SHAMBHALA: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

Rusty

Rusty

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Interesting book I picked up yesterday.

SHAMBHALA: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Chogyam Trungpa, Copyright 1984, Translation 1988 by author. Shambabhala Publications Inc, Boston ISBN 0-87773-264-7 US $13.95 Trade Paperback

Lion's Roar may be familiar with this book, If not, he may find it interesting. Rather than follow in the traditional path of the Shambhala Buddhist traditions he acknowleges them, then finds the universal lessons of the Tibetan Warrior-Kings, the Japanese Samurai, Knights of medaeval Europe, and the Warriors of the Native American Tribes.

www.shambhala.com
 
Yep, I'm familiar with him. He wrote other books as well, including Crazy Wisdom.

I fully realize that the comments that I make will inevitably tee someone off.
No apologies if it does, and let me explain. I took vows a long time a go as a bodyguard to H.H. the Dalai Lama and other lamas, to protect them, and the sangha or people that came to learn from them. I feel a little obligated at times to, well not protect, but just to speak the truth about some things when it's not always well known.

Be careful is the only message. Chogyam Trungpa and his successor, Osel Tendzin, did not have the spiritual life down. He died of complications from alchoholism and AIDS. He has continued to have sex for years after he found out with multiple partners of both sexes. I have heard from a very reliable source that he was also a pedifile. This particular source is someone that I would, and have, placed my life on the line with. I also know of one instance at one of their gatherings that force was used on a couple who were trying to leave. They managed to get out without being damaged.

As a protector, it's more than just the lamas and monks, it is protecting the people or the Sangha as well. Too bad they didn't have any of my kind their when it happened.

In a positive light, his books are not all bad. Take what you can use, disgard the rest, and don't take it as a real lineage. Be a conscious and aware reader.
 
Sometimes the people you like least end up teaching you the most.

This is a more secular book than it would seem, and kind of reverses the take - by studying the warrior, we see how he disciplines himself and learns to value peace. To cherish, and act on behalf of others.

I'll read him but regard his teachings as suspect. I'm used to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children, the elderly, and both of and by spiritual leaders.

If you are interested, there's a book by Marty Raphael called SPIRITUAL
VAMPIRES: The Use and Misuse of Spiritual Power. ISBN 1-57282-006-3. She seems a bit dingy ( justifiably, why you learn why ) but really is right-on the mark. Antagonists in the Church by Kenneth C. Haugk, ISBN 1-8066-3210-1, shows the other side - of folks who become "Clergy Killers".

Defining -Pride- may be difficult, but decribing what it isn't -humility- is easier. Eventually, patterns develop in life if we have the knowledge to tranfer from one aspect to another. I'm in my fifties now, and I don't know a lot, but I am becoming profoundly suspicious of a lot lately. If I live to a hundred, who knows? I suspect Uncle Bill was getting to the point he started to understand a lot more - right up to the point he started taking medication for pain that makes it hard to think.

We all are screwed in some ways in this life. Maybe it gets better in the next.

:eek: :confused: :D :o :barf: :yawn: ;)
 
I like that phrase, profoundly suspicious. I can relate.
I'm 35, and I don't know what I know or don't know. So, I just try to start from zero most of the time, listen and try to be fully present.

This reminds me of my Grandfather used to tell me about his experiences from his youth. He was Indian and living in the 30's and 40's. He used to tell me that he wouldn't always know what was the right answer for things, or what was right in a situation, but he sure did know bull**** when he saw it.
I'm glad that he told me that. Because, it explained emotions that I've had a lot in this life. I miss the old man dearly. He was the only enlightened person that I believe I have met in this lifetime, so far. I could be crude enough to have missed a bunch more though, never know.

This next comment is purely personal- when I read the book, Shambhala, I found some useful information. As I read more and more, something kinda felt like it was missing, at least to me. It certainly had a sort of compassionate element to it, but something was amiss. I know from the warriors path, that sometimes you have to fight a war. There has to be a, for lack of a better word at this time of night, a dangerous capability of a warrior, in order to handle bad situations. errr, maybe not dangerous, maybe "skillful means" is what I am looking for. But, my point is that if I say that I am a warrior, then I should have or be working towards practical abilities to protect my loved ones or serve my country. It's a yang to balance the yin. I didn't feel that balance in the book- even in principle. And when I found out about his past, then I recognized what was going on. I can't explain it - it's all internal, but I just felt it wasn't getting the whole picture of a peaceful warrior's path across. Again, strictly personal opinion, and not representative of anything else but myself.

If you figure all the answers out at any point in time, please clue me in.
The more I learn the less I know.

Incidentally, I think he wrote a book on "Lion's Roar" too, but that was about something that predated possibly even Buddhism. The Lion's Roar Sutra, the Bon shamans of Tibet had the sutra and then the Tibetan Buddhists, Black Hats I think.. not sure which one had it first. The "Lion's Roar" referred to a point of spiritual awakening or realization.

Sorry for the long post- more talkative than usual tonight. :)
 
kind of a different vantage, Lama Yeshe has written a little about "Divine Pride" in his books on vajrasanna or tantric buddhism. I don't know if you want to go to the trouble of reading it if, but he has some decent stuff.

I like going back to as much original material as possible from Shakyamuni Buddha, like the Dhammapada.

Rusty, one worthwhile read is the "Kalama Sutra". It's on the net. Just do a google search, and you can find it. It's not long either, but says a lot.
It was translated from Pali, and came directly from Shakyamuni Buddha.
umm, I have heard that some Buddhist traditions would not translate it into their language...
 
"Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching. Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the
spirit of the words. Rely not on theory, but on experience.Do not believe in anything simply because you
have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Do
not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything because it is
written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and
elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is
conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."​
- the Buddha
​
 
Lion's Roar said:
...I'm 35, and I don't know what I know or don't know..
Click to expand...
I'm almost twice as old as that and I have forgotten most of what I thought I used to know but I still know more than I need to know.
 
Actually the "profoundly suspicious" part was kind of tongue-in-cheek, because when you see patterns in one area of life, you start suspecting them in other areas of life.

William James' three criteria for truth: Congruency, Usefullness, Luminosity - when each is profoundly present you have Truth!

The Kalama Sutra as Yvsa quoted it is another way of saying the same.

What was it Einstein was working on? A Unified Field theory?

Teilhard's "Something is afoot in the Universe, something that looks like gestation..."

Lady Julian of Norwich's "All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well."

What I seem to see from the corners of my eyes when I'm focused on something in front of me, what noetic knowlege comes unbidden in mysticism's ecstatic joy, leads me to "profoundly suspect" patterns of goodness and joy hidden from us in the eyes we must use to see with for the now.

Maybe something I said will make sense to you - but I ain't givng any odds on it. :yawn: :yawn: :yawn:

Time for my medication, obviously.
 
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