Shambhala Buddhism is a form of Tibetan Buddhism that was introduced in the West by the meditation master and teacher Chögyam Trungpa in the 1970s and that incorporates wisdom derived from the warrior tradition of Tibet's legendary king Gesar. It has deeply inspired numerous well-known Buddhist teachers, such as Pema Chödrön, and has influenced such cultural icons as Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, Diane di Prima, Joni Mitchell, Ken Wilber, and countless others. Creating an Enlightened World: An Introduction to Shambhala Buddhism is the first primer to answer the many questions that both novices and longtime practitioners, Buddhists and non-Buddhists, have about Shambhala Buddhism. What is Shambhala Buddhism? What makes it different from—or the same as—other schools of Buddhism? What do Shambhala Buddhists believe?

Crystal Gandrud, a teacher in the Shambhala tradition, gives a thorough, accessible, and occasionally irreverent explanation of the history and philosophy of Shambhala Buddhism, its tenets and practices, its leadership and teaching hierarchy, and how its teachings manifest in the world. She also includes a comprehensive resources section.