In Tibet and many other Asian countries, there are ancient stories about a legendary Himalayan kingdom called Shambhala, a place of peace and prosperity, governed by wise and compassionate rulers and peopled by kind, learned citizens.

It is said that the king of Shambhala received teachings from Shakyamuni Buddha some 2,500 years ago and that his people practiced meditation, following a path of loving kindness and concern for all beings.

In the late 1970s, the Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche first brought Shambhala teachings to the West. These teachings were founded on the insight that there is a basic human wisdom that can help solve the world's problems – a secular wisdom that does not belong to any one religion, culture, or era.

The broad range of activities founded by Chögyam Trungpa have been brought together under the unifying umbrella of Shambhala International. This encompasses traditional Buddhist studies, formerly known within the organization as Vajradhatu, the secular Shambhala Training programs, and the cultural activities, previously grouped under the name Nalanda Foundation. The organization encompasses approximately 150 meditation centers and study groups around the world, half a dozen residential centers, publishing, translating, and recording divisions, and a Buddhist monastary. Shambhala International is headed by the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, son and dharma heir of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.