Read “The Legendary Kingdom of Shambhala”. Then answer the questions.
The Legendary Kingdom of Shambhala
1 Somewhere in Asia, invisible behind a glowing mist and ringed by mountains of ice that shine like crystal, lies a beautiful land called Shambhala. In the ancient Sanskrit language, the name means “Place of Tranquility.” Shambhala is ruled by a perfectly wise king. The capital city, Kalapa, is made of gold, diamonds, jewels, and coral. Surrounding Kalapa are fruitful valleys that supply all the needs of the kingdom. All who live here are pure of heart and happy.
2 It was not always so. Many centuries ago, some of the people grew unhappy. They longed to see the world beyond the mountains. So they left to wander the earth. But they soon returned. They had discovered that there was little happiness in the greater world. Their travels had shown them only war, greed, and suffering.
3 The king, Rigdan Tagpa, did not at first allow the wanderers to reenter Shambhala. But they pleaded with him, and he finally gave in. To help them find happiness, he began teaching the wisdom of Kalachakra, which means “time-wheel.” Soon his subjects were nearly as wise as King Tagpa himself. To this day, the people of Shambhala possess superhuman skills. They can see the future, become invisible, and fly at great speeds.
4 King Tagpa was the first of a line of kings who have always ruled Shambhala. It is said that there will be twenty-five kings in all. Someday, it is said, the mists will lift, making Shambhala visible to the world. Then the final king will battle with all the sources of unhappiness in the world, and people everywhere will enter a new Golden Age.
5 Until then, it may be impossible for anyone from the outside world to visit Shambhala—or even to find it. No one knows exactly where it is. It may be somewhere in the Himalayan Mountains beyond Tibet. Or it may be between Mongolia and Siberia. Travelers seeking Shambhala often disappear, never to be seen again. Perhaps some have found perfect happiness within the mists. Others may simply have become lost in the treacherous mountain passes. Who can be sure?
6 Some believe that Shambhala exists only as a state of mind. It is an inner, spiritual world, inhabited by those who learn the wisdom of Kalachakra, as studied in present-day Tibet.
7 Whatever the truth about Shambhala, tales about it have fascinated people for centuries. The legend of Shambhala was the inspiration for a novel and movie titled Lost Horizon. It tells of some travelers who enter a secret mountain paradise after their plane is captured. The hero leaves. When he wishes to return, the hidden entrance has vanished.
8 In real life, there have been several expeditions sent to look for Shambhala. So far, none has succeeded in finding it.