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On Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche is the quintessential spiritual guide. His teachings—steeped in ancient tradition and presented with relaxed fluency in western language and culture—are profound, accessible, and fresh. In addition to the buddhadharma, he offered the secular path of Shambhala, cultivating an appreciation of inherent bravery, dignity and goodness beyond cultural and religious bounds. Through his many books, Trungpa Rinpoche continues to be an incomparable source of wisdom and courage in the world. The Chronicles is an ongoing celebration of his profound teachings and life example.
Copyright Diana J. Mukpo. Used here by arrangement with Diana J. Mukpo and Shambhala Publications, Inc.
These teachings by Chögyam Trungpa are selected at random from Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: the email service that brings Trungpa Rinpoche’s dharma to your inbox several times each week. For more information, or to add your name to the list, visit OceanofDharma.com.
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week is edited and produced by Carolyn Rose Gimian. Thank you to Lady Diana Mukpo, Mrs. Gimian, and Shambhala Publications for making these teachings available on the Chronicles.
The Golden Chain of Spirituality
As long as we follow a spiritual approach promising salvation, miracles, liberation, then we are bound by the “golden chain of spirituality.” Such a chain might be beautiful to wear, with its inlaid jewels and intricate carvings, but nevertheless, it imprisons us. People think they can wear the golden chain for decoration without being imprisoned by it, but they are deceiving themselves. As long as ones approach to spirituality is based upon enriching ego, then it is spiritual materialism, a suicidal process rather than a creative one.
Greg Smith
In addition to the central figure, the thangka shows Chakrasamvara, Vajradhara and Chemchog Heruka in the sky.
Famous Last Words
Rinpoche 's parting words to the sangha before leaving for a year-long retreat in 1977
Cynicism and Warmth
Chogyam Trungpa rendered in charcoal by William Gilkerson
The Charnel Ground
This is Talk Three from the 1975 Sadhana of Mahamudra Seminar
Transcending Madness: The Experience of the Six Bardos, by Chögyam Trungpa
Trungpa Rinpoche gave two seminars on the bardo states and the six realms in 1971
Mahamudra II: Yogic Songs of Milarepa
The Shambhala Archives has released Mahamudra II (talk 9 from the The Yogic Songs of Milarepa seminar held at Naropa's in 1976) to mark the 30th anniversary of Trungpa Rinpoche's parinirvana.