User talk:MarkSzpakowski

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Hello, Mark! Your reputation precedes you! (From communications with Jack.) I've been hoping a former insider would eventually show up and correct errors on the Prograph page. --RJCraig 23:46, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Shambhala Buddhism

Dear Mark, I'm curious as to why you changed "dharma heir" to "Shambhala heir" Sylvain1972 02:33, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Hi Sylvain, because that's more accurate. Chogyam Trungpa made a clear distinction between the Buddhist and Shambhala lineages, as evident in language, forms of address, etc. The Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin was the Dharma heir; the (then) Sawang Osel Mukpo was the Shambhala heir: both empowerments were explicitly sealed with appropriate ceremonies, in 1976 and 1979 respectively. Cf also Chogyam Trungpa's will at [1]. Beyond this, "the Shambhala vision does not distinguish a Buddhist from a Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, a Moslem, a Hindu." (from Great Eastern Sun, The Wisdom of Shambhala, p 133). Elsewhere he says of a Shambhala practice: "It is a self-contained practice. It is not particularly borrowed from buddhism, but it is simply self-existent in the Shambhala style." The secular but sacred character of Shambhala was important to Trungpa, what he felt the world needed now, and this was what the Shambhala lineage was meant to transmit. That Shambhala Buddhism is expressing something somewhat different does not alter this distinction, which I think is important to recognize. -szpak 03:47, 5 January 2006 (UTC)