The Chronicles is delighted to present Chögyam Trungpa's Training the Mind seminar, which took place at Rocky Mountain Dharma Center in Colorado in August 1974. It is one of several complete teachings by Trungpa Rinpoche on the four foundations of mindfulness. Other teachings on this subject were presented at the 1973 Seminary, and the Techniques of Mindfulness seminar given at Karme Chöling, also in August of 1974.

Talk One of the six-lecture seminar is online now. A new talk will be posted each week. We would like to invite everyone to join in a discussion on these teachings, which will be hosted by Robert Walker, a long-time sangha member. Robert has studied and worked with Trungpa Rinpoche's teachings on mindfulness and mind training for many years.

The four foundations of mindfulness, or four foundations of close placement, have been taught by many Buddhist teachers, often as a series of contemplative practices. These teachings by Chögyam Trungpa, on the other hand, were given in the context of the view and practice of mindfulness-awareness sitting meditation, as well as vipashyana awareness teachings on the postmeditation experience.

Although the students at that time (1974) were, for the most part, engaged in basic sitting practice, these teachings are applicable to all levels of practice. They are not philosophy. Rather, they are a practical guide to engaging and working with obstacles that arise in meditation practice. In particular, the obstacles of lack of settledness and hot boredom, the tendency to cling to painful and pleasurable states of mind, the obstacle of too much goal orientation, and the obstacle of being unbalanced and one-sided (contrasted with having a sense of “totality”) are addressed.

In each of these three presentations, Rinpoche begins by defining mind, and showing the desperation, pain, and hypocrisy of ego-process. Based on that, he shows how to practice with simplicity, fearlessness, genuineness, and balance. Beyond formal practice, these seminars show the connection to practice in everyday life, community, and working with awareness in general. These teachings can also be seen as the ground for Trungpa Rinpoche's dharma art teachings, as well as his vajrayana teachings on the nature of mind.

This seminar is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in becoming his or her own meditation instructor. As well, these are invaluable teachings for anyone who instructs others. They are also a wonderful complement to Chögyam Trungpa's later teachings on obstacles and antidotes.