Not Too Tight, Not Too Loose
There is a story regarding the Buddha which recounts how he once gave teaching to a famous sitar player who wanted to study meditation. The musician asked, “Should I control my mind or should I completely let go?” The Buddha answered, “Since you are a great musician, tell me how you would tune the strings of your instrument.” The musician said, “I would make them not too tight and not too loose.” “Likewise,” said the Buddha, “in your meditation practice you should not impose anything too forcefully on your mind, nor should you let it wander.” That is the teaching of letting the mind be in a very open way, of feeling the flow of energy without trying to subdue it and without letting it get out of control, of going with the energy pattern of mind. This is meditation practice.
Contribute your poems, stories and tributes to this ongoing collection
Join Us for Milarepa Day
Sunday, March 16th, 2025
Two sessions: 1:00 PM and 3:45 pm Eastern
In Ocean's Main Shrine Room
Two sessions: 1:00 PM and 3:45 pm Eastern
In Ocean's Main Shrine Room
Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche Talks About Our Connections
Recorded for the Ocean Feast Practice on the Anniversary of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's Parinirvana
Doha of Sadness
I, Chögyam, your little son, remain in sadness
The Dathun Letter
In 1973 Chögyam Trungpa introduced a month-long period of meditation called dathün, which he recommended to all of his students.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche’s Public Talk: The Three Yana Journey
While in Halifax to confer the Vajrayogini abhisheka in May-June 2024, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche very generously offered this public talk for all who are practicing or interested in the buddhadharma. This talk took place at KCCL.
1978: Children’s Day at the Court
On the first several Children's Days in Boulder...
Grief On The Path Of Dharma: A Panel Discussion
This panel discussion took place on September 26, 2024 at the Boulder Shambhala Center, with panelists: Miriam Tarcov, Jon Barbieri, Bryan Welch, and Colin Stubbert; moderated by Judy Lief.
Presented by the Foundation for Enlightened Society
Lack of Credentials
Excerpted from The Way of Basic Sanity, A Brief Overview of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's Perspective on Sutric Buddhism
Another Bite of the Whole Enchilada
The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volumes Nine and Ten
The Three Yana Journey
While in Halifax to confer the Vajrayogini abhisheka in June 2024, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche very generously offered this public talk for all who are practicing or interested in the buddhadharma.
Suddenly Without Warning
This book is about love and it is about grief. It is about being a parent and it is about losing a child “suddenly and without warning.”
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Trungpa Rinpoche came to America in the early days of the spread of Buddhism in the west. He was able to connect with many people and many became his...
Martin Janowitz
Marty talks about meeting Trungpa Rinpoche, the development of the Kasung, Trungpa Rinpoche as servant, the role of youth, and more.
Hare Krishna
Rinpoche was teaching a college course at C.U. (University of Colorado Boulder) that had been arranged by Brian Grimes. This was probably fall semester 1971. After class one evening...
An Oryoki Moment
It seems that Rinpoche wanted to know who the young lady was who knew all the chants by heart and ate so beautifully.
Three Spiritual Icons of the Early 20th Century
I was a student in the Gurdjieff* work in San Francisco and London in the early 1960's. During that time I also attended a number of Krishnamurti** talks in...
Cooking Indian Food at Kalapa Court
The first time I cooked Indian food at Kalapa Court in Boulder was in the summer of 1978. I was absorbed searching for some ingredients in the corner cupboard...
Joni and Rinpoche
Here is Joni Mitchell in conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden after receiving the Gershwin Prize. When asked what themes she might want to explore currently in her songwriting, Joni talked about her connection with Trungpa Rinpoche
The Day I Shook Hands with my Guru
Note: This story takes place in Boston in March of 1982. The talk mentioned is the same one that was videotaped and titled "Creating Enlightened Society."
It was a beautiful...
Tributes to Traleg Rinpoche
Dear Friends and Members of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche's centres,
It is with deep regret that we inform the Karma Kagyu tradition, the Nyingma tradition and all other schools of Tibetan...
Living with Awareness and Integrity
Book Review: EIGHT STEPS TO AN AUTHENTIC LIFE, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times by Patricia Ullman
What if they Gave a Party and Everyone Came?
Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Debuts on the World Stage
Jewel Mountain
Jewel Mountain was made in the mid-1990s and is the first in a series of subsequent films on Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Damage From the Cameron Peak Fire
Michael Gayner shares photos of the damage
Ordinary Memories of an Extraordinary Man
I was privileged to spend many weeks at Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's side, only able to hold my seat because of the affection he lavished upon me and countless others.
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Buddhist Rebirth (III): Modern Takesby Roger Jackson
Rebirth, or reincarnation, was assumed by most premodern Buddhists – and is believed by many modern Buddhists – to be “the […]
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Founding Figures of the Kagyu and Nyingma Lineagesby Lodro Sangpo
This course will have a closer look at our Kagyu and Nyingma roots: by recollecting the life stories of the Kagyu and Nyingma […]
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The Key Points of Trekchö with Gerardo Abboudby Gerardo Abboud
In person at the Halifax Shambhala Centre, and here on Ocean We are very pleased to welcome Gerardo Abboud to the Halifax […]
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Rebirth: Rhetoric, Reality, and Argument in Indian Buddhist Textsby Roger Jackson
In this second of three talks, Professor Jackson will briefly review the basic Indian ideas about rebirth covered in the first […]
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Samsara, Nirvana, and the Pathby Jakob Leschly
Samsara represents the painful cycle of dysfunction and suffering, whereas nirvana epitomizes the liberation inherent in our true […]