Journey into the world of a profound legend through this unprecedented first-hand account to explore a reality that for millenniums has remained concealed under layers of myth and secrecy. Rarely has the world been so enduringly fascinated by an ancient legend as it has with the historically ubiquitous stories of Shambhala, the fabled hidden sanctuary of highly enlightened sages and mystic masters.

Scholars relate that the scriptures of the 4000 year-old Zhang Zhung culture may be the earliest extant references to this mysterious realm, yet it is described in many ancient traditions; the pre-Buddhist B'on treaties, the Kalki lore, the Puranas, the texts of the Kalachakra Laghutantra (c. 500 BC), the even earlier Kalachakra Mulatantra (c. 900 BC), and in the ancient wisdom traditions of civilizations throughout the Himalayan regions of Asia and beyond. The Zhang Zhung and Tibetan scriptures refer to the mysterious world as Shambhala I lam-yig, B'on treaties as Olmolungring, Hindu histories as Aryavarth, and Chinese traditions as Hsi Tien.

In an esoteric treatise composed in the 1500s by Ensapa Lobsang Döndrup, the Third Panchen Lama describes his remarkable visit to a land of wise masters hidden deep in the Himalayas . A rare manuscript written in 1592 by Antonio Monserrate, a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, speaks of his experiences in a remote valley in the high mountains where great sages reside. A remarkably similar account is found as recently as the late 1700s, written by the esteemed Sixth Panchen Lama, Lobsang Palden Yeshe.

Years ago, on an extended trek into a closed and largely unexplored inner region of the vast Himalayan wilderness, in an isolated valley surrounded by towering ice peaks, explorer M.G. Hawking chanced on a beautiful small village where he encountered extraordinary men and women, introduced to him as "masters" and "sages." Our team at Wisdom Masters Press has worked to compose a series of books based on Hawking's journals and field notes of his experiences in a remote area of the Himalayas. This was a complex project; during his sixty-two months in those regions, Hawking accumulated hundreds of pages of hand-written journal and field notes, all of which had to be cataloged and organized in a manner conducive to producing a series of books from such a rich treasury of material. It was a fascinating if formidable task, one which so often filled us with a deep sense of wonder and inspiration.

"The more developed the individual consciousness the more persistently it will seek its true source, like a child strayed from its parent, or a wanderer longing for home. If it is capable of patient study and meditation, it may find the ladder down which it came, and will climb back to its heights." - Himalayan Master R.K. of Siddhalaya

This book is an anthology containing comprehensive accounts of Hawking's various experiences and conversations, including first-hand narratives of the extraordinary powers and abilities he witnessed and in-depth descriptions of the esoteric knowledge that make such remarkable capabilities possible. A truly incomparable book for anyone interested in greatly expanding their knowledge and personal power, and notably fascinating for anyone interested in exploring the realities behind the ancient legends of Shambhala. 2026 Edition, e-reader page count 300 (estimated, actual count varies depending on the reading device). Thank you.