|
|
|
Born in Tibet (1966) Chögyam Trungpa was identified at the age of only thirteen months as a major tulku, or reincarnation of an enlightened teacher. As the eleventh in the teaching lineage known as the Trungpa tulkus, he underwent a period of intensive training in mediation, philosophy, and fine arts, receiving full ordination as a monk in 1958 at the age of eighteen. The following year, the Chinese Communists invaded Tibet, and the young Trungpa spent many harrowing months trekking over the Himalayas, narrowly escaping capture. Trungpa Rinpoche’s account of his experiences as a young monk, his duties as the abbot and spiritual head of a great monastery, and his moving relationships with his teachers offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of a Tibetan lama. The memoir concludes with his daring escape from Tibet to India. In an epilogue, he describes his emigration to the West, where he encountered many people eager to learn about the ancient wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism.Meditation in Action (1969) This classic teaching continues to inspire both beginners and long-time practitioners of Buddhist meditation. Chögyam Trungpa shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of life.
Mudra (1972) A mudra is a symbolic gesture or action that gives physical expression to an inner state. This collection of poetry and songs of devotion, written by Trungpa Rinpoche between 1959 and 1971, is spontaneous and celebratory. It also includes the ten traditional Zen oxherding pictures accompanied by a unique commentary that offers an unmistakably Tibetan flavor.Selected Writings The six early articles listed below, originally published in the Middle Way (the journal of the Buddhist Society in England), show the development of Trungpa Rinpoche’s grasp of Western language and thought. They contain teachings on compassion and the practice of the bodhisattva path, including a discussion of the six paramitas. Two of the articles contain unique information on the history of Buddhism in Tibet not duplicated in any other writings by Trungpa Rinpoche.
“The Way of Maha Ati” (1968) is an exposition of some of the teachings of dzogchen and contains the earliest meditation instruction by Trunpga Rinpoche ever to appear in print. It appears here in the authoritative and original version edited by Rigdzin Shikpo. “The New Age” (1969) contains many intriguing ideas about society and politics, and may be the first recorded kernel of the Shambhala teachings. “The Meditation of Guru Rinpoche” (1971), a short practice text, is Trunpga Rinpoche’s translation of two Tibetan texts that he combined into one. |
