One of Tibet's highest and most respected lamas elucidates for us the principles of Shambhala, or the path to happiness, set down by his legendary father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Dear Reader,
We humans have come to a crossroads in our history: we can either destroy the world or create a good future. The Shambhala Principle offers the principle of basic goodness as a way of addressing the personal and social challenges that we face. Do we, as humans, have confidence in the basic goodness of humanity, as well as of society itself? As a Tibetan lama and spiritual leader, this strikes me as our most compelling global issue.

The book revolves around a dialogue with my father, the legendary Chögyam Trungpa. Whether his responses were direct or mystical, he continuously returned to the topics of basic goodness and enlightened society.  Not only did he show me how I could become confident in their existence through awareness and meditation, he also taught me how basic goodness is a socially viable standard that could stabilize and transform our world.

However, this book is not a memoir, or even a message. It is an invitation to readers to reflect on their own basic goodness and the basic goodness of society, and then contemplate the question, Can we rouse our energy and confidence to create a good world that is founded on this principle?

I encourage you to join me in this contemplation.
—Sakyong Mipham “In this rich and touching book, Sakyong Mipham recounts his relationship with his father, Chögyam Trungpa, to illustrate his personal journey of discovering the Shambhala principle of basic goodness and enlightened society. His contemplation of humanity’s true nature invites us all to do the same: dig deep into our hearts and bring forth the jewel that will illuminate our own inherent worthiness and that of society—as well as the worthiness of the beautiful earth we inhabit.  This is the love that connects us all.
I hope everyone will join Sakyong Mipham in this global conversation. This is a pivotal book for our time.” —Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart
 
"At a time when we can either destroy the world or create a good future, Sakyong Mipham proposes to use the power of goodness to solve our problems. In this surprising and inspiring book the author develops the view that humanity at the core is basically complete, good, and worthy. If you feel sometimes overwhelmed by the daily crimes and disasters, this is a healing book and a basis for hope, one that shows how basic goodness can begin to affect our homes, workplaces, hospitals, and schools, extending all the way to our economic and political systems." -- Lothar Schäfer, author of Infinite Potential: What Quantum Physics Reveals about How We Should Live
 
In The Shambhala Principle, Sakyong Mipham offers an inspiring vision of the fundamental wisdom, grace, and courage that resides in the heart of every human being. Rich in insight and practical detail, The Shambhala Principle is an indispensable guide to personal and societal transformation. It is at once a moving and deeply personal tribute to his father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and a transmission of timeless principles presented in a manner uniquely suited to the challenges of the 21st century.” Eric Swanson – co-author of The Joy of Living and Open Heart, Open Mind