Basic Goodness Is Like a Sneeze
When we talk about basic goodness, we are not talking in terms of good and bad, but we are talking about unconditional health or unconditional goodness, without any reference point. Basic goodness is something like a sneeze. When you sneeze, there is no time to create or refer to a reference point. You just sneeze, or you just cough. Similarly, when a person has an orgasm, there’s no room or time to compare that experience with anything else. That simplicity and fundamental healthiness and that capability of having your own personal experience is called basic goodness, which does not have to be compared to basic badness.
Chogyam Trungpa rendered in charcoal by William Gilkerson
The Passing of John Odenthal
John Odenthal, a long-time student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and a dear friend to many passed away in Halifax on February 25. Please hold him, and his daughter, Brighid, in your thoughts and prayers.
Surmang shedra completed and in use as a shedra
Starting in 2010, while work on the shrine room furnishings continued, the shedra building complex has been used for various children's programs, for shedra-type study programs for monks, as the temporary monastery lhakang (shrine hall) when the monastery's lhakang was being rebuilt, and as a temporary residence for nuns while the Kyelaka nunnery associated with Surmang Dutsi Til was under construction.
The Passing of Ricky Assaly
A sukhavati will be held on Friday January 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Boulder Shambhala Center Main Shrine Room.
Father Thomas Keating and Trungpa Rinpoche Talk About Egolessness
This conversation took place during Naropa’s 1983 Christian Buddhist Conference
Mother’s Milk
When you take a leap into the phenomenal world, you may think it is a very bold and heroic thing to do. However, you might awake, as if from a dream, and find yourself in the mouth of a crocodile.
The Passing of Tania Leontov
We stand both in great sadness for the passing of Tania Leontov as well as a reverence and immense appreciation we feel toward a spiritual sister who has been such a pivotal person in the legacy of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the genuine Dharma coming our way!
The Passing of Tulku Thondup Rinpoche
Loving-kindness is the thought of wishing total happiness for others and putting that wish into practice. It is the thought of unconditioned, pure, and universal love towards all beings without attachment, self-centeredness, or expectation of rewards.
— Tulku Thondup
Saraha and Sahaja
In this lecture, Roger Jackson talks about Saraha's songs, with a special focus on his teachings on sahaja – a vital tantric term variously translated as "the coemergent," "the connate," or "the simultaneously arisen."
Dön Season Retreat on Ocean
During the final days of the Year of the Water Rabbit, we will focus our
evening practice on Vajrakilya and Pacifying the Turmoil of the Mamos.
The Star of Bethlehem
You begin to experience the dawn or glimmer of light, which in Western language is called the Star of Bethlehem
The Cremation of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Notes from Nepal, November, 2023
Many years back, at the time of the first visit of Thrangu Rinpoche to Boulder, Colorado at the invitation of Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Trungpa Rinpoche was asked what code word we could use for Thrangu Rinpoche when communicating the logistics of his transportation, arrival at events, etc.
Vajrayogini Abhisheka Announcement
Dear Vajra Sangha,
Under the Open Umbrella initiative of the Druk Sakyong Wangmo, Diana Mukpo, we are delighted to announce that with the blessing of His Holiness Karmapa XVII, the Venerable Ringu Tulku Rinpoche has consented to confer a Vajrayogini empowerment to our group of suitably prepared students. This request was initiated by the Kagyu ngöndro working group under...
Conversation with Ringu Tulku
An Interview from 2013
Remembering Thrangu Rinpoche
An account of Rinpoche's final days from Thrangu Tashi Chöling Monastery
To all those around the world who have a connection, direct or indirect, with the Lord of Refuge, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche:
With great regret, we would like to share some sad news with you.
On May 5, 2023, the fifteenth day of the third Tibetan month of the...
In appreciation of Thrangu Rinpoche
In August 2011, Thrangu Rinpoche visited Halifax where he taught on Khenpo Gangshar's text: Naturally Liberating Whatever You Meet. The weekend was attended by members of the Shambhala community, and by a number of Thrangu Rinpoche's students from Maine and elsewhere. The three-day program was a testament to Thrangu Rinpoche's generosity and tireless energy. He explicated...
The Passing of Bob Fine
As the size of the Berkeley Dharmadhatu grew in numbers, Bob, along with several other early Berkeley sangha members established the second Berkeley Dharmadhatu in a lovely home on Kentucky Avenue in the Berkeley Hills overlooking the entire Bay.
Mark Szpakowski
Mark talks about Buddhism, Shambhala, Shambhala Buddhism. He also discusses Radio Free Shambhala and more.
First Drive / First Passenger
Unlike most young men of my generation I was not particularly focused on getting my driver's license when I turned 16. Just by chance and lack of money for...
More interesting…
At the 1983 Seminary at Bedford Springs, I took a class in Ikebana. While it was very enjoyable, my work wasn't much to look at, and one day I...
As if by Accident
An Excerpt from Ellen's upcoming memoir: Buried Rivers: A Spiritual Journey into the Holocaust
Letter to the 1980 Seminary
From the all-encompassing vajradhatu,
Indestructible nonthought beyond description,
From the vast dharmadhatu,
The unceasing play of energy and light,
The dharmakaya Vajradhara takes form
As the incomparable root guru, Chokyi Gyatso.
The five poisons and...
Kasung Log: Bringing Them Around
In the late 1970s the Vidyadhara was making fairly frequent visits to Boston Dharmadhatu. Energy was sparking and new people were popping up almost daily.
One of these was a...
The Do-Gooders
I lived at Tail of the Tiger from November 1971 until the spring of 1972 when Rinpoche asked me, along with Ken and Helen Green and their small son Mithra,...
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche Receives the Rinchen Terdzo
Orissa, India
Devotion
Created from Lama Ugyen Shenpen's Home Videos of the Lineage
Opening of Thrangu Monastery Canada
Thrangu Monastery in Richmond, British Columbia, hailed as the first traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Canada, officially opened on Sunday, July 25. The centerpiece of the new shrine room...
It’s Up To You
A Review of Chögyam Trungpa's Latest Title
On Meeting Thomas Merton
"The first genuine person I met from the West" -Trungpa Rinpoche
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Prajna and Upayaby Martin Evans
Three Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Eastern starting September 19. We will listen to Rinpoche’s three talks together and, as always, […]
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Outer, Inner and Secret Levels of Mindfulness Practiceby Lodro Sangpo
Please note: Participants in this course may also be interested in Lodro Sangpo’s course on Abhidharma in the Context of […]
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Kitchen Sink Series: The Path is the Goalby David Nudell
This five-week course will use Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s text, THE PATH IS THE GOAL. Taken from two seminars in 1974, one held […]
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Mind, Symbol, and Word: The Three Levels of Vajrayana Transmissionby Judy Lief
According to the Vidyadhara, our understanding of the three lineages begins with our relationship with the teacher. It begins […]
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Mahamudra Aspiration of Rangjung Dorjeby Gerardo Abboud
Rangjung Dorje’s Mahamudra Aspiration is an extraordinarily pithy and comprehensive text. Not only does the text elucidate the […]