| 1940: |
Born in Kham, Eastern Tibet. |
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Enthroned as eleventh Trungpa Tulku, Supreme Abbot of Surmang Monasteries, and Governor of Surmang District. |
| 1944-59: |
Studies traditional monastic disciplines, meditation, and philosophy, as well as calligraphy, thangka painting, and monastic dance. |
| 1947: |
Ordained as a shramanera (novice monk). |
| 1958: |
Receives degrees of Kyorpön (Doctor of Divinity) and Khenpo (Master of Studies). Ordained as a bhikshu (full monk). |
| 1959-60: |
Escapes to India when the Chinese Communist Party takes control of Tibet, and the Cultural Revolution causes increasing suppression of the Buddhist religion. |
| 1960-63: |
By appointment of the Dalai Lama, serves as spiritual advisor to the Young Lamas' Home School in Dalhousie, India. |
| 1963-67: |
Attends Oxford University on a Spaulding scholarship, studying comparative religion, philosophy, and fine arts.
Receives instructor's degree in Sogetsu School of Japanese flower arrangement founded by Master Sofu Teshigahara. |
| 1967: |
Founds Samyê-Ling, a meditation center in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. |
| 1968: |
Receives The Sadhana of Mahamudra terma text while on retreat in Taktsang, a sacred cave in Bhutan. |
| 1969: |
Becomes the first Tibetan British subject.
Injured in a car accident, leaving him partially paralyzed.
Relinquishes monastic vows and robes.
Marries Diana Judith Pybus. |
| 1970: |
Arrives in North America.
Establishes Tail of the Tiger, a Buddhist meditation and study center in Vermont, now known as Karmê Chöling.
Establishes Karma Dzong, a Buddhist community in Boulder, Colorado. |
| 1971: |
Begins teaching at University of Colorado.
Establishes Rocky Mountain Dharma Center, now known as Shambhala Mountain Center, near Fort Collins, Colorado. |
| 1972: |
Initiates Maitri, a therapeutic program that works with different styles of neurosis using principles of the five buddha families.
Conducts the Milarepa Film Workshop, a program which analyzes the aesthetics of film, on Lookout Mountain, Colorado. |
| 1973: |
Founds Mudra Theater Group, which stages original plays and practices theater exercises, based on traditional Tibetan dance.
Incorporates Vajradhatu, an international association of Buddhist meditation and study centers, now known as Shambhala International.
Establishes Dorje Khyung Dzong, a retreat facility in southern Colorado.
Conducts first annual Vajradhatu Seminary, a three-month advanced practice and study program. |
| 1974: |
Incorporates Nalanda Foundation, a nonprofit, nonsectarian educational organization to encourage and organize programs in the fields of education, psychology, and the arts.
Hosts the first North American visit of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyü lineage.
Founds The Naropa Institute, a contemplative studies and liberal arts college, now fully accredited as Naropa University.
Forms the organization that will become the Dorje Kasung, a service group entrusted with the protection of the buddhist teachings and the welfare of the community. |
| 1975: |
Forms the organization that will become the Shambhala Lodge, a group of students dedicated to fostering enlightened society.
Founds the Nalanda Translation Committee for the translation of Buddhist texts from Tibetan and Sanskrit.
Establishes Ashoka Credit Union. |
| 1976: |
Hosts the first North American visit of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, revered meditation master and scholar of the Nyingma lineage.
Hosts a visit of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma lineage.
Empowers Thomas F. Rich as his dharma heir, known thereafter as Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin.
Establishes the Kalapa Court in Boulder, Colorado, as his residence and a cultural center for the Vajradhatu community.
Receives the first of several Shambhala terma texts. These comprise the literary source for the Shambhala teachings.
Founds Alaya Preschool in Boulder, Colorado. |
| 1977: |
Bestows the Vajrayogini abhisheka for the first time in the West for students who have completed ngöndro practice.
Establishes the celebration of Shambhala Day.
Observes a year-long retreat in Charlemont, Massachusetts.
Founds Shambhala Training to promote a secular approach to meditation practice and an appreciation of basic human goodness.
Visits Nova Scotia for the first time. |
| 1978: |
Conducts the first annual Magyal Pomra Encampment, an advanced training program for members of the Dorje Kasung.
Conducts the first annual Kalapa Assembly, an intensive training program for advanced Shambhala teachings and practices.
Conducts the first Dharma Art seminar.
Forms Amara, an association of health professionals.
Forms the Upaya Council, a mediation council providing a forum for resolving disputes.
Establishes the Midsummer's Day festival and Children's Day. |
| 1979: |
Empowers his eldest son, Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo, as his successor and heir to the Shambhala lineage.
Founds the Shambhala School of Dressage, an equestrian school under the direction of his wife, Lady Diana Mukpo.
Founds Vidya Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado. |
| 1980-83: |
Presents a series of environmental installations and flower arranging exhibitions at art galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and Boulder. |
| 1980: |
Forms Kalapa Cha to promote the practice of traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony.
With the Nalanda Translation Committee, completes the first English translation of The Rain of Wisdom. |
| 1981 |
Hosts the visit of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to Boulder, Colorado.
Conducts the first annual Buddhist-Christian Conference in Boulder, Colorado, exploring the common ground between Buddhist and Christian contemplative traditions.
Forms Ryuko Kyudojo to promote the practice of Zen archery under the direction of Shibata Kanjuro Sensei, bow maker to the Emperor of Japan.
Directs a film, Discovering Elegance, using footage of his environmental installation and flower arranging exhibitions. |
| 1982 |
Forms Kalapa Ikebana to promote the study and practice of Japanese flower arranging. |
| 1983 |
Establishes Gampo Abbey, a Karma Kagyü monastery located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, for Western students wishing to enter into traditional monastic discipline.
Creates a series of elocution exercises to promote precision and mindfulness of speech. |
| 1984-85 |
Observes a year-long retreat in Mill Village, Nova Scotia. |
| 1986 |
Moves his home and the international headquarters of Vajradhatu to Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
| 1987 |
Following his Parinirvana in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Vidyadhara's physical remains are cremated before a gathering of thousands at Karmê Chöling under the guidance of a large assembly of lineage elders. |
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