 |
Coming soon:
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's epic journey to the West
The Chronicles of CTR Presents
Touch and Go
A video by Grant MacLean
Fifty years ago today [April 23, 2009], Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, along with a small group of friends and attendants, set out on his journey from Tibet. The journey became an epic one, its outcome of vast importance to the spread of dharma in the West.
| |
In this Fiftieth Anniversary year, the Chronicles will present an online video telling the story of Rinpoche's escape from Tibet. Using computer graphics, chiefly terrain scenery shot in Google Earth and Microsoft's Flight Simulator, the video traces the escape route, showing us the terrain that was crossed—its extraordinary beauty and its monumental challenges—and wherever possible hearing Rinpoche's own words describe what was seen, and what he and his fellow travelers were going through. The video is being made by Grant MacLean, who finds the story of the escape more remarkable each time he reads it, an experience heightened by seeing the actual route Rinpoche traveled.
|
By early 1959, unrest was spreading across Tibet. Lamas and monks, whom the authorities thought were behind the unrest, were being rounded up, and sometimes shot. The well-being of such an eminent teacher as Trungpa Rinpoche was in obvious danger. At his advisors' request, Rinpoche went into hiding near his friend Akong Rinpoche's monastery, Drölma Lhakang, where he had been teaching. As the tumult spread it became clear that he had no choice but to escape.
A monk approached Rinpoche to ask his intentions so that he could make preparations to leave. In Born in Tibet, Rinpoche describes the encounter: "He wanted to know the exact date on which he should be ready. I told him at the full moon, on April 23rd. This was the Earth Hog year, 1959, and I was now twenty." (p. 164)
He continues a few pages later: "Until the 22nd I remained in the village and then set off at night for Drölma Lhakang, which I reached at six o'clock the next morning after a roundabout journey avoiding villages, while a tremendous snowstorm was raging ... We started with a tearful send-off from all the monks of the monastery." (pp. 167/8)
|
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