Shambhala, The Purest Land ???

In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shambhala is a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere in Inner Asia. It is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient texts of the Zhang Zhung culture which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. However, Shambhala has been knowing as a Buddhist Pure Land.

Shambhala is understood as "a place of happiness / peace. With many concepts in Kalachakra Tantra, the idea of Shambhala is said to have "outer", "inner", and "alternative" meanings. The "outer" means that Shambhala can be exist in to a physical place, however only individuals with appropriate karma can reach it and experience it.

The Wheel of Time

But according to Dalai Lama 14th during Kalachakra initiation in Bodhgaya, Shambhala is not an ordinary country.

Although those with special affiliation may actually be able to go there through their karmic connection, nevertheless it is not a physical place that we can actually find. We can only say that it is a pure land, a pure land in the human realm. And unless one has the merit and the actual karmic association, one cannot actually arrive there.

Many opinion try to predict, in which area this Shambhala takes place, but, it is often said that the society placed in Central Asia, north or west Tibet.

Ancient Zhang Zhung texts identify Shambhala with the Sutlej Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Mongolians identify Shambala with certain valleys of southern Siberia.
The inner and alternative meanings refer to more subtle understandings of what Shambhala represents in terms of one's own body and mind (inner), and the meditation practice (alternative). These two types of symbolic explanations are generally passed on orally from teacher to student.

If you refer to the picture above, maybe you can see similar infrastructure with Borobudur Temple in Indonesia.

Shambhala is ruled over by a line of Kings of Shambhala known as Kulika or Kalki Kings (Tib. Rigden), a monarch who upholds the integrity of the Kalachakra tantra. The Kalachakra prophesizes that when the world declines into war and greed, and all is lost, the 25th Kalki king will emerge from Shambhala with a huge army to vanquish "Dark Forces" and usher in a worldwide Golden Age. Using calculations from the Kalachakra Tantra, scholars such as Alex Berzin put this date at 2424 AD.

A story from Tibet:

It is said that one day, there is a young boy, tried to find Shambhala. After adventured many mountains, he found a cave. Inside, an old monk asked that young boy:
"Where do you wish to heading for, with the cost of adventuring this thick snow?"

"To find Shambhala" Asked that young boy.

"Ah...I see, actually young man, you don't have to find out too far, you already found it, your heart..." Said that old monk.

Maybe..if we hear our heart a little bit more, we can find what Shambala means...


Source : wikipedia, crystalinks.com, mysticbourgeoisie.blogspot.com