Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior (Shambhala Classics)

by Chögyam Trungpa

The basic definition of drala is “energy beyond aggression.” The only way to contact that energy is to experience a gentle state of being in yourself. So the discovery of drala is not coincidental. To connect with the fundamental magic of reality, there has to be gentleness and openness in you already. Otherwise, there is no way to recognize the energy of nonaggression, the energy of drala, in the world. So the individual training and discipline of the Shambhala warrior are the necessary foundation for experiencing drala.

The essence of this way or path is transcending cowardice and manifesting bravery. That is the best and only way to invoke drala: by creating an atmosphere of bravery.

The fundamental aspect of bravery is being without deception. Deception in this case is self-deception, doubting yourself so that you are cut off from the vision of the Great Eastern Sun.

The dralas can only descend onto your existence when you have properly prepared the ground. If there is the slightest deception, you will dispel drala. From that point of v...

The Shambhala understanding of bravery is quite different. Here bravery is the courage to be—to live in the world without any deception and with tremendous kindness and caring for others.

When you develop bravery, you make a connection with the elemental quality of existence. Bravery begins to heighten your existence—that is, to bring out the brilliant and genuine qualities of your environment and of your own being. So you begin to contact the magic of reality—which is already there in some sense. You actually can attract the power and strength and the primordial wisdom that arise from the cosmic mirror.

The first is invoking external drala, which is invoking magic in your physical environment.

The point is not to make a self-conscious statement about yourself, but to make your world available to others.

There are many other examples of invoking external drala. I have read, for instance, that some American Indians in the Southwest grow vegetables in the desert sands. The soil, from an objective standpoint, is completely infertile. If you just threw a handful of seeds into that earth, nothing would grow. But the Indians have been cultivating that soil for generations; they have a deep connection to that earth, and they care for it. To them it is sacred ground, and because of that their plants grow. That is real magic. The attitude of sacredness toward your environment will bring drala.

In summary, invoking the external drala principle is connected with organizing your environment so that it becomes a sacred space. This begins with the organization of your personal household environment, and beyond that, it can include much larger environments, such as a city or even an entire country.

Then there is invoking internal drala, which is how to invoke drala in your body.

To invoke internal drala you have to pay attention to how you use your mouth. Maybe you don’t need to use it as much as you think.

The basic idea of invoking internal drala is that you can synchronize, or harmonize, your body and your connection to the phenomenal world.

Finally, there is what is known as invoking secret drala, which is the product of invoking the external and internal drala principles.

When you are fully gentle, without arrogance and without aggression, you see the brilliance of the universe. You develop a true perception of the universe.

One of the important points in invoking drala is to prepare a ground of gentleness and genuineness. The basic obstacle to gentleness is arrogance. Arrogance comes from hanging on to the reference point of me and other.

Being gentle and without arrogance is the Shambhala definition of a gentleman. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, one of the definitions of a gentleman is someone who is not rude, someone whose behavior is gentle and thoroughly trained. However, for the warrior, gentleness is not just politeness. Gentleness is consideration: showing concern for others, all the time.

The process of freeing yourself from arrogance and cutting off your habitual tendencies is a very drastic measure, but it is necessary in order to help others in this world.

The point of warriorship is to become a gentle and tamed human being who can make a genuine contribution to this world.

The challenge of warriorship is to live fully in the world as it is and to find within this world, with all its paradoxes, the essence of nowness.

Living in accordance with natural hierarchy is not a matter of following a series of rigid rules or structuring your days with lifeless commandments or codes of conduct. The world has order and power and richness that can teach you how to conduct your life artfully, with kindness to others and care for yourself.

Living in accordance with natural hierarchy is not a matter of following a series of rigid rules or structuring your days with lifeless commandments or codes of conduct. The world has order and power and richness that can teach you how to conduct your life artfully, with kindness to others and care for yourself. However, just studying the principles of lha, nyen, and lu is not enough. The discovery of natural hierarchy has to be a personal experience—magic is something you must experience for yourself. Then, you will never be tempted to put your hat on the floor, but more important, you will never be tempted to cheat your neighbors or your friends. You will be inspired to serve your world, to surrender yourself completely.

The notion of ruling your world is that you can live in a dignified and disciplined way, without frivolity, and at the same time enjoy your life. You can combine survival and celebration.