Tibetan Master Chogyam Trungpa had something of so-called “crazy wisdom”… Himself, he described crazy wisdom as the state of the innocent spirit, and compared it to dawn.

He wrote a book, Shambhala, that I recommend to those that want to perceive the sacredness of the warrior path in our “modern” daily life. This book was mostly inspired by the example of the Tibetan Warrior-King Gesar of Ling. Its first principle is that there is something of intrinsically good in any being. And that principle of goodness must be experienced in our common, daily life. One should be able to “taste” very common and simple experiences… He says this goodness makes part of everything that we see and live, but normally we don’t realise it… perhaps because they are indeed so simple, we forgot how they reveal the freshness and the goodness of life.

The inspiration for this book also comes from the legend of Shambala. According to the legend, there was a kingdom, which was the origin of all wisdom and culture in eastern countries. It was a prosperous and healthy place, ruled by wise and compassionate kings. It is said that Buddhism had a role in the growth of this society. The legend tells that Buddha Shakyamuni transmitted the tantric teachings to Dawa Zangpo, the first king of this kingdom. These teaching are called Kalachakra Tantra and this kingdom Shambhala. It is said that all its inhabitants went on practising the meditation and following the path of compassion. A popular belief also states that Shambhala still exists, hidden somewhere in the distant mountains of the Himalayas. In Tibetan texts one can find obscure indications about the way to reach this land. Other give detailed descriptions of the country. Nevertheless, the opinions diverge: some would think that one must take these indications for real, others say this is a metaphor. And others think that Shambhala just “went away”, vanished from the Earth. The day when all its inhabitants attained enlightenment, the kingdom just “volatilised” in a more subtle sphere of consciousness. According to this version, Shambhala rulers are still taking care of human affairs.

Many Tibetan masters support a tradition that sees Shambhala not as a real place, but as the root of enlightenment that exists in every single being. That’s the case with Chogyam Trungpa.