My job has recently required me to travel and the quiet times at night are a good time to explore something I’ve been curious about, Buddhism. I visited a Shambhala Meditation Centre for an introductory session and picked up a recommended book, Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa.

What is Shambhala? What is this warrior thing all about? (I could not help but think of Klingons.) Trungpa was a Buddhist teacher closely associated with the Dalai Lama. He was a scholar who researched the legendary kingdom of Shambhala and used it as a metaphor for a secular discipline. It does not teach Buddhism, but rather the principles of warriorship that were embodied in ancient India, Tibet, China, Japan and Korea.

I very much like Trungpa’s description of meditation as “developing a sense of our spot, our place on this earth” (20), a kind of psychological or inner homesteading that helps us be at peace. Gentleness and bravery create a regal sort of person fit to rule a kingdom. He suggests that many of us have a “setting sun” attitude toward life and advises visualizing a “rising sun”. Seems a bit too simple, but I tried it and it does facilitate a change of attitude. There’s more to it than that, so if it piques your interest, grab the book to learn more about it, and also about the powerful windhorse metaphor.

Trungpa’s basic aim is to show that the best of life can be enjoyed in even the most ordinary of circumstances. Its secular approach appealed to me. The best Buddhist teachings do not fuss over theological details, and my favourite book so far is Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor.

http://johnmiedema.ca/2009/06/21/inne... ( )

Whole-heartedly recommend this book! Sound advice, delivered in a warm and sincere way, almost like hearing it from a firm, yet loving grandparent.

Firstly talking through the reluctance to leave the warm, familiar darkness of `The Cocoon', symbolically representing the ignorance of denial, then leading through the journey towards `The Eastern Sun', helping open up a more enlightened viewpoint along the way.

Including developing loving kindness/ raising the strength of `Wind Horse' energy/ establishing the right perspective to walk tall with confidence/ guidance on how to represent yourself physically in the world/ awareness of the characteristics of the true warrior/ understanding fearlessness as moving through and beyond your restrictions.

Emphasis is given to learning the wisdom of accepting self-responsibility and knowing that the foundation of all spiritual growth is firstly attending to ones own problems, fears and behavior. Recognizing that before we can try to solve these things in the world around us, we ourselves must be acting from a place of peaceful open willingness.

Contact details of international groups following 'The path of the Warrior' can be found at the back of the book. ( )

Prefer Pema.

Excellent introduction to meditation and Tibetan Buddhism practice and view. JB