Chögyam Trungpa
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Chögyam Trungpa (February 1940 - April 4, 1987) was a Buddhist meditation master, scholar, teacher, poet, artist, and a Trungpa tülku. Widely recognized, both by Tibetan Buddhists and by other spiritual practitioners and scholars (Midal, 2005), as a preeminent teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, he was a major figure in the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, founding Vajradhatu and Naropa University and establishing the Shambhala Training method. His controversial career is characterized by his style of "crazy wisdom" by his Western followers. He died of alcohol-related liver failure at the age of 47.
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[edit] Biography
Born in the Kham region of Tibet in February 1939, Chögyam Trungpa was eleventh in the line of Trungpa tülkus, important figures in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1959, after having achieved wide renown for his teachings in his native country, he fled the Chinese invasion and crossed the Himalaya on foot into India. Among his three main teachers were Jamgon Kongtrul of Sechen, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Khenpo Gangshar.
The name Chögyam is a contraction of Chögyi Gyatso (Tibetan: ཆོས་ཀྱི་རྒྱ་མཚོ་; Wylie: Chos-kyi Rgya-mtsho), which means "ocean of dharma". Trungpa (Tibetan: དྲུང་པ་; Wylie: Drung-pa) means "attendant".
In exile in India, Trungpa began his study of English. In 1963, with the assistance of sympathetic westerners, he received a scholarship to study Comparative Religion at Oxford University in England. In 1967, he was bequeathed a former hunting lodge in Scotland that had recently been converted to a meditation center by a western Theravadan monk named Anandabodhi, which then became Samye Ling, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the West. In 1970, after a break with his fellow lama Akong Tulku Rinpoche, Trungpa moved to the United States at the invitation of several students.
Early in his time in the West, Trungpa gave up his monastic robes and adopted western dress and mores, in order, he said, to undercut the temptation of students becoming distracted by exotic cultures and dress, and by their preconceptions of how a guru should behave. He drank, smoked, slept with students, and often kept students waiting for hours before giving teachings. Much of his behavior has been asserted as deliberately provocative and sparked controversies that continue to this day. In one account, he encouraged students to give up smoking marijuana claiming that the smoking was not of benefit to the spiritual progress and that it exaggerated neurosis. Students were often angered, unnerved and intimidated by him, but remained fiercely loyal, committed, and devoted.
In 1973, Trungpa established Vajradhatu, encompassing all his North American institutions, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.
In 1974, Trungpa founded the Naropa Institute, which later became Naropa University, in Boulder, Colorado. Naropa was the first accredited Buddhist university in North America. Trungpa also founded more than 100 meditation centers throughout the world. Originally known as Dharmadhatus, these centers, now more than 150 in number, are known as Shambhala Meditation Centers. He also founded retreat centers for intensive meditation practice including Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, CO, Karme Choling in Barnet, VT and Gambo Abbey in Cape Breton, Novia Scotia.
In 1976, Trungpa began giving teachings, since then gathered and presented as the Shambhala Training, inspired by his vision (see terma) of the legendary Kingdom of Shambhala. Shambhalian practices focus on using mindfulness/awareness meditation as a means of connecting with one's basic sanity and using that insight as inspiration for one's encounter with the world. The Shambhala Training is described as a secular approach, rooted in meditation, but accessible to individuals of any, or no, religion. In Shambhala terms, it is possible, moment by moment, for individuals to establish enlightened society. His book Shambhala, Sacred Path of the Warrior, provides a concise collection of the Shambhala views.
Among his most famous and well known students are Pema Chödrön, Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Diane di Prima. Ginsberg, Waldman, and di Prima were also teachers at Naropa University.
In 1986, Trungpa, in failing health, moved Vajradhatu's headquarters to Halifax, Nova Scotia . There he died of liver failure on April 4, 1987. His body was packed in salt and laid into a wooden box to be delivered to Karmê Chöling, a major meditation center in Barnet, Vermont. His cremation there on May 26, 1987 is alleged to have been accompanied by a number of traditional signs demonstrating his enlightenment, including the appearance of rainbows, a body that did not immediately decay, a his heart remaining warm. (Miles, 1989, pp. 526-528) Upon his death, the leadership of Vajradhatu was first carried on by his American disciple, appointed regent and Dharma heir, Ösel Tendzin (Thomas Rich), and then by Trungpa's eldest son and Shambhala heir, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.
The next Trungpa tülku, Chokyi Sengay, was recognized in 1991 by Tai Situ Rinpoche.
[edit] Controversies
There exist a number of controversies surrounding Trungpa's behavior.
Trungpa's marriage and sexual relationships have been pointed out. Trungpa and a nun parented a child while both were under vows of celibacy, and additionally his marriage to a 16 year old heiress. His sexual relations with students have also been noted, as well as the use of his Vajra Guard in asking young female Naropa students to join him in bed.
He was also known for his drinking of alcohol, eventually dying from cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 47 ([1]). Alcohol also played a role in an accident that occurred before his coming to America, in which Trungpa drove a sports car into a joke shop while under the influence. Trungpa was left partially paralyzed and often in need of assistance to walk. On some occasions he was carried off-stage for being too drunk (Zweig 1991, p.141). Some observed that even while drunk, he could lecture brilliantly and be precise and compassionate with his students (Chadwick 1999, p. 374).
In terms of his teaching, he has been criticized for teaching westerners previously closely guarded and perhaps dangerous material. Trungpa's choice of a westerner as dharma heir, Ösel Tendzin, was a noted controversy as this would make him the first western Tibetan Buddhist lineage holder and Vajra Regent. This also became exacerbated due to Tendzin's own controversies, including his homosexuality and sexual activity with students while carrying HIV. See Ösel Tendzin for details.
An incident that became a cause célèbre among some poets and artists was the Halloween party at the Fall, 1975, Snowmass Colorado Seminary, a 3-month period of intensive meditation and study, which the poet W. S. Merwin had asked to attend. Trungpa granted the request even though Merwin had not gone through the usual preparatory practice. At that party, after many, including Trungpa himself, had disrobed, Merwin was asked to join the event, but refused. On Trungpa's orders his Vajra Guard forced entry into the poet's locked and barricaded room; brought him and his girlfriend, Dana Naone, against their will, to the party; and eventually stripped them of all their clothes, onlookers ignoring Naone's pleas for help and for someone to call the police (Sanders, 1977, throughout; Miles 1989, pp. 466-470; and Clark 1980, pp. 23-25). The next day Merwin and Naone agreed to remain at the Seminary for several more weeks to hear the Vajrayana teachings, with Trungpa's promise that "there would be no more incidents," and Merwin and Naone's assertion that "it would be with no guarantees of obedience, trust, or personal devotion to him." (Sanders, 1977, pg. 88) They left immediately after the last talk. In a 1977 letter to members of a Naropa class investigating the incident, Merwin concluded, "My feelings about Trungpa have been mixed from the start. Admiration, throughout, for his remarkable gifts; and reservations, which developed into profound misgivings, concerning some of his uses of them. I imagine, at least, that I've learned some things from him (though maybe not all of them were the things I was 'supposed' to learn) and some through him, and I'm grateful to him for those. I wouldn't encourage anyone to become a student of his. I wish him well." (Sanders, 1977, pg. 89).
Students assert that Trungpa's unconventional methods follow the Tibetan tradition of crazy wisdom, or teaching that confounds social conventions. Rick Fields, historian of American Buddhism and long-time student of Trungpa (ISBN 0-87773-631-6), said "He caused more trouble and did more good than anybody I've ever known" ([2]).
[edit] Chronology
1940: Born in Kham, Eastern Tibet. Enthroned as eleventh Trungpa Tulku, Supreme Abbot of Surmang Monasteries, and Governor of Surmang District. Some put his birth in 1939, including his biography at [3].
1944-59: Studies traditional monastic disciplines, meditation, and philosophy, as well as calligraphy, thangka painting, and monastic dance.
1947: Ordained as a shramanera (novice monk).
1958: Receives degrees of Kyorpön (Doctor of Divinity) and Khenpo (Master of Studies). Ordained as a bhikshu (full monk).
1959-60: Escapes to India during the Chinese invasion of Tibet amidst the increasing suppression of the Buddhist religion.
1960-63: By appointment of the Dalai Lama, serves as spiritual advisor to the Young Lamas' Home School in Dalhousie, India.
1962: Sires first son, Ösel Rangdröl (Mukpo), by a nun later referred to as Lady Konckuk Palden.
1963-67: Attends Oxford University on a Spaulding scholarship, studying comparative religion, philosophy, and fine arts. Receives instructor's degree in Sogetsu School of Japanese flower arrangement founded by Master Sofu Teshigahara.
1967: Founds Samyê-Ling, a meditation center in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
1968: Receives The Sadhana of Mahamudra terma text while on retreat in Taktsang, a sacred cliffside monastery in Bhutan.
1969: Becomes the first Tibetan British subject. Injured in a car accident, leaving him partially paralyzed. Relinquishes monastic vows and robes.
1970: Marries Diana Judith Pybus. Arrives in North America. Establishes Tail of the Tiger, a Buddhist meditation and study center in Vermont, now known as Karmê Chöling. Establishes Karma Dzong, a Buddhist community in Boulder, Colorado.
1971: Begins teaching at University of Colorado. Establishes Rocky Mountain Dharma Center, now known as Shambhala Mountain Center, near Fort Collins, Colorado.
1972: Initiates Maitri, a therapeutic program that works with different styles of neurosis using principles of the five buddha families. Conducts the Milarepa Film Workshop, a program which analyzes the aesthetics of film, on Lookout Mountain, Colorado.
1973: Founds Mudra Theater Group, which stages original plays and practices theater exercises, based on traditional Tibetan dance. Incorporates Vajradhatu, an international association of Buddhist meditation and study centers, now known as Shambhala International. Establishes Dorje Khyung Dzong, a retreat facility in southern Colorado. Conducts first annual Vajradhatu Seminary, a three-month advanced practice and study program.
1974: Incorporates Nalanda Foundation, a nonprofit, nonsectarian educational organization to encourage and organize programs in the fields of education, psychology, and the arts. Hosts the first North American visit of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyü lineage. Founds The Naropa Institute, a contemplative studies and liberal arts college, now fully accredited as Naropa University. Forms the organization that will become the Dorje Kasung, a service group entrusted with the protection of the buddhist teachings and the welfare of the community.
1975: Forms the organization that will become the Shambhala Lodge, a group of students dedicated to fostering enlightened society. Founds the Nalanda Translation Committee for the translation of Buddhist texts from Tibetan and Sanskrit. Establishes Ashoka Credit Union.
1976: Hosts the first North American visit of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, revered meditation master and scholar of the Nyingma lineage. Hosts a visit of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma lineage. Empowers Thomas F. Rich as his dharma heir, known thereafter as Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin. Establishes the Kalapa Court in Boulder, Colorado, as his residence and a cultural center for the Vajradhatu community. Receives the first of several Shambhala terma texts (see termas). These comprise the literary source for the Shambhala teachings. Founds Alaya Preschool in Boulder, Colorado.
1977: Bestows the Vajrayogini abhisheka for the first time in the West for students who have completed ngöndro practice. Establishes the celebration of Shambhala Day. Observes a year-long retreat in Charlemont, Massachusetts. Founds Shambhala Training to promote a secular approach to meditation practice and an appreciation of basic human goodness. Visits Nova Scotia for the first time.
1978: Conducts the first annual Magyal Pomra Encampment, an advanced training program for members of the Dorje Kasung. Conducts the first annual Kalapa Assembly, an intensive training program for advanced Shambhala teachings and practices. Conducts the first Dharma Art seminar. Forms Amara, an association of health professionals. Forms the Upaya Council, a mediation council providing a forum for resolving disputes. Establishes the Midsummer's Day festival and Children's Day.
1979: Empowers his eldest son, Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo, as his successor and heir to the Shambhala lineage. Founds the Shambhala School of Dressage, an equestrian school under the direction of his wife, Lady Diana Mukpo. Founds Vidya Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado.
1980-83: Presents a series of environmental installations and flower arranging exhibitions at art galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and Boulder.
1980: Forms Kalapa Cha to promote the practice of traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. With the Nalanda Translation Committee, completes the first English translation of The Rain of Wisdom.
1981: Hosts the visit of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to Boulder, Colorado. Conducts the first annual Buddhist-Christian Conference in Boulder, Colorado, exploring the common ground between Buddhist and Christian contemplative traditions. Forms Ryuko Kyudojo to promote the practice of Zen archery under the direction of Shibata Kanjuro Sensei, bow maker to the Emperor of Japan. Directs a film, Discovering Elegance, using footage of his environmental installation and flower arranging exhibitions.
1982: Forms Kalapa Ikebana to promote the study and practice of Japanese flower arranging.
1983: Establishes Gampo Abbey, a Karma Kagyü monastery located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, for Western students wishing to enter into traditional monastic discipline. Creates a series of elocution exercises to promote precision and mindfulness of speech.
1984-85: Observes a year-long retreat in Mill Village, Nova Scotia.
1986: Moves his home and the international headquarters of Vajradhatu to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1987: Dies on April 4th (alcoholism related) in Halifax; cremated May 26 at Karmê Chöling.
1989: His reincarnation, Chokyi Sengay,is born in Derge, Tibet; recognized two years later by Tai Situ Rinpoche.
[edit] List of published works
Born in Tibet 1966, autobiography, story of escaping from Tibet.
Meditation in Action 1969
Mudra 1972
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism 1973
The Dawn of Tantra, by Herbert V. Guenther and Chögyam Trungpa 1975
Glimpses of Abhidharma 1975
The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo, translated with commentary by Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa 1975
The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation 1976
The Rain of Wisdom 1980
Journey without Goal: The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha 1981
The Life of Marpa the Translator 1982
First Thought Best Thought: 108 Poems 1983
Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior 1984
Crazy Wisdom 1991
The Heart of the Buddha 1991
Orderly Chaos: The Mandala Principle 1991
Secret Beyond Thought: The Five Chakras and the Four Karmas 1991
The Lion's Roar: An Introduction to Tantra 1992
Transcending Madness: The Experience of the Six Bardos 1992
Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving Kindness 1993
Glimpses of Shunyata 1993
The Art of Calligraphy: Joining Heaven and Earth 1994
Illusion's Game: The Life and Teaching of Naropa 1994
The Path Is the Goal: A Basic Handbook of Buddhist Meditation 1995
Dharma Art 1996
Timely Rain: Selected Poetry of Chögyam Trungpa 1998
Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala 1999
Glimpses of Space: The Feminine Principle and Evam 1999
The Essential Chögyam Trungpa 2000
Glimpses of Mahayana 2001
Glimpses of Realization 2003
The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa, Volumes One through Eight 2003
True Command: The Teachings of the Dorje Kasung, Volume I, The Town Talks 2004
[edit] See also
- Vajradhatu
- Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
- Trungpa tülkus
- Surmang Monastery
- Shambhala International
- Buddhism in America
- Ken Keyes, Jr.
- Reginald Ray
[edit] References
- Ed Sanders (ed.) (1977). The Party: A Chronological Perspective on a Confrontation at a Buddhist Seminary (no ISBN)
- David Chadwick (1999), Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teachings of Shunryu Suzuki. ISBN 0-7679-0104-5
- Tom Clark (1980). The Great Naropa Poetry Wars. ISBN 0-932274-06-4.
- Barry Miles (1989). Ginsberg: A Biography. ISBN 0-671-50713-3.
- Connie Zweig, Connie and Jeremiah Abrams (Eds.) (1991). Meeting the Shadow. ISBN 087477618X.
[edit] Further reading
- Stephen T. Butterfield. The Double Mirror: A Skeptical Journey into Buddhist Tantra, North Atlantic Books, (September 1994) ISBN 1556431767. Follower of Trungpa, he reveals his ambivalence. Butterrfield was ostracised by the group because of this book.
- Georg Feuerstein, Holy Madness: The Shock Tactics and Radical Teachings of Crazy-Wise Adepts, Holy Fools, and Rascal Gurus, Paragon House, 1991, ISBN 1-55778250-4; Hohm Press; Rev&Expand edition Holy Madness: Spirituality, Crazy-Wise Teachers, And Enlightenment, (June 15, 2006) ISBN 1890772542
- Fabrice Midal. Chögyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision, Shambhala, 2004, ISBN 159030098X
- Diana J. Mukpo, Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chögyam Trungpa, Shambhala, (September 12, 2006) ISBN 1590302567. Mukpo was the English wife of Trungpa.
- John Perks, The Mahasiddha and His Idiot Servant, Crazy Heart Publishers, ISBN 0-9753836-0-4
[edit] External links
- Shambhala International home page
- Naropa University home page
- Page of links to sites on Chögyam Trungpa
- The Chronicles of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, stories and interviews about his life and teachings.
- Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chögyam Trungpa, by Diana J. Mukpo (his wife), with Carolyn Rose Gimian (Shambhala Publications)
- Chögyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision, by Fabrice Midal (Shambhala Publications)
- Recalling Chögyam Trungpa, ed by Fabrice Midal (Shambhala Publications)
- Shambhala Publications, the publisher of most of Chögyam Trungpa books, presents a site about his life and work.
- Homepage of his Shambhala heir, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
