Shambala

Shambhala , or Shambala, (sometimes also referred to as Shangri-La.,) is related to teachings of both Buddhism and Hinduism. The word, Shambala, in Sanskrit, the ancient classical Indian language, means “Pure Land” or “Paradise on Earth.”

Buddhism originated in Northern India, (now present-day Nepal) in a small village at the foothills of the Himalaya mountains. It was in this village that Buddhism began and it was started by a young prince by the name of Siddhartha who lived there between the years 563-483 BC. Siddhartha, disillusioned with Hinduism began a search for truth and spiritual enlightenment and when he found what he believed to be it, he also became the first Buddha, or "Gautama Buddha,"and it has since been called Buddhism.

Being a noble prince, Siddhartha wanted to do what was right and good, so he devoted himself to his religion and wholeheartedly sought to understand the meaning of life the universe and everything. He dedicated himself to meditation and strove to mortify his flesh in order to quench the evil desir, and he submitted to spiritual things instead as good holy and religious man should, in order to attain a mental state of perfection known as Nirvana. He went into seclusion for six years where he did nothing but meditate, pray and fast.

After nearly starving himself for those six years, he finally ended his seclusion, self-inflicted pain and physical deprivation, and washed himself in the Nairanjana River. Then he then began a special seven-day meditation under a Bodhi Tree, vowing never to arise from there until he found the truth.

During this time under the Bodhi tree, he had several spiritual revelations and was even said to have been attacked by evil spirits, however he emerged victoriously with his great understanding of all things and much compassion to all beings in the universe, and he thus became the "the awakened one." Siddhartha then founded "Buddhism" when he went around giving discourses and rules on spiritual things, and leading others into monastic lifestyles so that they could become enlightened too.

The Himalayan Mountains are very sacred to the religions prominent in India, particularly Buddhists, for in Buddhist tradition, there is said to be a place in these mountains called Shambhala, (or Shambala.) It’s believed to be a mystical kingdom, hidden and restricted for enlightened souls, those who have attained to this special wisdom, this Buddhist "Nirvana," those no who not longer have an attachment to the fruits of their bad karma.

To those outside this religious path, Shambala is presented as a mythological kingdom of bliss and peace, a peace that can be known only by those who are enlightened, and to the enlightened ones Shambhala is an earthly society of fearless warriors with a deep commitment to creating an “enlightened society” upon the earth. It stands in direct opposition to the Christian concept that every man is by nature a sinner without hope, and instead is based upon the principal of the basic goodness of every man. Shambala is sometimes spoken of as a force, defined as “the divine energy of will or purpose,” or “the will to do good.” It is, in esoteric philosophy, a fire.

Shambala is also said to be the main city of a place known in Buddhism as Agharta, which is not a mystical clouded kingdom in the sky but a subterranean world that has an inward sky with clouds. It is related to beliefs of a hollow earth, whose ruler is believed to be in close contact with the Dali Lama of Tibet.

For this reason, in years of the past, some people believe Shambala was a real and accesible place on earth, accessible through secret tunnels in various locations asll around on earth. This is similar in concept to the legendary Hyperborea-Thule, which was believed to be somewhere in Greenland/Iceland and in legendary lore, related to the legendary "Lost City of Atlantis."
Some people even believe it to be equivalent to King Arthur’s "Avalon," but Shambala, wherever it is, however one describes it, has always been believed to be a “spiritual” realm, one that is protected by some sort of a psychic barrier, only penetrable by those who make a connection with “special" beings of a hierarchical nature.

This leads us to discuss India's caste system and it's origin.

The caste system in India began when a people called the Aryans, migrated into or conquered
northwest India, and imposed a caste system to organize the new society they wanted to create.
It is noteworthy therefore that Nazism and Tibetan Buddhism have common currents that run between them.

For example, besides sharing the cast concept and the belief that some human beings are only deserving to be outcasts, subhuman and worthless based upon their lineage, Buddism and Nazism share the symbol of the swastika. They both believe that their human leader, is a sort-of God on earth. (In Nazism Hitler was the "Fuhrer," and in Buddhism we see the "Dali Lama." More importantly, both Nazism and Tibetan Buddhism stand in direct opposition to the major monotheistic religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is no wonder therefore when we see how Hitler, a self proclaimed Nazi, was also very interested in the Buddhist concept of Shambala.

The Swedish Explorer Sven Hedin was greatly honored by Adolph Hitler for his expeditions to Tibet. It is believed that Hitler and other important Nazi officials had much interest in finding such a mystical kingdom as Shambala there, for such a discover would indeed validate their belief in a superior Aryan Race. Even Bruno Berger, anthropologist for the expeditions believed that they would find proof of their Nazi beliefs in a "master race" if they were to unccover "Shambala."

The mysteries, myths, lore and legend of such a place as Shambala have been both spoken, kept secret and sung about. Besides Buddhism, Hinduism, and Adolph Hitler, Shambala can be found in the writings of Madame Helen Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy and songs produced by rock bands like; Three Dog Night, (who asked the proverbial question: ‘How does your light shine, on the road to Shambala?’) Donavon and the Beastie Boys’ sang songs about it too.

There are “Shambhala Training Centers” now being opened in mass all over the world, including of course, major US cities. These training centers teach the “path of study and practice of the “Shambhala Warriorship, ” and this through the practices of yoga and meditation.

Azra Haqqie, writing for the Buddhist Times, interviewed David Rook, a teacher at a Shambhala Meditation Center, in Albany New York, July 15, 2006. Rook was asked what distinguishes Buddhism from other religions. He said, “In Buddhism, nothing is accepted as faith, including the notion of "me" or "I." The No. 1 concern is to be fully present with the suffering and chaos in the world rather than viewing it as a problem.”