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On Chögyam Trungpa

On Chögyam Trungpa

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche is the quintessential spiritual guide. His teachingssteeped in ancient tradition and presented with relaxed fluency in western language and cultureare 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 Meaning of Life Is Uncertain

All of us are concerned with discovering the meaning of life. Some people say that the meaning of life is found only in spiritual practice, and some people say it is found only in human dignity. From some, the meaning of life is becoming a successful person in relating with the world. So the meaning of life is under dispute, subject to philosophical struggle and metaphysical doubts. What really is the meaning of life? The question still remains. We do not know. The meaning of life is uncertain. We have something in common. Both the speaker and the audience are baffled by the meaning of life. We do not know. We are completely uncertain as to what really is the meaning of life. I could make up some things but I feel that is not a particularly kind thing to do. We, both as audience and as speaker, are at a loss regarding the meaning of life. Yet we have something else in common. Quite possibly, we don’t have to solve the problem as to the meaning of life, as such. We could start on something we have in common. That is confusion. We are completely baffled. We could start from that confusion, which we have in common.

— From Talk One in “Work, Sex, and Money,” Burlington, Vermont, April 1972. Edited from an unpublished transcript.

Onyumishi Kanjuro Shibata XX Sensei

Hello everyone. How are you? Trungpa Rinpoche died so quickly, very quickly. Now, all of you, sangha people everywhere, listen to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s...

Tibetan Buddhism and American Karma

This talk was given during a "Dharma Festival" in Boston. Read Boston Dharmadhatu, the Early Days by Anna Taylor for a first hand account of this Festival and a flavor of early...

Shambhala Day Address, Year of the Water Dog, 1982

The Chronicles would like to wish everyone a very cheerful Shambhala Day/Losar and the very best of the Earth Dog year ahead. Tashi Delek to us all!

The Five Chakras and the Four Karmas

These two teachings, among the earliest the Vidyadhara gave in North America, provide a glimpse into the profound trust Chögyam Trungpa had in the possibility that genuine buddhadharma could be successfully transplanted into Western culture.

Loneliness and Love: An audio Valentine from Chögyam Trungpa

Student: What is the validity of having a relationship with one person if falling in love just comes from loneliness? Is the validity of such a relationship just another illusion?

The Enlightenment of the Buddha

These three talks on the enlightenment of the Buddha were given at Karme Choling in December 1975.