The Chronicles turns ten in 2012, and it's time for a fresh look at who we are, and where we're going. Our mission has been:
to celebrate the Vidyadhara'a life,
to expand the general knowledge and understanding of his teachings,
to trace his legacy and influences into the current era,
and to foster an online community with a common passion: the life and work of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
While we've been working hard to fulfill the first three of these aims--and will continue to do so--we would now like to focus our efforts on the fourth aspect of our mission: community.
Chogyam Trungpa has many devoted students. Some of us knew him. Some did not. We have different practices. We study with different teachers. We are members of different communities. We are diverse and dispersed. What we hold in common is a deep connection to Chogyam Trungpa and -- like it or not -- to each other. This bond appears to be indestructible. We are of the same tribe. We share the same DNA, the unfathomable Ocean of Dharma.
Read more about the Inner Chronicles, including comments from readers.Vajradhatu seminary, a twelve-week program of practice and study, was the principal training ground for Trungpa Rinpoche's North American students. During his lifetime, the Vidyadhara conducted thirteen seminaries starting in 1973. The 1974 Seminary took place during September, October, and November of 1974 in Snowmass, Colorado.
The images and sounds that make up this film were all recorded during the Seminary, primarily during days off. His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa visited Seminary and performed the Black Crown Ceremony, during his first visit to North America. The nun at the end, touching foreheads with Rinpoche, is Sister Palmo, Freda Bedi, an Englishwoman who gave Trungpa Rinpoche English language lessons in India, and facilitated his entrance into Oxford University.
Throughout the film, there are many glimpses of seminary pariticipants, including Bill Ames, Diane Ames, Latha Barasch, Marc Barasch, Cicely Berglund , Helen Berliner, Gene Bobker, Ken Campbell, Rob Curtis, Nancy Craig, Cyrus Crane, Lodro Dorje, Graham Elliott, Jonathan Eric, Martha Espeset, Fred Ferraris, Wendy Ferraris, Rick Fields, David Flint, Martin Fritter, Tom Garnett, Jason Gavras, Carolyn Gimian, Brian Grimes, Gerry Haase, Paul Hardman, Alice Haspray, Richard Haspray, Tom Hast, Norman Hirsch, Rachel Homer, Giovannina Hughes, Laura Kaufman, Hart Keeler, Rick Kentner, Dr. John Kerns, Max King, Poppy Koch, Otto Koch, Michael Kohn (Sherab Chodzin), Robin Kornman, Tania Leontov, Linda Levine, Ellen Mains, Michelle Matthews, Tony Matthews, Meera Mead, Larry Mermelstein, Bob Morehouse, Noreen Morris, Molly Nudell, Tom Pathe, Douglas Penick, Meg Penick, Bob Rader, Arlan Ray, Reggie Ray, Bruce Robinson , Melissa Robinson, Dorje Root, Karen Roper, John Roper, Marvin Ross, David Sable, Eric Salter, Alan Schwartz, Julie Sheen, Susan Skjei, Alan Sloan, Judy Smith, Bob Sonne, Ricky Spiegel, Ann Spruyt, Alan Sternman, Lena Stone, Margaret Sullivan (Drescher), Randy Sunday, Paul Susnis, Erik Swanson, Anna Taylor, John Tischer, Tsultrim (the monk), Tsultrim Allione, Ludwig Turzanski, Karl Usow, Patricia Usow, Gerry Weiner, Eric Weiss, Lee Weingrad, Herbert Wickenheiser, David Wright, and Elaine Yuen. Did we miss someone? Please let us know:
Vicki Alexis Genson met Chogyam Trungpa in March of 1971 and at his suggestion, left Los Angeles and moved to Boulder in August of 1972. For many years, Vicki worked as a video producer for the Cable industry. As a community access coordinator, she taught video workshops to the public. Her independent work has been shown at festivals and at the American Film Institute. Dharma-related projects include Kobun Chino: Eight Calligraphies, and Devotion, an elegy for the late Ugyen Shenpen. DVDs are on sale through the Konchock Foundation.
1974 Seminary is available for purchase from Vicki Genson. The cost is $20 and proceeds will go towards the completion of two projects: 12th & Aurora, a portrait of life at Marpa House during the early years (1973-74), and Eight Calligraphies, a film about Kobun Chino Roshi's 1987 calligraphy demonstration at Rocky Mountain Dharma Center.
To order 1974 Seminary contact:
Vicki Alexis Genson 303.443.1670
740 Spruce St. Boulder CO 80302
The Gradual Path of Raising Buddhist Children:
Inner Chronicles:
Work Sex Money: Seminar Three,
Ocean of Dharma: A Shambhala Sun feature on Chögyam Trungpa by Barry Boyce
Tribute to Arbie Thalacker
Chronicles Highlights 2011
Chronicles Holiday Sampler
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse on the passing of his father, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
SMR joins Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Rabjam Rinpoche [Video 11:35]
Tribute to Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Qualities
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche on Distinguishing Ordinary Consciousness from Wisdom
At the
Tribute to Fabrice Champion
Crazy Wisdom, a review by Victress Hitchcock
Tribute to Michal Friedman
Radio interview with Chogyam Trungpa in 1971;
Mingyur Rinpoche: The essence of meditation
Julia Sagebien talks with Thrangu Rinpoche about fulfilling the aspirations of the Vidyadhara
Gold Lake Oil, by Tom Bell
THE BIG NO
Thrangu Rinpoche talks about Trungpa Rinpoche and his students [Audio 48:54]
In appreciation of the Very Venerable 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Teaching Stories: Never Give Up, told by Jim Lowrey
Memorial to Mary Smith, by Lee Weingrad
Conversation with Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel: Part Three
Khyentse Foundation: Ten Years of Giving
What Made Him Tick: a Review of Crazy Wisdom by Suzanne Duarte
Teaching Stories:
Tribute to Mary Smith