“Shambhala Night,” an international forum on world peace, convened in Taipei on 1 August, bringing together six distinguished speakers from diverse fields, including medicine, culture, religion, and the arts. The event, moderated by Buddhistdoor Global senior writer Raymond Lam, featured Dr. Neel Konwar from Assam, India, Dr. Yang Shao-Min, an esteemed psychosomatic healer and doctor, movie director Chen Cheng-Hsun, Spiritual Master Shambhala Ma, Khenpo Kunga, and HH Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche (Vajra Holder of the Jonang school). Each guest addressed the role of their respective disciplines in advancing peace and harmony, ranging from diplomacy to creative arts.
The forum was hosted at Chientan Youth Activity Center. It was organized by the Taiwan Gyaltsab Rinpoche Kalachakra Preparatory Committee, with support from the Taipei Jonang Dadan Ling Buddhist Association, Taiwan Jonang Lhayi Ngawang Chodzin Ling, and the Jonang Three Yanas Dharma Forest Monastery.
The Kalachakra teachings of the Jonang school, which occupies a distinctive place in Tibetan Buddhism, was highlighted during the proceedings. Known both for its contemplative focus on the Kalachakra Tantra and its philosophical contributions to Tibetan thought, the lineage remains the principal institutional home of the Dro lineage and its completion-stage yogas.
The forum explored themes ranging from physical and mental well-being to ecological balance, cross-cultural understanding, and the pursuit of global peace. Speakers emphasized the importance of integrating Buddhist wisdom with contemporary approaches to health, culture, and the humanities in order to cultivate a more compassionate and sustainable world.
Translation support was provided by Ms. Cheng Fu-Mei (Chinese to English), Venerable Nang Nang (English to Tibetan), and Mr. Chang Fu-Cheng (Chinese to Tibetan), ensuring accessibility for the multilingual audience.
Organizers underscored the central message of the gathering: world peace is not merely the absence of war but begins with individuals discovering genuine peace within themselves. Focus was given to the three dimensions of Kalachakra: the Outer Kalachakra, the Inner Kalachakra, and the Alternative (Other) Kalachakra. These dimensions are deeply interconnected and the Jonang lineage teaches that peace in the external world begins with harmony within ourselves. As our body, mind, and surrounding environment become more balanced, harmony naturally extends to our families, communities, and ultimately to the world.
Following the discussions, the audience and Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche attended a cultural program featuring Tibetan dances and a multilingual a cappella performance, closing the evening with a celebration of artistic and spiritual expression.
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