have a mind and body, we can comprehend this world. Existence is wonderful and precious because we don't know how long we will live. How do we discover this kind of appreciation? The discipline for developing both gentleness towards ourselves and appreciation of our world is the sitting practice of meditation which was taught by Lord Buddha over 2,500 years ago. To fully understand this practice, you need direct, personal instruction. We are talking about a very July 2021 Page 5 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] basic act: Sitting on the ground assuming a good posture, and developing a sense of our spot, our place on this earth without any expectation. Our life is an endless journey and the practice of meditation provides a vehicle to travel on that road. Our journey consists of constant ups and downs, hope and fear, but it is a good journey. Through the practice of meditation, we begin to find that within ourselves there is no fundamental complaint about anything or anyone at all. So when you sit erect, you are proclaiming to yourself and to the rest of the world that you are going to be a warrior, a fully human being. You are not bending to anything. Placing your hands lightly, palms down, on your thighs provides a further sense of assuming your spot properly. Your gaze is directed slightly downward, six feet in front of you, on the ground. Maintain a dignified state of existence. You can transcend your embarrassment and take pride in being a human being. You are working with your mind and your body, and when the two work together, you never leave reality. The ideal state of tranquility comes from experiencing body and mind synchronized. You sit simply, as a warrior and a sense of individual dignity arises. This earth deserves you and you deserve this earth. The Shambhala tradition is designed to educate people to be honest, genuine and true to themselves. From being open and honest with ourselves, we can also learn to be open with others.”

CH3 The Genuine Heart of Sadness: “By simply letting yourself be, as you are, you develop genuine sympathy towards yourself. When we speak of basic goodness, we are not talking about having allegiance to good and rejecting bad. Basic goodness is good because it is unconditional, or fundamental. We don’t reject the sun and the moon, the clouds and the sky. We accept them. There is a natural law and order that allows us to survive and that is basically good, good in that it is there and it works and it is efficient. So basic goodness is good because it is so basic, so fundamental. It is natural. The Shambhala teachings are not concerned about divine origins. The point of warriorship is to work personally with our situation now, as it is. We cannot complain that we have eyes, ears, a nose and a mouth. We cannot redesign our physiological system, and for that matter, we cannot redesign our state of mind. It is what we have, what we are provided with. Basic goodness is very closely connected to the idea of . Bodhi means “Awake” and Citta means “Heart”, so Bodhicitta is “Awakened Heart”. Such awakened heart comes from being able to face your state of mind. How much have you connected with yourself your whole life? When you sit upright your entire being is exposed - to yourself, first of all, but to others as well. Your heart is completely exposed. There is no skin or tissue covering it. It is pure raw meat. The genuine heart of sadness comes from feeling that your heart is full. This experience of sad and tender heart is what gives birth to fearlessness. Let the world tickle your raw and beautiful heart. You are willing to open up without resistance or shyness. You are willing to share your heart with others.”

CH4 Fear and Fearlessness: “Because we possess fear we also are potentially entitled to experience fearlessness. Going beyond fear. We know that we are going to die, so we are afraid. We are also afraid that we won’t be able to handle the demands of the world. Sometimes fear manifests in the form of restlessness: Doodles on a note pad, playing with our fingers, or fidgeting in our chair. We feel that we have to keep ourselves moving all the time, like an engine running in a motor car. There are innumerable strategies that we use to take our mind off of fear. Some people take tranquilizers, some people do yoga, some people watch television or read a magazine, or go to a bar to have a beer. From the coward’s point of view, boredom should be avoided, because when we are bored we begin to feel anxious and we are getting close to your fear. Entertainment should be promoted and any thought of death should be avoided. So cowardice is trying to live our lives as though death were unknown. But if they had to live in this world for thousand years without dying, long before they got to their thousand birthday, they July 2021 Page 6 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] would probably commit suicide. Fear has to be acknowledged so we can reconcile ourselves with fear. True fearlessness is not the reduction of fear, but going beyond fear. If we look into our fear, the first thing we find is sadness, beneath the nervousness. When we slow down and relax within our fear, we find calmness which is gentle. Before you cry, there is a feeling in your chest and then, after that, you produce tears in your eyes. That is the first step of fearlessness, a the first sign of real warriorship. In the Shambhala tradition, discovering fearlessness comes from working with the softness of the human heart. The bravery of the warrior is like a lacquer cup, which has a wooden base covered with layers of lacquer. If the cup drops, it will bounce, rather than break. It is soft and hard at the same time.”

CH5: Synchronizing Mind and Body: “Synchronizing mind and body is a basic principle of how to be a human being and how to use our sense perceptions: 1.smell 2.taste 3.sight 4.touch 5.sound 6.intuition 7.empathy. The expression of basic goodness is always connected with gentleness. You can experience the absence of doubt. But being without doubt has nothing to do with accepting the validity of a philosophy or concept. It is not that you should be converted or subjected to someone’s crusade until you have no doubt about your beliefs. Rather, it is a basic principle on how to be a human being. The question is how to use sense perceptions; mind and your body properly synchronized. Then you have a clear perception, being without the tremors and the shaking and the shortsightedness of anxiety, which make your behavior totally inaccurate. This is also connected to how we synchronize or connect with the world. The point is to look properly. The more you look, the more inquisitive you are, the more you are bound to see. You appreciate the world around you, and you would like to explore the entire universe. Developing fearlessness means being able to respond accurately to the phenomenal world altogether. This fearless vision reflects on you as well: It affects how you see yourself. The sun is human dignity, human power. The Great Eastern Sun is a rising sun rather than a setting sun. It represents the dawning, or awakening of human dignity - the rising of human warriorship. Synchronizing mind and body brings the dawn of the Great Eastern Sun.”

CH6 The Dawn of the Great Eastern Sun: “The Dawn of the Great Eastern Sun is based on actual experience. You can appreciate your existence as a human being and uplift yourself. When you experience the goodness of being alive, you can respect who, what you are, and live with a sense of reality and gratitude. Fundamentally, in spite of all the responsibilities, it is a worthwhile situation to be alive, and to not be afraid of death. The vision of the Great Eastern Sun is based on celebrating life. It is contrasted to the setting sun that is dissolving into darkness. Here, we are so ashamed of ourselves, who we are, and what we are. We are ashamed of our jobs, our finances, our parental upbringing, our education, and our psychological shortcomings. In this setting-sun approach, you have a great vision, which you can’t consume, and you end up throwing most of it away. Great Eastern Sun vision, on the other hand, is based on appreciating ourselves and our world as sacred - ecological approach - we appreciate how things happen organically. Great Eastern Sun hierarchy comes from seeing life as a natural process, a natural source of radiance and brilliance in this world - which is the innate wakefulness of human beings. The sun of human dignity can be likened to the physical sun spanning the darkness. No human being is a lost cause. Fundamentally speaking, our existence is all good and we can always return to that primordial ground. That is the logic of the Great Eastern Sun.”

CH7 The Cocoon: “We perpetuate our habitual patterns when we are constantly recreating our basic patterns of behavior and thought, then, we never have to leap into fresh air or onto fresh ground. We talked about the dawn of the Great Eastern Sun, however, in general, we are much July 2021 Page 7 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] more accustomed to the darkness of the setting sun world. By darkness, we mean encoding ourselves in a familiar world in which we can hide or go to sleep. When we are afraid of waking up and afraid of experiencing our own fear, we create a cocoon to shield ourselves from the vision of the Great Eastern Sun. We hide from the world to feel secure but we are actually making ourselves numb with fear. The way of cowardice is to embed ourselves in this cocoon in which we perpetuate our habitual patterns. Instead, we wrap ourselves in our dark environment. But we find it claustrophobic so the first impulse that draws us away from the darkness of the cocoon towards the light of the Great Eastern Sun is longing for ventilation. As soon as we begin to sense the possibility of fresh air we realize that our arms and legs are being restricted. We have to develop genuine sympathy for our own experience of darkness as well as those of others. Now that we have left the darkness behind, we feel that we can bathe in the sun, lying in the sun and stupefying ourselves. The Great Eastern Sun is in our head and shoulders, in our face, our hair, our lips, our chest. If we examine our posture, our behavior, our existence, we find that the attributes of the Great Eastern Sun are reflected in every aspect of our being. There is a gut-level sense of health and wholesomeness. The basic discipline of warriorship is an organic process that expands naturally from our own experience. It brings a natural interest in the world outside. For the warrior, interest happens spontaneously because there is already so much health and togetherness taking place in his/her life. In fact, tenderness and sadness, as well as gentleness, actually produce a sense of interest. You are so vulnerable that you cannot help by being touched by your world. The Great Eastern Sun creates an atmosphere in which you can constantly move forward, recharging energy all the time. Your whole life is constantly moving forward. Every minute of every hour is a new chapter, a new page. Take advantage of your life in the fullest way. Become a real warrior. For the true warrior, there is no warfare. This is the idea of being all-victorious. Then, there is nothing to conquer, no fundamental problem or obstacle to overcome. Occasionally, people are frightened by this vision of the Great Eastern Sun. Not knowing that nature of fear, of course, you cannot go beyond it. But once you know your cowardice, where the stumbling block is, you can climb over it - maybe three-and-a-half steps.”

CH8 Renunciation and Daring: “Renunciation is making yourself more available, more gentle and open to others. The situation of fear that exists in our lives provides us with stepping stones to step over our fear. On the other side of cowardice is bravery. We might not discover bravery right away. Instead we might find a shaky tenderness beyond our fear. If a person does nor feel alone and sad he cannot be a warrior at all. The warrior is sensitive to every aspect of phenomena - smell, taste, sight, touch, sound, intuition, empathy. Because of his/her sensitivity, the warrior can then go further in developing his/her discipline. Give up the sense pleasures of the world and embrace an austere spiritual life in order to understand the higher meaning of existence. in the Shambhala context, renunciation is making yourself more available and more gentle to others. You renounce your privacy. Localize basic goodness in yourself. When we realize how vast and good the Great Eastern Sun is, sometimes we feel overwhelmed. The principle of renunciation is to reject any small-mindedness of that kind. The sitting practice of meditation provides an ideal environment to develop renunciation. In meditation, as you work with your breath, you regard any thoughts that arise as just your thinking process. You don't have to punish your thoughts or praise them. You can experience a sense of existence , or being, that includes your thoughts but it is not to constantly reach out or limited by them. You label them as “thinking” and you come back to the breath. You can be completely open, with nothing to defend and nothing to fear. In that way, you are developing renunciation of personal territory and small-mindedness. In the practice of meditation you don't have to get rid of your thoughts. They are a natural process; notice the breath to let them dissolve. Then you develop July 2021 Page 8 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] trust in the strength of your being and trust in your ability to open and extend yourself to others. Arrogant warriorship does not work. True renunciation is completely naked, raw, without skin or tissue. He/she has renounced putting on a new suit of armor or growing a thick skin. In love with the world, the combination of love affair and loneliness is what enables the warrior to constantly reach out to help others. The warrior discovers a greater universe and a fuller and fuller broken heart. It is a cause for rejoicing. It is entering the warrior’s world.”

CH9 Celebrating the Journey: “Warriorship is a continual journey. To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life. Training yourself to be a warrior is learning to rest in basic goodness, to rest in complete state of simplicity. In the buddhist tradition, this state of being is called egolessness (egofulness: full of him/herself). You are more available and open to others, but also more brokenhearted and alone. The warrior never neglects his/her discipline. His/her awareness and sensitivity are constantly extended. Even if a situation is very demanding or difficult, the warrior never gives up. Your mind and body are completely synchronized and joyful. This joy is like music. Another aspect of the warrior’s discipline is that it also contains discriminating awareness or skillful intelligence. It is like a bow and arrow. You need a bow to propel that sharpness. Similarly, the warrior is inquisitive, interested in the world around him/her. But he/she also needs skillful action in order to apply his/her intelligence. If you take steps to accomplish something, that action will have a result. When you shoot your arrow, either it will hit the target or it will miss it. Trust is knowing that there will be a message. If you are being too arrogant, you will find yourself being pushed down by heaven, and if you are being to timid, you will find yourself being raised up by earth. You begin to realize that you usually fail when action and intellect are undisciplined or unsynchronized. The final aspect of the warrior’s discipline is meditative awareness; how to take your seat in the warrior’s world. When your thoughts wander in meditation or you become “lost in thought”, the echo of awareness reminds you to label your thoughts and return to the breath, return to a sense of being. Similarly, when the warrior starts to lose track of his/her discipline, by taking time off or indulging on the setting- sun mentality, his/her awareness is like an echo that bounces back on him/her. From the echo of meditative awareness, you develop a sense of balance, which is a step towards taking command of your world. Even though the horse underneath you may move, you can still maintain your seat. As long as you have a good posture, you can overcome any unexpected moves. You have a sense of being solidly rooted and established. You take your good seat on this earth you don't need witnesses to confirm your validity. “Earth is my witness”. You are completely grounded in reality. You feel that you can take command of your life altogether because you are not on the side of either success or failure.

CH10 Letting Go: “Live your life in accordance with basic goodness and develop natural elegance. Your life can be spacious and relaxed. For the warrior, letting go is connected with relaxing within discipline in order to experience freedom. Letting go is also connected to letting go of any vestiges of doubt or hesitation or embarrassment about being you as you are. You have to relax with yourself to fully realize that discipline is simply the expression of your basic goodness. Appreciate yourself, respect yourself and let go of your doubt and embarrassment so that you can proclaim your basic sanity for the benefit of others. If you are waiting for that discipline to become immaculate, that time will never come. For the warrior, every moment is a challenge to be genuine, and each challenge is delightful. When you let go properly, you can relax and enjoy the challenge. When you look at yourself in the mirror you can appreciate what you see, without worrying about wether what you see is what should be. You can appreciate your life even if it is an imperfect situation. Your body is an extension of your basic goodness. Your dignity extends beyond your handicap. You are learning to treat yourself better so you can July 2021 Page 9 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] help to build an enlightened society. In that process, self-respect is very important to express dignity and goodness. Then, there is a further stage in letting go, which is telling the truth. Honesty is the best policy. You are nothing to be ashamed of. That is the basis for telling the truth. You may not be the greatest scholar or mechanic or artist but what you are is basically good. Self-deception often arises because you are afraid of your own intelligence and afraid that you won’t be able to deal properly with your life. You are unable to acknowledge your innate wisdom. The reference point you can rely on is the knowledge that basic goodness exists in you already. The certainty of that knowledge can be experienced in the practice of meditation. There is an uplifted quality to your life which exists effortlessly. The result of letting go is that you discover a bank of self-existing energy that is always available to you; the energy of basic goodness. This self-existing energy is called windhorse; you can harness the wind of goodness. In some sense, the horse is never tamed - basic goodness never becomes your personal possession. You can create basic goodness for yourself and others on the spot; on a philosophical and physical level. So discovering windhorse is acknowledging the strength of basic goodness in yourself then fearlessly projecting that state of mind to others. There is no doubt. This kind of confidence contains gentleness, because the notion of fear does not arise, and it can manifest as majesty, elegance and richness.” July 2021 Page 10 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

PART TWO Sacredness: The Warrior’s World

CH11 Nowness: “We need to find the link of our traditions with our present experience of life. Nowness, or the magic of the present moment, is what joins the wisdom of the past with the present. There is still an emotional attachment that connects us to our parents. Being a warrior is becoming an individual who can function separately from his/her parents. In the journey through life, human beings must overcome the neurotic attachments of being the child of somebody. Become mature and independent to experience a sense of personal freedom. In the process of becoming a warrior, you naturally begin to feel a deep fellowship with other human beings to make a genuine contribution to society. The only way to implement our vision for society is to bring it down to the situation of a single household. The experience of family reflects the wisdom of culture which has been passed down to us and it is culturally present in our everyday life. By appreciating family tradition we are opening ourselves further to the richness of the world. Ancestor worship means we should not ignore the contributions of the past. To experience nowness is to realize that this very moment is always the occasion. Your home is sacred. Apply awareness to what goes on in your everyday life. We can cheer up on the spot all the time. Tradition, culture, wisdom and dignity are experienced now. Open yourself further rather than narrowing your experience. Solving the world’s problems is not based on conquering the earth but toughing it. Touch ground. Learn to experience the nowness of reality.”

CH12: Discovering Magic: “Any perception can connect us to reality properly and fully. What we see doesn’t have to be pretty, particularly. We can appreciate anything that exists. Casualness has become increasingly popular because people think in terms of efficiently rather than appreciation. In the last chapter, we discussed the importance of nowness as a way of joining together the wisdom of the past with the challenge of the present. In this chapter, we are going to discuss how to discover the ground of nowness. You have to look back to where you came from, back to the original state. This original state of being can be likened to a primordial or cosmic mirror. The basic frame of reference of the cosmic mirror is quite vast and it is free from any bias; kill or cure, hope or fear. The state of being of the cosmic mirror is simply to relax. Letting go of the anxiety, and concepts and depression that normally bind you. Resting in nowness is done trough meditation. In meditation you are neither “for” nor “against” your experience. The ideal state of relaxation allow you to experience the nowness of the cosmic mirror. You experience a vast realm of perceptions unfolding. There are feelings that you have never experienced before. There are endless fields of perception. Perception here is not just what you perceive but the whole act of perceiving - the interaction between consciousness, the sense organs, and the sense fields or the objects of perception. In the Shambhala tradition, the sense perceptions are regarded as sacred. They are regarded as basically good. In meditation, you experience the precision of breath going in and out. So meditation practice brings out the supernatural. You do not see ghosts or become telepathic, but your perceptions become super natural. By magic, we do not mean unnatural power over the phenomenal world, but rather the discovery of innate or primordial wisdom in the world as it is. In Tibetan, this magical quality of existence, or natural wisdom is called ‘Drala’. ‘Dra’ means ‘enemy’ or ‘opponent’ and ‘La’ means “Above”. So ‘Drala' literally means ‘Above the Enemy’. The ‘Dralas’ are the elements of reality; earth, water, fire, air, space, light, thought; the unconditional wisdom and power of the world beyond any dualism. Your own wisdom as a human being is not separate from the power of things as they are. They are both reflections of the unconditional wisdom of the cosmic mirror. Therefore, there is no fundamental separation or duality between you and your world. When you can experience those two together as one, then you have access to tremendous vision and July 2021 Page 11 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] power which are inherently connected to your own being. That is discovering magic. Not an intellectual revelation but actual experience; how you actually perceive reality. Appreciate anything that exists. We see how things display their harmony and chaos at the same time. Experiences communicate depth of perception. It is possible to express vastness in simplicity. Whatever you come across in your life, those are the Dralas of reality. The possibility of magic is always there. You never reject anything. Whether you care to communicate with it or not, the magical strength and wisdom of reality are always there. By relaxing the mind, you can reconnect with the primordial, original ground, which is completely pure and simple.”

CH13: How to Invoke Magic: “When you express gentleness and precision in your environment, the real power can descend onto that situation. You cannot own the power and the magic of this world. It is always available but to does not belong to anyone. You become subject to the phenomenal world and the real challenge is to transcend duality altogether. It is possible to contact energy that is beyond dualism; energy that is neither for you, nor against you. That is the energy of Drala; contacting the wisdom of your own being with the power of things as they are. The basic definition of Drala is ‘energy beyond aggression’. The only way to contact that energy is to experience a gentle state of being in yourself. There has to be gentleness and openness in you already. The setting-sun world, based on fear of oneself and death, has no connection to Drala principle. The cowardice and aggression of the setting-sun outlook actually dispel any magical possibilities, any possibilities of experiencing the genuine and brilliant qualities of reality. The Great Eastern Sun vision is the expression of true human goodness. The fundamental aspect of bravery is being without deception. Usually is we say someone is brave we mean that he/she is not afraid of an enemy or he/she is willing to die for a cause or he/she is never intimidated. The Shambhala understanding of bravery is quite different. Bravery is the courage to be with tremendous kindness and caring for others. But true magic is the magic of reality as it is; communication with the elements so that they become one with you. Developing bravery is to make a connection with the elemental quality of existence. There are three ways to invoke Drala: (1) External Drala, invoking magic in your physical environment, how you organize and care for your space is very important so it becomes a sacred space; (2) Internal Drala, invoking Drala in your body, feel oneness; you have a one basically good human body. All of your sense perceptions, work as one unit, one expression of basic health; (3) Secret Drala, the product of invoking the external and internal Drala principles; you provoke tremendous nowness in your state of mind. Windhorse is the translation of the Tibetan Lungta. ‘Lung’ mens ‘Wind’ and ‘Ta’ means ‘Horse’. Invoking secret Drala is the experience of raising windhorse of delight and power and riding on or conquering that energy. The personal experience of this wind comes as a feeling of being completely and powerfully in the present. You also feel stability. Experiencing that very moment of your state of mind is the essence of nowness. At the same time, you realize that this experience of nowness can join together the vastness of primordial wisdom of past traditions and the realities of contemporary life. The warrior's world of sacredness can be created altogether.”

CH14: Overcoming Arrogance: “When you are gentle and without arrogance, you develop a true perception. In the last chapter, we discussed ways to invoke the Drala principle (Magic). In this chapter, we discuss the obstacles. One important point is to prepare the ground. The basic obstacle to gentleness is arrogance. It comes from hanging on to the reference point of me and other. Because of personal accomplishments, we can become extremely arrogant, but being gentle and without arrogance is not just about politeness but also consideration; showing concern for others at all times. The only thing that can destroy us is within ourselves. If we destroy our gentleness, we destroy the possibility of being awake. When the environment is July 2021 Page 12 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] stuffy and full of arrogance, the Dralas are repelled. When the Dralas are present, the possibility of sanity is always there. The main point of invoking Drala is to appreciate reality fully and properly. Then we develop a true perception. Every day you see different things. The world is very interesting wherever you go, wherever you look. Whatever exists in our world is worth experiencing. We can’t ignore the fantastic situations in the phenomenal world.”

CH15: Overcoming Habitual Patterns: “Lack of gentleness comes from relying on habitual patterns of behavior. By clinging to habitual behavior, we are cutting ourselves off the world. These patterns allow you to look no further than three steps ahead of you. You are always looking at the ground, and you never look up at the bright blue sky or the mountain peaks. When you follow your habitual patterns, you never look to the right of to the left, you fail to see the brightness of colors, and you never appreciate the breeze coming in the window. The process of freeing yourself from arrogance and cutting off your habitual tendencies is a very drastic measure, but it is necessary in order to help others. Habitual patterns are dangerous and destructive. They prevent you from seeing the Great Easter Sun. As we sew our fabric with a needle and a thread, we think, “Is there another way I can make these stitches? By stopping habitual patterns, we can appreciate the real world on the spot. Once we overcome habitual patterns, the vividness of the Drala principle and magic will descend and we will begin to be individual masters of our world.”

CH16: Sacred World: “Healing our society goes hand in hand with healing our personal, elemental connection with the phenomenal world. Arrogance and habitual patterns are obstacles to experiencing Drala. In order to discover magic in the world, we have to overcome the individual neurosis and self-centered attitudes that prevent us from experiencing greater vision beyond ourselves. According to the Shambhala teachings, our individual experience of sanity is inherently linked to our vision for a good human society. But 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 problems instead of solving them. The warrior’s journey is based on discovering what is intrinsically good about human existence and how to share it with others. There is a natural order and harmony to this world but we cannot just study that order scientifically or measure it mathematically. We have to feel it - in our bones, hearts, and minds. By invoking the Drala principle of warriorship, we can reawaken that connection to reality. When you invoke Drala, you begin to experience basic goodness reflected everywhere - in yourself, in others, and in the entire world. The sacred world is great because of its primordial quality. So, experiencing the great in the world is recognizing the existence of that vast and primordial wisdom, which is reflected throughout phenomena. East represents the dawn of wakefulness, the horizon of human consciousness, where vision is constantly arising. Earth symbolizes practicality and receptivity. It is the ground that supports and promotes life. It may seem solid and stubborn but can be cultivated and worked on. Then heaven is the source of the rain that falls on the earth. Heaven has a sympathetic connection with the earth. When that connection is made, the earth begins to yield becoming gentle, soft, and pliable so that greenery can grow on it. Finally, the sacred world is lighted by the sun which the principle of never-ending brilliance and radiance. When human beings combine the freedom of heaven with the practicality of earth, they can live in a good human society with one another. Shambhala vision does not reject technology but within the world we live in, there is room to relax. The discovery of magic can happen only when we transcend our embarrassment and have the bravery to proclaim the goodness and dignity of human life, without any hesitation or arrogance. Then, magic or Drala, can descend onto our existence. You have the power and wisdom of the world within - including the ugly - all qualities are part of the rich fabric of existence. In fact, we are woven already into July 2021 Page 13 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] that fabric. We cannot change the way the world is, but by opening ourselves to the world as it is, we may find that gentleness, decency, and bravery are available to all human beings.”

CH17: Natural Hierarchy: “The world has order that can teach you how to conduct your life artfully with kindness to others and care for yourself. The principles of heaven, earth and man are one way of describing natural hierarchy; a way of viewing the order of the cosmic world. Then, also, the view of the world is divided into three parts: (1) Lha, (2) Nyen, and (3) Lu, not in conflict with the principles of heaven, earth and man. They offer a slightly different perspective. They describe the protocol of the earth itself, and they show how human beings can weave themselves into that texture of basic reality. The application of Lha, Nyen and Lu principles is a further way to invoke Drala or Elemental Magic. Lha means ‘Divine’, the peaks of snow mountains; the highest point that catches the the light of the rising sun as close to heaven as the earth can reach. It represents wakefulness and projects tremendous goodness. In the body, Lha is the head, especially the eyes and forehead. It represents physical upliftedness. Then, Nyen means ‘Friend’ and it begins with the great, dignified shoulders of the mountain, including forests, jungles and plains. In the body, Nyen includes not only the shoulders but torso, chest and rib cage; connected to bravery and courage. Finally, there is Lu, which means ‘Water Being’. It is the realm of oceans and rivers and great lakes; water and wetness; connected with richness. These three principles are also related to the seasons: Lha; Winter, Lha to Nyen; Spring, Lu; Summer to Autumn. The interaction of these three can also be compared to human behavior. Observing the order is what makes human beings civilized and life can be harmonized with the phenomenal world. Ignoring this order is very destructive. If the order of cosmic principles is violated, crops wouldn’t grow, animals wouldn't reproduce, and we would have devastating droughts and floods. It would weaken society and cause confusion. Instead, you feel the wakefulness of Lha, the solidity and gentleness of Nyen, and the rich possibilities of treading the earth; Lu. Then, Bowing is giving away basic goodness and windhorse to others. It is based on acknowledging someone else’s worth, a mark of respect. Living in accordance with this natural hierarchy has to be a personal experience; something you must experience for yourself.”

CH18: How to Rule: “The warrior’s journey of discovering the natural hierarchy of reality and his place in the world is both exalted and very simple. It combines survival and celebration. And it is simple because it is immediate and touching. When you walk into this world of reality you will find the way to rule. It is possible that this world could become a kingdom to you, but as its queen or king, you will be a monarch with a broken heart. It is not a bad thing to be, in fact, it is the way to be a decent human being. This kind of aloneness is painful but at the same time, it is beautiful and real. You realize that you are unique and that there is something good about being you as yourself. Because you care for yourself you begin to care for others. You feel dedication and devotion to the of warriors - brave people - and you begin to care for all those who have yet to take this path. You have the opportunity to be fully in the world at all times and to show yourself as a brave individual in any circumstance. The kingdom that you are ruling is your own life. The more discipline that occurs, the more joyous life can be. So, the pattern of your life can be a joyous one, a celebration, rather than obligation. That is what it means to rule the kingdom of your life. True wealth does not come automatically; it has to be cultivated; you have to earn it. It comes from using manpower, individual power. Wealth and richness come from being a basically decent human being. Mahatma Gandhi asked the Indian people to embrace nonviolence and to renounce clinging to foreign ways which they associated with wealth and prosperity. In order to find one’s inherent wealth, it is not necessary to renounce to all material possessions. We can create a meaningful life that will also serve others and that is our true July 2021 Page 14 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW] richness. Then, it is possible to go further and experience greater richness by developing what are called “The seven riches of the universal monarch”. These are the personal, individual qualities of the ruler. The first richness, a wife or a husband, represents the principle of decency in your household. Don't bottle things up. However, you don't have to be married if you don’t want to, the basic principle is to develop decency in your relationships. The second richness is the minister or having a counselor. The third richness of the universal monarch is the general, who represents fearless and protection. The fourth richness is the steed or horse which represents industriousness and working hard. The fifth is the elephant which represents steadiness. Not rooted like a tree - it walks and moves. The sixth richness of the ruler is the wish-granting jewel connected with generosity. Number seven is the wheel. Traditionally, the ruler of the entire universe holds a gold wheel. The rulers of Shambhala are said to have held the iron wheel because they ruled on this earth on personal level. It represents command over your life. By applying these seven principles of richness, you can handle your family life properly, you have a partner which promotes decency, you have close friends, advisers, and you have your guardians fearless in loving you. Then you have exertion in your journey represented by the horse but at the same time you have to be earthy and steady like the elephant. If you want to solve the world’s problems, you have to put your own household, your individual life, in order first. If you do not start at home, then you have no hope in helping the world. There is no doubt that, if you do so, then the next step will come naturally.” July 2021 Page 15 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

PART THREE: Authentic Presence

CH19 The Universal Monarch: “The challenge of warriorship is to step out of the cocoon into space being brave and gentle. In part two we discussed how discovering Drala allows to transform our existence into an expression of the sacred world. The fruition of the warrior’s path is the experience of primordial goodness; the same as the complete realization of egolessness. Reference points consist of all the conditions and mundane situations that are part of your journey through life: Washing your clothes, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, paying bills. Even a simple act like drinking a cup of tea contains many reference points. All of these processes are simple and ordinary reference points that show you how to conduct this journey. Then, reference points connected with how you express your emotions; love affairs, quarrels, bored, etc. All of those emotional textures provide reference points in conducting your life. The principles of warriorship are concerned, first of all, with learning to appreciate those processes - mundane reference points. But then, by relating to the ordinary conditions of your life, you might make a shocking discovery. While doing any little ordinary thing, that reference point might bring an experience of nonreference point; nothingness. The warrior, fundamentally, is someone who is not afraid of space. People are afraid to expose themselves to the world; afraid to transcend the conditions or reference points they have set up for themselves. You don't know how to take off your suit or armor. You have no idea how to conduct yourself without the reference point of your own security. In the Shambhala tradition, you can expose your sore points; completely raw. Out of that comes an extraordinary birth: The birth of the universal monarch; sensitive; willing to open heart to others to promote welfare. The power comes from being very soft and having nothing to hide. Your experience is naked and direct. At that level, there is absolutely no doubt about basic goodness, therefore, about yourself.”

CH20 Authentic Presence: “At this stage, the warrior’s journey is based on resting in the sate of warriorship, rather than struggling to take the next step. The warrior experiences a sense of relaxing in his/her achievement, which is not based on ego-centered concerns but on resting in unconditional confidence, free from aggression. So the journey becomes like a flower unfolding - it is a natural process of expansion. Achieving the realization of the universal monarch is the fruition of developing the warrior’s authentic presence. In Tibetan, ‘authentic presence’ is ‘Wangthang’ which literally means ‘Field of Power’. You achieve or virtue and that virtue begins to be reflected in your being; in your presence. So, authentic presence is based on cause and effect; cause; virtue/merit accumulated; effect: authentic presence. Inner authentic presence comes, not just from being a decent person, but connected to the primordial space or egolessness. The cause or the merit/virtue that brings inner authentic presence is emptying out and letting go. You have to be without clinging. It comes from being able to see others as yourself and gain an uplifter quality which commands your attention, and which is not just charisma. You have earned authentic presence by giving up personal comfort and a fixed mind. On one hand, it is the result of a gradual, developmental process of letting go of ego fixation, and on the other hand, it is also the result of an instantaneous, magical process of letting go of a fixed mind. The two work together. Raising windhorse or Lungta is the magical practice of transcending doubt and hesitation in order to invoke tremendous wakefulness in your state of mind. When you have raised Lungta, authentic presence occurs. It may be only a glimpse and to manifest authentic presence fully, there is a need for discipline. All human beings experience four dignities in some form: (1) Meek, or Tiger, or Humble, or Simple, or Self-Contained but shining out, (2) Perky or Snow Lion, or Uplifted, or Youthful, or Cheerful (3) Outrageous, or Garuda, or Daring, or Powerful and (4) Inscrutable, or Dragon, or Energetic, or Spontaneous July 2021 Page 16 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

Achievement. At this point, the warrior is plugged into a form of energy that never runs down, the energy of windhorse, which makes the journey very powerful. Windhorse is the fuel that energizes the four dignities and authentic presence is the vehicle. Egolessness is the ground and the fruition of the journey. Somehow, paradoxical; the four dignities are the process of developing authentic presence and the experience of authentic presence is what allows the path of the four dignities to unfold.”

CH21 The Shambhala Lineage: “The idea of lineage relates tho one’s connection with primordial wisdom (cosmic mirror - part two); accessible, simple, vast and profound. Making this journey depends on your personal realization of basic goodness. In order to tread the path of the four dignities it is necessary to have a guide. Ultimately, giving up selfishness or ego is possible if you have a human example that has done so, therefore, it is possible for you to do the same. The complete realization of sanity can de named down so that he/she can promote its attainment in others. Here, we consider the qualities of the master warrior and how they are transmitted. In the realm of the cosmic mirror, your mind extends its vision completely, beyond doubt. As discussed, the way to experience this space is through the sitting practice of meditation. Discovering magic gives rise to wisdom which is called Drala and when you are experiencing that wisdom you are contacting the origin of the Shambhala lineage, the source of wisdom. Some people believe that this kingdom of Shambhala still lies hidden somewhere on earth, while others see the kingdom as a metaphor, or that it has ascended to the heavens. But the kingdom of Shambhala itself, it is not some mysterious heavenly realm; it is the realm of the cosmic mirror; the primordial realm that is always available to human beings if they release and expand their minds. The imperial rulers of Shambhala, the Ridgen kings, are the inhabitants of the cosmic mirror, referred as ultimate Drala. Ultimate Drala has three characteristics: (1) Primordial, (2) Unchangingness and (3) Bravery. When you recontacting the wisdom of the cosmic marrow, you are meeting the ultimate Dralas, the Ridgen . The vastness of perception can be captured in simplicity, a single perception, on the spot. When we allow vastness to enter or perception, it becomes Drala; brilliant and luminous - magical - the phenomenal world. The master warrior experiences unconditional wakefulness free for ego and selfishness, secondly, he develops great tenderness and compassion and finds that the Great Easter Sun has entered his heart and out of compassion he/she is able to join heaven and earth. This happens if you go beyond and egotistic attitude. And because there is no fear in the master’s warrior own state of mind, the process of helping others takes place constantly. What distinguishes such leaders of humanity is their fearless expression of gentleness on behalf of all sentient beings.”

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Afterword: “In 1975 Chögyam Trungpa, , gathered a small group of students an introduced a secular discipline which he called the teachings of Shambhala. This discipline is now called Shambhala training and it is appropriate for all beings, regardless of the conditions of their birth, status, or previous beliefs. It was exciting and threatening. He taught appreciation of ordinary things and his way of working with the world was so uplifting, joyous and delightful that it did not take any convincing to know that this was the real way to be. One could be dignified and genuine, without being stiff or tight. His level of appreciation for the most ordinary objects of life, the way he worked with his body, his environment - everything has presence, and because of that, everything demonstrated inherent goodness. What he was saying, he was actually doing. Now I have come to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of the Shambhala tradition and ordinariness of Shambhala wisdom. They embody the best possible expression of human goodness that is inherent in every culture. He was not only the vanguard of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of warriorship in the west, but he also reintroduced the tradition of warriorship that had been forgotten. He showed us how to meet reality; he took time to train so many people in this discipline in order to ensure its continuity. He constantly worked for everyone’s benefit and he always showed clear example of how to meet the world with gentleness, humor and fearlessness. This is the legacy he left us - the life of the Shambhala warrior, who always gives on hundred percent. It is my wish that this great teaching can spread throughout the world; needed to remind us of our inherent nobility. May the goodness of the Great Eastern Sun shine eternally, and may the confidence of primordial goodness taken the hearts and minds of warriors everywhere.”

About the Author: “Chögyam Trungpa (1940-1987) was a meditation master, teacher and artist. He was the author of many books on Buddhism, including Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, The Myth of Freedom, and Meditation in Action. He was born in Eastern Tibet. An incarnate lineage holder in the Kagyü and schools of Tibetan Buddhism, he was Supreme Abbot of the Surmang Monasteries, where he received, at the age of eighteen, the degree of Khyenpo (Doctorate in Theology, Philosophy, and Psychology). When the Chinese invaded Tibet, in 1959, Chögyam Trungpa fled to India. By appointment of the Dalai , he served as spiritual advisor to the Young ’ Home School. In 1963 he traveled to England, where he attended Oxford university, studying Western Philosophy, Religion, Art and Language. He established his first teaching center in Scotland in 1968. In 1970, he was invited to teach in the United States where he traveled and taught extensively, establishing more that one hundred meditation centers. In 1973, he founded the International Association of which coordinates the activities of these centers. He also founded The Naropa Institute, a college that combines contemplative studies with a Liberal Arts curriculum. In 1976 Shambhala training was founded. Chögyam Trungpa moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1986. He dies there the following year on April 4.”

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A B C D #alive #balance #calmness #dawn #all-sentient-beings #basic-principle #celebration #death #achievement #basic-goodness #challenge #decency #action-result #basic-patterns #citta-heart #delightful #anxiety #behavior #civilization #direct #aggression #birth #clear-perception #dignified #ancestor #bodhi-awake #cocoon #dignity #appreciation #brilliant #compassion #discipline #arrogance #brilliance #compassionate #discovery #artfully #brave #concern #drala #attachment #bravery #conduct #duality #available #broken-heart #conditions #dualism #authentic-presence #bow #connection #awareness #bowing #confidence #awakening #buddha #consideration #buddhism #contemporary #buddhist #contribution #continuity #consciousness #cosmic-mirror #courage #cowardice #chögyam-trungpa #cultivated #culture E F G H #earth #family #gentle #habitual-patterns #ecological #fear #gentleness #happiness #efficient #fellowship #genuine #healing #ego #five-steadiness #genuinesses #health #egolessness #first-meek #gratitude #heart #elegance #fearlessness #great-eastern-sun #heaven-earth #elements #fearful #ground #hierarchy #embodied #fourdignities #grounded #honesty #emotion #fourth-inscrutable #good-seat #household #emotional #four-industriousness #good-posture #human #energy #fundamental #goodness #humor #enlightened #freedom #environment #erect #established #external-drala #existence #experience #exposed #explore July 2021 Page 19 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

I J K L #independent #journesy #kindness #learning #inherent #joyous #kingdom #legacy #individual-power #knowledge #legends #innate #legendary #internal-drala #liberate #intuition #liberation #inspiration #life #logic #love #look-properly #luminous #lineage #lha-divine #loneliness #lu-water M N O P #magic #natural #objects-of-preception #path #majesty #natural-law #one-relationship #pattern #manual #natural-order #onness #peace #master #naked #open #perception #nervousness #mature #openness #practicality #nobility #meaningful #nothingness #order #precious #meditation #non-aggression #ordinary #principles #meditative-awareness #non-reference-points #ordinariness #primordial #merit #now #organic #prosperity #message #nowness #origin #phenomenal-world #mind-body #nyen-friend #original #precision #mythical #present #monarch #presence #mundane #pride #power #pure July 2021 Page 20 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

Q R S T #radiance #sacred #tantric-texts #raw #sacredness #tender #reality #sadness #tenderness #realization #sanity #tibet #receptivity #secular #third-outrageous #reference-points #senses #three-protection #relax #sense-perceptions #throne #relaxed #sensitive #togetherness #renunciation #secret-drala #touch-ground #respect #secular #tradition #restlessness #second-perky #transcend #richness #self-respect #tranquility #ridgen-kings #setting-sun #true-perception #rooted #sevenrichness #trust #rule #seven-goldenwheel #two-counselor #shambhala #significance #simple #simplicity #sitting-practice #situations #sitting-practice #six-generosity #skillful-action #skillful-intelligence #softness #spiritual #society #soft #sore-points #space #spacious #spot #strength #sun #super-natural #survival #sympathy #synchronization July 2021 Page 21 of 21 Shambhala [TSPOTW]

U V W X #unconditional #virtue #wakefulness #universal-monarch #vision #warrior #universe #vulnerable #warriorship #upright #welfare #wholeness #windhorse #wise #wisdom #workable #wonderful #world #worship Y Z