

This makes it complicated for the uninitiated to truly understand what Shambhala really is. Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have taught the Kalachakra on request of King Suchandra of Shambhala.Īs with many concepts in the Kalachakra, the idea of Shambhala is said to have outer, inner, and alternative meanings. The Kalachakra refers to a complex and advanced esoteric teaching and practice in Tibetan Buddhism. However, the text in which Shambhala is first discussed extensively is the Kalachakra. The Buddhist myth of Shambhala is an adaptation of the earlier Hindu myth. Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana mention Shambhala as the birth place of Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu who believers claim will usher in a new Golden Age. The Bön scriptures speak of a closely related land called Olmolungring. The legend of Shambhala is said to date back thousands of years, and reference to the mythical land can be found in various ancient texts. ( Mac / Adobe Stock) The Legend of the Mythical Land of Shambhala Shambhala is described as a land of paradise, believed by some to be hidden within Himalayan mountains. But throughout Asia, it is best known by its Sanskrit name, Shambhala, Shamballa, or Shangri-la. The Hindus call it Aryavartha (meaning “The Land of the Worthy Ones”) the Chinese know it as Hsi Tien, the Western Paradise of Hsi Wang Mu and to the Russian Old Believers, it is known as Belovoyde. The Hemis Monastery: Home of the Legends of Jesus and the Phantoms of the Himalayas.Real World Locations, Where Myth Meets Reality.It has been called the Forbidden Land, the Land of White Waters, Land of Radiant Spirits, Land of Living Fire, Land of the Living Gods and even the Land of Wonders. Shambhala is said to be the land of a thousand names. Accordingly, the mythical Buddhist kingdom of Shambhala is a place where love and wisdom reign and where people are immune to suffering, want or old age.Īnswering the question “what is Shambhala?” is no easy feat. According to legend, it is a land where only the pure of heart can live, meaning those who have achieved enlightenment. Shambhala, which is a Sanskrit word meaning “place of peace” or “place of silence,” is a mythical paradise spoken of in ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient scriptures of the Zhang Zhung culture which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet.
