THE MYTH OF SHAMBALA AND TIBETAN BRACELETS
With no beginning or end,
The society of men manifested.
In that time, liberation and confusion arose.
When fear and doubt arrived
Toward the trust that is free from primordial time,
An innumerable crowd of cowards arose.
When the trust that is free from primordial time
Was followed and enjoyed,
An innumerable crowd of warriors arose.
These countless multitudes of cowards
Hid in jungles and caves.
They killed their sisters and brothers and ate their flesh,
They followed the example of beasts,
They instilled terror in each other;
Thus they killed each other.
They ignited a huge fire of hatred,
Continuously clouded the river of lust,
They wallowed in the mud of laziness:
Thus arose the age of hunger and pestilence.
Among those who had devoted themselves to primordial trust, The great hosts of warriors,
Some reached the region of the mountains And raised wonderful castles of crystal.
Some reached the lands of splendid lakes and islands
And raised pleasant palaces.
Some reached the pleasant plains
And sowed fields of barley, rice, and wheat.
They never knew disputes, Always kind and generous.
Without encouragement, through their self-existing inscrutability,
They were always devoted to the imperial Rigden.
The Shambala (also called Tamashii) is a bracelet used by Tibetan monks during meditation. For the monks, this bracelet is also a talisman of protection and support for their intentions throughout the day.
The word Tamashii has Japanese origins and means "jewel of the soul," representing peace and love towards oneself and the world.
It would therefore be more correct, speaking of these bracelets in reference to Tibetan culture, to call them Shambala (or Shamballa, Shambhala), which for Buddhists is the name of an ancient "hidden land," a protected place where peace and uncontaminated happiness reign, a mythical and secret realm ruled by wise and compassionate sovereigns and inhabited by gentle and educated citizens; a kingdom that inspired Asian cultures.
The Shambala teachings draw inspiration from the warrior culture of Tibet "based on the premise that there is a basic human wisdom that can help solve the world's problems. This wisdom does not belong to any particular religion or culture, nor does it come exclusively from the West or the East. Rather, it is a human tradition of being warriors that has existed in many cultures and at different historical periods."
In addition to Tibetans, the Shambala myth has also been particularly popular in the West, where similarly it has been considered the dwelling place of perfect men and women, capable of living in a condition of constant harmony and receiving energies from other worlds; "extremely wise men who have the gift of foresight," of whom Apollonius of Tyana wrote in the 1st century, reporting that he was so impressed by the scientific and mental achievements of its inhabitants, that he simply nodded when their king told him: "ask us what you want, because you are among people who know everything."
Shambala became a recurring theme in esotericism and also fueled Nazi mysticism. It is said that between 1926 and 1943, several unofficial German expeditions were carried out to study local mythology and customs (one official and well-documented was the one in 1938 in which the anthropologist Bruno Beger, who was responsible for racial research programs, measured the skulls of three hundred Tibetans and Sikkimese). The aim was to find evidence indicating a relationship between the ancient Germanic people and the inhabitants of Shambala.
A popular Tibetan belief asserts that the kingdom of Shambala can be found hidden in a remote valley somewhere in the Himalayas, and various writings over the centuries indicate the way with great detail. Beyond the myth, which expresses a common human need for all men, there is a path within the heart of each of us that can lead us to this kingdom. To find the path and walk it, one must first become warriors, "pawo," which means, in short, to become courageous.
In this article, I will not discuss the other principles described by many authors to finally reach Shambala, our kingdom of peace and knowledge; it would be too long and certainly incomplete work. I believe that already addressing this first step towards courage is extremely difficult: accepting ourselves so as not to feel fear and shame in front of the world and to open up to others constitutes the root and essence of every healing process.
THE SHAMBALA BRACELETS
In recent times, this bracelet has become quite popular, but it is important to remember that the meaning attributed to it is very deep and is connected to spirituality and positive energy. Those who wear this bracelet pursue an ideal of peace and love towards themselves, others, and life.
A Shambala bracelet can be made of different stones, each with different meanings, but in general, it helps protect the soul of the wearer and helps them find their role and sense of life.
Shambala bracelets by Samdea are handmade, and each one is different. Like japamala, I never tie one the same as another. All are composed exclusively of natural stones, not dyed or treated, and even the choice of thread is important as it ensures the maximum durability of the bracelet even when in contact with water.
Just be careful of all chemicals and fats - perfumes, creams, oils... - that can affect the beauty of natural stones. Happy journey.
Sources: "Shambala, the sacred way of the warrior," C. Trungpa, Ubaldini Editore; "Shambala: The Fascinating Truth Behind the Myth of Shangri-la," V. Le Page; Wikipedia, and some notes from those who follow me and have been in Tibet.