 Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987) — the pioneering Tibetan Buddhist teacher who founded the Shambhala Sun — made an indelible imprint upon North American Buddhism, via his life and work.
Trungpa Rinpoche was the 11th descendant in the line of Trungpa tulkus,
important teachers of the
Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He remains revered as a scholar, artist, and visionary; he was committed to upholding traditional Buddhist teachings, and also spearheaded several organizations that work toward the realization of a more enlightened society.
Enjoy these classic teachings by Chögyam Trungpa from the Shambhala Sun archives. Just click any article's title to start reading.
Chögyam Trungpa in the Shambhala Sun
It
has been twenty-five years since the death of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche,
a seminal figure in modern Buddhism and founder of the Shambhala Sun. Barry Boyce surveys
his teachings and their lasting impact on how Buddhism is understood
and practiced. "He lived to leave a legacy," Boyce writes, "so that far
into the future people could experience the dharma he taught not as an
artifact of a past time and place, but always as 'fresh-baked bread.'"
In this seminal teaching on the four
foundations of mindfulness, the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche explained
how to practice mindfulness of mind.
The
bodhisattva—the renowned ideal of Mahayana Buddhism—is not a god or
deity but a way of being we can all aspire to. As Chögyam Trungpa
Rinpoche explains, those who take the bodhisattva vow make one simple
commitment: to put others first, holding nothing back for themselves.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche on meditation, the spiritual path, and a sense of basic being beyond relative time.
In
an article originally published in 1969, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
reflects on how Buddhism can address the alienation of modern society.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche on problems and practice.
"Conquering Fear" is based on a seminar
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche conducted in 1979 for teachers in Shambhala
Training on meditation and the view of warriorship. The 1979 seminar
was about fearlessness, and as well, about how to recognize and conquer
real enemies in the world outside. The material was controversial at
the time, and the full transcript of the seminar was never edited. It
just seemed too outrageous.
Taking
refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha is something more than
a ritual, wrote Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. By taking refuge, we are
committing ourselves to freedom.
According
to the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, spirituality means relating with
the working basis of one’s existence, which is one’s state of mind. The
method for beginning to relate directly with mind is the practice of
mindfulness.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche on the philosophy of Naropa University.
An excerpt from our November 2009 issue.
Barry Boyce on the Shambhala teachings.
SEE ALSO:
The student-teacher relationship is always an intimate and
intense one, and who could be closer to the guru than the student who is also
his wife? Diana Mukpo was married to the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a
figure of controversy whose genius surpassed convention, and undoubtedly one of
the great Buddhist teachers of the twentieth century. She talks about her
challenging, inspiring, and entirely surprising life married to the guru.
Diana
Mukpo, wife of the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, tells the story of
their first year in America—a time of chaos, exploration and historic
dharmic activity that began his presentation to the West.
Edited
by the Shambhala Sun's Barry Boyce and being released to coincide with
the Urban Retreat, this new book features the greatest contemporary
Buddhist teachers and writers—people
renowned for addressing precisely the problems we’re facing
today—including the Dalai Lama, Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, Chögyam
Trungpa, Sylvia Boorstein, Jack Kornfield, Norman Fischer, Jon
Kabat-Zinn, Sharon Salzberg, and many others.
Click to order In the Face of Fear
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In the Face of Fear: Buddhist Wisdom for Challenging Times