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General
Buddhism |
Namo Kalachakraya !
Hail to Kalachakra
SHAMBALA - The Magic Kingdom
CONTENTS:
Description of Shambala
Notes on the Symbolism of Shambala
Bibliography
Shambala or "bde 'byung" in Tibetan, means "The source of happiness".
The Kingdom of Shambala takes a central place in the Kalachakra teachings. Not
only did the Historical Shakyamuni Buddha teach the Kalachakra tantra on request
of King Suchandra of Shambala, also the teachings are said to be preserved there.
In a few centuries from now it is predicted that a spiritual revival of the
world will come from Shambala.
As can be seen on this mandala
on the web, it is usually depicted as circular. Divided like a Dharma-Wheel
it spreads out between high mountains and contains many cities. In the centre
of the hub is the capital Kalapa.
Several people, including the ones who brought the Kalachakra teachings into
our world, are said to have travelled there, or have had visions of it. One
of the visionaries alive these days is Khamtrul Rinpoche. A brief account of
his vision can be found on the website of Kalachakra.com,
look for Shambala and Vision.
(#2) To the south of the Town of Kalapa (capital of Shambala) is the Sandalwood Park, twelve yojanas across, same as the town of Kalapa. To its east is Lesser Manasa Lake, twelve yojanas across, and to the west is White Lotus Lake, of the same extent. In between these two is Sandalwood Park. In the centre of Sandalwood Park is the great Kalachakra Mandala built by King Suchandra (first king of Shambala), consisting of the gods and goddesses made out of the five jewels, square, four hundred hastas across. {From the Vimalaprabha)
We can talk about 3 Shambalas. Outer Shambala exists as a kingdom in the external
world, the Inner Shambala lies hidden in the body and mind, and the Other Shambala
is the Kalachakra mandala with all its deities.
The outer journey to Shambala bears close relation to the completion stage of
Kalachakra, the physical obstacles on the way represent inner barriers that
must be faced at the psychic centres. These barriers form the knots that block
the proper energy flow through the psychic nervous system; as such, they correspond
to mental defilements, such as ignorance and lust, that limit our awareness.
Working one's way through the chakras until one has opened them
all and liberated the innermost mind from its imprisonment in the last reached
- the heart centre
In taking the inner journey to Shambala, we strive to regain this direct awareness
of a child with all its sense of wonder and awe. But we cannot do so by retreating
in the past and attempting to become children again. We have lost the innocence
that enabled us to experience the world directly. We cannot simply ignore or
wish away the screen of preconceptions that now obscures our vision. We have
to face ourselves and see what we have done to our minds. Only by becoming aware
of our illusions and how we cling to them can we free ourselves from their power
and awaken a fresh and direct awareness of the world around us. Rather than
to go back, we have to go forward to a new and wiser innocence - one that combines
the wonder of a child with the wisdom of a sage. By treating the ordinary events
of daily life as we did the magical features of the journey to Shambala, we
may be able to uncover the hidden aspects of ourselves that we need to know
in order to awaken the deeper mind.
We can even see the history and prophecy of Shambala as an allegory for the
course of life as a whole. As an initiation, the Buddha's teaching of the Kalachakra
in India symbolises the birth of a baby with his fresh, new vision of reality.
The loss of true religion in the outside world represents the child's loss of
awareness and spontaneity as he grows up in a society that encourages him to
ignore his inner nature and be false to himself. Just as the barbarian doctrines
take over the world, so the values and concerns of others take over his mind,
filling it with conflicting desires and illusions. He reaches the stage symbolized
by the wars that the victorious barbarians fight amongst themselves. Most people
never go beyond this stage; they remain caught in the conflicts of the surface
consciousness, unable to get what they want or see themselves as they are. Those
who achieve worldly success ... reach the stage of the King who unites all the
squabbling barbarians under his dictatorial rule. The final battle and the golden
age .. represent the real fulfillment of life - the attainment of true maturity.
This myth [of constant improvement], which has driven us for so long, is now,
however, reaching its limits. Even those who seem to have benefited, those who
live in the affluent suburbs or other oases of prosperity, are experiencing
a growing sense of boredom and meaninglessness that drives many of them to random
acts of violence and self-destruction. The myth of progress seems, in fact,
to have led us into the degenerate period of materialism that is supposed to
precede the golden age of Shambala.
INNER SHAMBALA can be identified with the heart chakra, the innermost [subtlest]
mind lies here.
8-PETALLED SHAPE of the regions of Shambala stand for the 8 nadis from
the heart centre, each serves one of the 8 kinds of consciousness through which
we experience ourselves and the world. The 5 senses, the consciousness, of self
or ego, the consciousness. of thoughts and the store consciousness. of past
impressions. Texts describe Shambala in the form of an 8 petalled lotus so that
yogis can visualise it as a mandala in their hearts [Dardo Rinpoche].
96 PRINCIPALITIES with millions of towns refer to our network of nadis.
INHABITANTS refer to the energy [wind] in nadis.
OUTER RING OF SNOW MOUNTAINS refer to the skin
INNER RING OF SNOW MOUNTAINS refer to the central channel
TWO LAKES refer to the side channels.
BRIGHT LIGHT FROM THE PALACE turning night into day refers to the bright, clear
awareness that dispels the darkness of ignorance and illusion.
SKY-LIGHTS fitted with lenses giving view of life on distant stars and planets,
refers to the great range and extent of the clear light awareness
MAGIC SCREEN of the King permitting to observe everything closer by refers to
clairvoyant powers of the innermost mind.
GOLDEN THRONE with 8 lions refers to the underlying power and steadiness of
the innermost mind.
WISHFULFILLING GEM refers to the power of the innermost mind to liberate itself.
MAGIC RODS, the "Possessors of the Power of Mind" which the 96 lesser Kings
have, (that enables them to send messages to wherever they wish in an instant)
refers to the efficient communication and control the deepest levels of
mind can have over body and consciousness.
WEALTH of all inhabitants, refers to the treasures of the mind.
LAKES lakes symbolise fruits of spiritual practice; Padma Karpo "White Lotus",
implies it reflects the pure awareness of the innermost mind.
MALAYA-PARK or "Cool Grove" refers to the cool and refreshing awareness of reality,
extinguishing the painful fires of desires and illusion.
PEACE AND HARMONY refers to the people here being no longer subject to inner
conflicts and turmoil.
GENTLE LAWS AND NO HARD PUNISHMENT refers to people reaching this stage are
beyond the need of harsh [self] discipline.
SUBDUED DEMONS, the inhabitants have subdued demons and made them to servants
refers to taming the wilder impulses and using them for reaching the goal.
NO LOSS OF VIRTUE when inhabitants enjoy wealth and comfort refers to being
beyond attachment which would hold them back from enlightenment.
GREAT DISTANCE refers to the (far) mysterious reaches of unconscious mind.
Shambala on the web: click here.
#1: The way to Shambala by Eric Bernbaum
#2: Kalacakra Sadhana and Social Responsibility, David Reigle, Spirit of the
Sun Publications 1996.
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Last updated: January 26, 2001
