Shamballa, Part 1
Where is Shamballa?
Esoteric students often associate Shamballa with the name of the seventh kingdom on the earth, but that is not technically correct. Instead, DK says this about the sixth and seventh kingdoms:
“To these kingdoms no names have as yet been given, because the possibility of their existence is only now just beginning faintly to penetrate into the consciousness of the disciple and the initiate.” Rays and Initiations, Page 129
Even though the seventh kingdom has no name, in the next paragraph he does associate it with Shamballa:
“The seventh kingdom in nature is that of the Lives Who participate in full capacity of understanding with the group of Beings Who are the nucleus of the Council at Shamballa. Around the Lord of the World this group pivots;” Page 130
So technically, the seventh kingdom has no given name but consists “of the Lives Who participate in full capacity of understanding” with the great Council Chamber.
Why then has this great center been given no official name as far as humanity is concerned?
Apparently, it is thought that something does not warrant a name until it begins “to penetrate into the consciousness” of advanced humanity. A name is a special word that gives meaning, but if a thing is beyond the consciousness of a person or group then a name is meaningless. Only when humanity begins to have some conscious recognition and understanding of the seventh kingdom can a name be given by them.
You cannot name something if you do not know it exists and the name which the sixth and seventh kingdoms will eventually bear will be names given by humanity when humanity consciously has some understanding of them. Until then students will use the name Shamballa as given by the Hierarchy.
We have some understanding of the mineral, plant, animal and human kingdoms and have named them. Because of great lives like Jesus, the Buddha and others most of humanity understands there is at least one kingdom beyond human. Esoteric students have named this fifth kingdom, “The Spiritual Hierarchy;” whereas general humanity calls it “The Kingdom of Heaven,” or “Kingdom of God.”
General humanity sees the master teachers and the kingdom of heaven as taught by them as the ultimate and do not register the sixth and seventh kingdoms beyond them, so as yet there is no name for what which is not yet perceived. The name Shamballa merely causes us to stretch our minds to consider kingdoms above that which humanity can presently understand.
A seeker may consider this question: “Is Shamballa a place, and, if so, where is it?”
The answer seems to be yes and no.
On the yes side we find this:
“The central home of this Hierarchy (the seventh Kingdom) is at Shamballa, a centre in the Gobi desert, called in the ancient books the “White Island.” It exists in etheric matter, and when the race of men on earth have developed etheric vision its location will be recognised and its reality admitted. The development of this vision is rapidly coming to pass, as may be seen from the newspapers and the current literature of the day, but the location of Shamballa will be one of the latest etheric sacred spots to be revealed as it exists in the matter of the second ether. Initiation Human and Solar, Page 33
“Shamballa. The City of the Gods…It is the home of mysticism and the Secret Doctrine.” Initiation Human and Solar, Page 225
“Shamballa—The Sacred Island in the Gobi desert. The centre in central Asia where the Lord of the World, the Ancient of Days, has His Headquarters.” TCF Footnote [xci] 89
So, you read along and see these quotes and you’re convinced Shamballa is a place and then you read this:
“This Council Chamber (at Shamballa) is not a location or a place, but a state of consciousness within the all-enveloping Life.” Rays and Initiations, Page 256
So which is it. Is Shamballa a place or a state of consciousness? I find that the answer to such conundrums in the Bailey writings is to carefully examine the wording. In this case note that DK refers to consciousness “within the all-enveloping Life.”
The etheric form existence of Shamballa does have a location and place, but the members are not restricted to that location. A member of the Council Chamber or one tuning into its consciousness could be anywhere on the planet.
It is roughly comparable to saying that Washington DC is a place and headquarters in the United States, but there are many citizens not physically present in the nation’s capital.
Similarly, Shamballa has a central headquarters, but members with the consciousness of the seventh kingdom are citizens no matter where they are.
Presently Shamballa resides in the second ether, invisible to human eyes, but this will not always be the case:
“When these two centres (Humanity and the Spiritual Hierarchy) can work in full cooperation, then Shamballa will take form and will no longer be found existing only in cosmic etheric substance, as is now the case.” Rays and Initiations, Page 382
It is interesting that DK equates Sanat Kumara with the Ancient of Days from the Bible (Destiny of the Nations, Page 95) and the Book of Daniel speaks of a future time when he will manifest to the planet. Daniel speaks of the current age where the forces of evil make war with the saints (the enlightened) “and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” Daniel 7:21-22
It also says this: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
Thus, DK tells us of a day that Shamballa will materialize in the physical and the Bible says that Sanat Kumara will as well.
That will be an interesting time.
Shamballa, Part 2
Shamballa and the Rays
We’ve established that Shamballa is a foreshadowing of the seventh kingdom which will manifest on this planet. Since it represents such high consciousness to which we may attain it would seem advisable to see what the Bailey writings tell us about it.
First let us look at the rays that govern Shamballa. Most students are aware that the first ray of will-power-purpose dominates there as noted here:
“The Centre which is created by the Ray of Will or Power is called Shamballa and its major activity is bequeathing, distributing and circulating the basic principle of life itself to every form which is held within the planetary ring-pass-not of the planetary Life or Logos… This dynamic energy focuses itself through the Lives or Beings Who control and dominate Shamballa.” Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, Page 183 & 129
Even though the first ray is very powerful there, the overall controlling energy is the second ray of love-wisdom:
“It is, however, equally true that Shamballa is primarily second ray as it is expressed, because that is the ray of the present solar system of which Shamballa is a part; and that the first ray, or its dynamic life aspect, is focused in the heart, for the heart is the centre of life.” Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, Page 135
Then too the seventh ray plays a part for the “energy from Shamballa (embodying the will-to-good) is fused and blended with the organising energy of the seventh ray and then carried to humanity along the stream of love which emanates from the Hierarchy itself.” Esoteric Astrology, Page 445
In addition, all the three major rays (1, 2 & 3) are represented by the triad of the three Buddhas of Activity: “In relation to Shamballa, this Triangle is composed of the three Buddhas of Activity Who represent conscious intelligent life, conscious, intelligent and active wisdom, and conscious, intelligent and active creation.” Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, Page 185
The other four rays, 4, 5, 6 & 7 are not left out for one of the Lords of Karma “represents the four minor Rays of Attribute. It is the Lord of Karma Who implements the destinies of Those Who are conditioned by the third Ray of Active Intelligence.” Rays and Initiations, Page 724
In addition, DK through numerology reduced Shamballa to numbers: “To this centre we give the name Shamballa, the component letters of which are numerically: S.H.A.M.B.A.L.L.A. or 1.8.1.4.2.1.3.3.1. This word equals the number 24 which in its turn equals 6… The number 6 is the number of form or of manifestation.” Rays and Initiations, Page 79
Notice that there are four ones in the name indicate the emphasis on the first ray of power.
If a resident of Shamballa were to describe it to the average seeker, how would he go about it? We are told that it would be difficult, for much of what it is, is beyond that which is conceived by general humanity. For instance, he says this:
“There is naught in the world of Shamballa which is of the same nature as the phenomenal world of man in the three worlds, or even of the soul world. It is a world of pure energy, of light and of directed force; it can be seen as streams and centres of force, all forming a pattern of consummate beauty, all potently invocative of the world of the soul and of the world of phenomena; it therefore constitutes in a very real sense the world of causes and of initiation.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2, Pages 292-293
This tells us that even though Shamballa has a physical extension composed of the second physical ether in the Gobi Desert that its pure nature is a consciousness beyond time and space. We are even told that it is beyond “the soul world.”
That would be where our Higher Self and the Solar Angel resides. From our point of view the soul world would seem like an ultimate destination, but even an advanced disciple has difficulty wrapping his mind around all Shamballa represents.
For the disciple to get a sense of Shamballa in his consciousness he must pick up the aspect of purpose and follow it:
“Shamballa is the place of purpose. It is a purpose which cannot be understood until the Plan is followed. Herein lies a clue.)” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2, Page 519
DK does give us some hints as to what the focus is of the great lives in Shamballa. They “move entirely free from glamour; Their vision is one of extreme simplicity; They are concerned only with the great and simple duality of spirit and matter, and not with the many forms which the fusion of these two brings into being.” Rays and Initiations, Page 144
Then he tells us that “Shamballa which is essentially the energy of life itself, implemented by the will.” Rays and Initiations, Page 230 He equates this with the “divine potency, of embodied Purpose, expressing through evolutionary manifestation the divine Will.” Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, Page 129
We conclude the essence of Shamballa is life itself animated by the first ray of Will, Power and Purpose, which is under the aspect of Love Wisdom of the Solar Logos.
We thus see that Shamballa exists in a very high state of consciousness relative to the human
kingdom. Those who think they have had the ultimate contact need to think again.
Shamballa, Part 3
Who Resides in Shamballa?
The question then arises as to who dwells in Shamballa.
Most students are aware that Sanat Kumara along with six other Kumaras dwell there, but are a little fuzzy who else may be there. Concerning these seven it is written:
“There are seven Kumaras connected with our planetary evolution, of Whom four are exoteric; the four exoteric have vehicles in etheric matter; three Kumaras are esoteric and have their vehicles in subtler matters still.” TCF, Page 181, Footnote
Only four of them inhabit the etheric-physical Shamballa but they all dwell in the Shamballa consciousness.
These seven Kumaras are mentioned several times in the Bailey writings giving some the impression that is all there is for now, but in the beginning “one hundred and four Kumaras came from Venus to the Earth; literally the figure is one hundred and five, when the synthesising Unit, the Lord of the World Himself, is counted as one”. TCF, Page 387
This event happened eighteen and a half million years ago when the foundations of Shamballa on Earth were laid:
“It was decided about seventeen million years ago (the coming of the Hierarchy and the founding of Shamballa being about eighteen and a half million years ago) to have on the dense physical plane an organization and a headquarters for the mysteries, and to have a band of Adepts, and Chohans who would function in dense physical bodies and thus meet the need of the rapidly awakening humanity.” A Treatise on White Magic, Page 378
Shamballa then started out with 105 Kumaras. Has the number then been reduced to seven?
It appears the number may still be 105 for the text says this:
“These Kumaras [the 105] (or Their present substitutes) can also be divided into the seven groups which correspond to the seven Rays, and are in Themselves the life of the centre for which They stand. Fifteen, therefore, of these Entities (again the ten and the five) form a centre in the body of the planetary Logos, and the three Kumaras about Whom we are told (Who in Themselves are fivefold, making the fifteen) are the entifying Lives of the particular centre which is involved in the coming Initiation of the Heavenly Man, and to which the human units at this time, and during this greater cycle, belong.” TCF, Page 388
Notice that in speaking of the 105 Kumaras in the present time that he speaks of “their present substitutes.” And he speaks of the seven Kumaras as “seven groups” totaling 105.
Apparently the 105 (7×15) is an important number to maintain for when the original Kumaras departed, human initiates took their place.
“Many posts held hitherto by Venusian Entities were vacated in order that our humanity might occupy them, and a vast interchain radiation went on as many of the Kumaras and certain lesser existences quitted our earth chain, and entered upon subtler, and more advanced work.” TCF, Pages 1078-1079
Here he speaks of “certain lesser existences” indicating others who are not of the rank of a Kumara who inhabit Shamballa. It is most probable that all of these have not been identified in available writings.
We do know that those who have passed the sixth initiation who remain on the Earth as Nirmanakayas have access to Shamballa. We are told that “that Gautama Buddha, with several of his Arhats” (TCF, Page 1193) are examples of these. It is quite possible that these entities have taken the place of some of the 105 original Kumaras.
Theses Nirmanakayas are one of two groups who have attained Shamballa:
“The Members of the Council at Shamballa… divide Themselves into two groups which are called in the ancient parlance, Registrants of the Purpose and Custodians of the Will. Will is active. Purpose is passive, waiting for the results of the activity of the will. These two groups are reflected in hierarchical circles by the Nirmanakayas or the Planetary Contemplatives, and the Custodians of the Plan. The function of the Registrants of the Purpose is to keep the channel open between our Earth, the planet Venus and the Central Spiritual Sun. The function of the Custodians of the Will is to relate the Council, the Hierarchy and Humanity, thus creating a basic triangle of force between the three major centres of the planetary Life.” Rays and Initiations, Page 69
Here DK talks about and “inner group” of very advanced beings in Shamballa, and some of them are more advanced than Sanat Kumara:
“Few of the great Lives Who form the inner group of the Council Chamber at Shamballa are now of greater advancement than he (Sanat); the “Supernal Three,” the “Radiant Seven,” the “Lives embodying the forty-nine Fires,” the “Buddhas of Activity,” and certain “Eternal Spirits” from such centres of dynamic spiritual life as Sirius, or from the constellation which at any one time forms a triangle with our Sun and Sirius” and a Representative from Venus are of greater—far greater—advancement.” Rays and Initiations, Pages 141-142
If there is an inner group there would also be an outer, which most likely would be the Nirmanakayas.
So this inner group consists of some of the most evolved entities within or solar system plus great beings external to it such as the Avatar of Synthesis:
“Shamballa—the planetary head centre—invokes energies outside the planetary life… The Avatar of Synthesis will draw very close to humanity and He will inaugurate the ‘reign of Avatars’ Who will be embodied Purpose and spiritual Will.” Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, Page 134
We are told that the Lords of the Rays are “more advanced in the spiritual scale than are those great Lives who form the Council of the Lord of the World in Shamballa,” but they have representatives who “constitute a body of directing Forces in collaboration with the Lord of the World at Shamballa.” Esoteric Healing, Page 298 & Destiny of the Nations, Page 144
In addition, we are told that members of the Council Chamber at Shamballa “work in full unanimity with the Lords of Karma.” Rays and Initiations, Page 118 This indicates that these great Lords have a presence there.
We see from the writings that there is quite a wide selection of great entities who work in Shamballa.
The greatest of all in our solar system is the Solar Logos who dwells on its own plane but has strong influence in Shamballa:
“Shamballa, as it constitutes the synthesis of understanding where our Earth is concerned, is also the centre where the highest Will of the Solar Logos is imposed upon the Will of our planetary Logos.” Externalization of the Hierarchy, Page 534
Finally, we see that all of us dwell in Shamballa in a round-about way. The highest part of ourselves, our monads, have never left the highest spiritual realm and the human initiate will eventually “evoke response from the Spiritual Triad and thus reach the Monad in its high place of waiting in Shamballa.” Rays and Initiations, Page 61
And what is the highest part of ourselves, the monad, waiting for? It is waiting for the Prodigal Son to return home to share the high consciousness in Shamballa. After the long wait is finished, we are told that: “Life is now liberated, owning the quality of conscious knowledge and the fruit of all experience. These are the gifts of soul and form combined.” Esoteric Healing, Page 502
Shamballa, Part 4
The Shamballa Energy
We have already mentioned that Shamballa strongly represents the energy of the First Ray, but what does this mean as far as its influence goes on the lower kingdoms?
The first ray is commonly called the ray of power, but has three main aspects which are Will, Power and Purpose. All three of these are powerful agents projected to the Spiritual Hierarchy and humanity to further evolution upon the earth.
When we speak of Purpose in connection with Shamballa, we are not speaking of it as commonly understood, but it represents an alignment of the higher mind with definite plans from the Lord of the World as well as the Solar Logos.
Then we have the will aspect that goes far beyond what we see as human determination but is carried out when the higher mind aligns with higher lives and makes definite decisions to select and direct energies to further the Plan and the Purpose of the Plan.
Finally, we have the Power aspect which is the easiest for seekers to understand for power exercised on any level is pretty much recognized or what it is. Raw power is neither good or evil, but its results depend on the intelligence that receive it and put it to use.
These three aspects affect humanity through “three great energies… focused in Shamballa, the seat of fire:”
The first is the Energy of Purification. DK says that “It involves the elimination of all that hinders the nature of divinity from full expression… This necessitates the leaving behind, stage after stage, cycle after cycle, life after life, and plane after plane, of every tendency in the form nature which veils or hides the glory of God. It is essentially the energy which substitutes good for evil.
The second is “The Energy of Destruction: This is a destruction which removes the forms which are imprisoning the inner spiritual life, and hiding the inner soul light.”
The third is “The Energy of Organisation.”
This is basically that energy that creates and organizes in the worlds of time and space so material manifestation is brought in alignment with Spirit. Among humanity it inspires us to create better forms after old forms and impediments have been removed. (See Rays and Initiations, Pages 84-86)
We thus have this sequence. First purification removes that which hinders the release of divine power. Second this power is released that destroys forms that are hindering divine expression. Finally, the energy of purposeful organization and creation takes place that creates a new cycle of useful forms more in harmony with Divine Will.
This third aspect finally reveals the love divine which is behind all that God has made, but it often seems that there is not much love behind the first two aspects when they are released
The forces from Shamballa are extremely powerful, from a human point of view, and can overwhelm and even frighten a disciple when they are picked up. For this reason, “The individual must be protected by the group from the terrific potencies which emanate from Shamballa. These must be stepped down for him by the process of distribution, so that their impact is not focussed in any one or all of his centres but is shared by all the group members. Here is the clue to the significance of group work.” Rays and Initiations, Page 68
This energy is different from the second ray of Love-Wisdom radiated from the Hierarchy, but nevertheless, when perceived the disciple does not question its divine source.
Because of its immense power “Most of the response to the Shamballa activity is characterised by fear and terror, by sensitivity and distressingly developed reactions to the forces of hate and separation. Only a few, here and there, really grasp the vision of the future and realise what is going on, seeing truly the beauty of the emerging plan.” Destiny of the Nations, Page 20
Indeed, the power released from Shamballa is great and has even destroyed an entire civilization in the past for “The last major intervention in Atlantean days came via Shamballa and resulted in the partial destruction of entire continents and lands.” Esoteric Astrology , Page 441
This caused a great disruption, but it had to be done to prevent the imprisoning of the human soul by dark powers:
“In Atlantean days when the power of the Black Lodge was so great that defeat faced the Hierarchy and the destruction of the human soul. Shamballa then interfered, and the world of that time was destroyed. This period is recognised in modern history as the time of the Great Flood.” Externalization of the Hierarchy, Pages 438-439
Because the powers of Shamballa have been used mostly to destroy old forms interfering with Spirit this creates a great disturbance to those who are attached to those forms which no longer serve humanity.
The plan is always to release the third aspect of power to build the new, the good, the beautiful and the true, but because of human imperfection and focus on the forces of materialism we haven’t seen many examples of this aspect of divine creation, though there have been a few. But it is hoped that this creative aspect that reveals the love of God behind what appears to be unsettling times will finally manifest for all to see in the Aquarian Age.
Since the fall of Atlantis, the release of the Shamballa energy has mainly been channeled through the Hierarchy and then safely directed toward the human kingdom. They have been hesitant to release it directly to humanity for “the oft misunderstood fact that the same energy or identical force will produce results within the consciousness of a Christ or within the consciousness of anti-Christ.” Rays and Initiations, Page 232
Yet a direct release to humanity has more potential power for good so around 1745 the Kumaras in Shamballa noted that humanity had advanced enough that it was worth the risk to release this energy directly to us. It would create great disturbance but it was believed the end would be good.
After that time, “The will aspect of divinity made its first definite and direct contact with the human mind. The impact was direct and not deflected-as had hitherto been the case-to the Hierarchy and from thence to humanity. According to the type of man or group who responded or reacted to this contact, so were the results; they were very good or exceedingly bad. Great and good men appeared and enunciated the truths needed for the New Age, and of these Lincoln, Roosevelt, Browning, Briand and a host of lesser men could be cited. Evil and pernicious men also emerged, such as Hitler and the group he gathered around him, bringing much evil upon the Earth.
“At the same time, the will-to-good from Shamballa evoked the latent goodwill in man, so that today and increasingly over the past one hundred years, goodness of heart, kindness in action, consideration for others and mass action to promote human welfare have spread over the Earth.” Externalisation of the Hierarchy, Page 667
He says this release created all kinds of ideologies thought to be good at the time such as, “Fascism, Democracy (the U.S . Constitution) and Communism as well as that peculiarly distorted blend of Fascism and Communism which goes by the name of Hitlerism or Nazism.” Externalization of the Hierarchy, Pages 126-127
Numerous powerful men came forward of a very disturbing nature who destroyed the old forms: “The men who inspired the initiating French revolution; the great conqueror, Napoleon; Bismarck, the creator of a nation; Mussolini, the regenerator of his people; Hitler who lifted a distressed people upon his shoulders; Lenin, the idealist, Stalin and Franco are all expressions of the Shamballa force and of certain little understood energies.” Externalization of the Hierarchy, Page 133
A powerful and direct release of the Shamballa energy occurred in the 1930’s, but instead of being picked up by disciples it was picked up by the adepts of the Black Lodge. “These evil beings have responded to the will energy of Shamballa and to the life-giving vitality, but have used it in keeping with their own evil intentions and with the power conferred by their standing upon the cosmic ladder of evil. Hence the war.” (Word War II) Rays and Initiations, Page 232
Hitler’s Germany used this energy destructively, but fortunately was defeated by the Allied nations. Even though great destruction occurred humanity made a lot of progress because of the war. Many old forms were destroyed and replaced by newer and better ones.
The Shamballa energy continues to be released periodically but “the risks will then not be so great as in the first impact, owing to the spiritual growth of mankind. Each time this energy strikes into the human consciousness some fuller aspect of the divine plan appears.” Rays and Initiations, Page 716
Since World War II tremendous changes have occurred and many of them are due to advanced individuals picking up the will-to-good and creative aspects of the Shamballa force. Let us hope that humanity has matured enough to use this energy in a constructive mode.
To make this happen disciples cannot just sit back and let others use this energy, but DK encourages disciples to invoke it to draw down inspiration about the plan so they can assist in manifesting it.
He says that “the concentrated clear and dynamic invocation of the spiritual Beings Who have created—or more accurately—have formed Shamballa, is the highest form of meditation possible upon our planet.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2, Page 197
Let the disciples who wish to be a part of the plan invoke this energy so light and love and power will restore the Plan on earth.
All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Aug 19, 2025
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