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 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.