AWAKE MIND, OPEN HEART: The Power of Courage and Dignity in Everyday Life

Shambhala is both a legendary, quasi-mythical kingdom loosely akin to Shangri-la, and also a system of teachings on "how to manifest dignity and human power in everyday life." Kneen, a teacher of meditation programs, asserts that Shambhala has existed through the centuries as a kind of gnostic, secret knowledge within elite Buddhist circles. Shambhala does not, however, emphasize traditional Buddhist tenets such as impermanence, interconnectedness or even the teachings of the historical Buddha himself. As Kneen outlines in the first several chapters, Shambhala instead revolves around recognizing and trusting the basic goodness of the world and of oneself. This process is aided by meditation, and Kneen provides some practical tips on how to meditate. Next, she describes how daunting obstacles, both internal and external, can be faced with a warrior spirit by rousing a special inner vitality called "windhorse," which leads to intense personal power and dignity regardless of outside circumstances. This, in turn, allows one to open up to the world and to begin building a better society. Kneen provides many personal examples of her own experiences with Shambhala, and these are often amusing and memorable. The writing, however, is frequently longwinded, and later chapters tend toward a vague assertion of spiritual principles rather than the specificity that makes the earlier chapters focused and accessible. This is an informative introduction to Shambhala, though many readers will find it falls short of the author's stated goal of allowing them to make a personal connection with Shambhala's teachings. (Feb.)