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Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism (1973) In this modern spiritual classic, Chögyam Trungpa highlights the most common pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls spiritual materialism. The universal human tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvement—a means of developing and refining the ego, when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. “The problem is that ego can convert anything to its own use,” he said, “even spirituality.” His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves, and to offer us a far brighter reality: the true and joyous liberation that inevitably involves letting go of the self rather than working to improve it. This work includes a foreword by Trungpa Rinpoche’s son and lineage holder, Sakyong Mipham.The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation (1976) Freedom is generally thought of as the ability to achieve goals and satisfy desires. But what are the sources of these goals and desires? If they arise from ignorance, habitual patterns, and negative emotions—psychologically destructive elements that actually enslave us—is the freedom to pursue them true freedom or just a myth?
This work includes a foreword by Pema Chödrön, a close student of Trungpa Rinpoche and the author of several books, including When Things Fall Apart. The Heart of the Buddha (1991) This compelling collection of essays, talks, and seminars by Trungpa Rinpoche presents the basic teachings of Buddhism as they relate to everyday life. The work is divided into three parts. In “Personal Journey,” Trungpa Rinpoche discusses the qualities of openness, inquisitiveness, and good humor that characterize the enlightened buddha nature in everyone. In “Stages on the Path,” he presents the three vehicles—Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana—that carry the Buddhist practitioner toward enlightenment. In “Working with Others,” he describes the direct application of Buddhist teachings in such areas as relationships, children, and money. Trungpa Rinpoche’s great appreciation of Western culture combined with his deep understanding of the Tibetan tradition makes these teachings uniquely accessible to Western readers.Selected Writings “The Wisdom of Tibetan Teachings” (1972) is a pithy piece on both the history of Buddhism in Tibet and the three yanas of Tibetan Buddhism.“Transcending Materialism” (1971) describes the “three lords of materialism” in a unique context, relating their conquest to the communist takeover of Tibet, which forced many great Tibetan teachers to leave the country in order to preserve the wisdom of their culture. “Cutting Through” (1972) looks at the early history of American interest in non-Western spirituality and relates this to the modern fascinations with and sidetracks of spirituality. “The Tibetan Buddhist Teachings and Their Application” (1976/78) talks about the problems of spiritual materialism, overcoming self-deception through the practice of meditation, and meditation as making friends with oneself. “The Three-Yana Principle in Tibetan Buddhism” (1974) is a brief synopsis of the three major stages of the Buddhist path: the hinayana, mahayana, and vajrayana. “Cynicism and Warmth” (1971) is about cynicism as a tool for recognizing and cutting through spiritual materialism, and warmth as a tool for cutting through the obstacles of doubt and skepticism produced by the cynical approach. “Dome Darshan,” “Tower House Discussions I and II,” and “Report from Outside the Closet” are all reprinted from Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche at Lama Foundation (1974), a record of a dialogue between Trungpa Rinpoche and the inhabitants of a hippie commune in New Mexico. “Freedom Is a Kind of Gyp” (1975), an interview conducted by East West Journal, covers a wide range of topics, including Trungpa Rinpoche’s thoughts on EST (Erhardt Seminars Training) and ecology. “The Myth of Don Juan” (1975) is an interview in which Trungpa Rinpoche critiques the Don Juan books by Carlos Castaneda. There is a discussion of the problems with trying to use drugs to shortcut genuine spiritual discipline. Finally, Trungpa Rinpoche contrasts shamanic teachings with the approach of both Christianity and Buddhism Also included in the selected works are Trungpa Rinpoche’s forewords to several books by other authors:
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