Comments on: Was Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche an alcoholic? Dispelling myths with openness.

By: elephantjournal

elephantjournal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:33:23 +0000

I love how you hate this for being supportive and Roger dislikes this for being negative.

By: elephantjournal

elephantjournal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:31:42 +0000

Yes! Hai!

By: Buddhadharma Without Credentials. | elephant journal

Buddhadharma Without Credentials. | elephant journal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:09:54 +0000

[...] fortify ourselves against the openness and unknown. This is powerful post-meditation practice. As Trungpa Rinpoche said, “There are always possibilities of sabotaging the security system of central headquarters. [...]

By: edward

edward — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:17:19 +0000

I attended a lecture at the Manhatten Dharmadhatu back in '77 or '78 and recall the person talking picking up a cigaretter and taking a puff. Later, this person was sipping from a beer. This was a major contrast from the various Yoga Centers in the City at that time. Went to several lectures after that and simply could not understand the tobacco, alcohol and other stuff.
Tried reading Trungpas books and simply never "got it". Learning the basic sitting technique the the NY Dharmadhatu and that's about it.
Problem: i can't shake Trungpa.
I dream of him once in awhile and it is always an interesting conversation. Thoughts of him are daily to the point where i have a picture of him in my work office. I have never taken any Shambhala courses, attended any seminaries or plan to.
I wonder if this guy will ever leave me alone. No doubt, this is the experience of many, many others.
Mahasiddha – Hmm, maybe….

By: karma

karma — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:49:16 +0000

Very good attempt to erase greats works of a great teacher. The teacher says don’t do as I do but do as I say. Work of art, literature and teachings of Trungpa Rinpoche can not to neglected at all.

By: Harusami

Harusami — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:45:20 +0000

Interesting article. In the 70's I worked at a Restaurant Kyoto in Denver and twice served a large group of nervous, white clad, middle-aged people from Boulder with their strange Asian Guru that they treated like a rock star. We were all instructed that everything must be first served to this "master" and there were other strange requests. The chauffeur would sit at a table by himself. I remember what a weird spectacle it was… and many of the restaurant's staff were guilty of snickering about it in the kitchen. As most of us were Buddhist, we just thought it was some weird cult. It was years later when I realized it was Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the Naropa people.

That said, there is no "sin" in Buddhism, whether a spiritual leader drinks, smokes or has consensual sex is of little matter. It's purely a Judeo/Christian hang-up that condemns just about anything that feels good as a sin.

Personally, my spiritual beliefs now encompass too wide a spectrum to label, but I don't believe in mindlessly "following" anyone.

By: Goodieb

Goodieb — Thu, 05 May 2011 02:04:28 +0000

Thank you Waylon. I've been a "Buddhist" for at least 15 years. It is only recently that I have decided to take my refuge vows in the Shambhala tradition. I am proud to commit to such and Trungpa Rinpoche is a large factor in that. He was human and accessible.

By: Kelley

Kelley — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:35:08 +0000

pretty awesome article. i like the last part. sit. sit some more. seems like in order to really understand someone that awesome and profound the best thing would be to experience the depth and profundity by engaging in a truly transformative practice like meditation. really great article. waylon always does a really good job responding to the comments as well. very constructive.

By: Metronomic

Metronomic — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:27:45 +0000

Making more excuses for a failed Lama who broke wide open 2 of 5 precepts. I see no reason to follow such a flawed "spiritual teacher" or to buy into his watered down pseudo Buddhism called Shambhala, who are more interested in getting your fees than teaching any real knowledge. The Kagyu lineage looks upon it as an inside joke to say the least.

By: dharma friend

dharma friend — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:20:50 +0000

There was simply no excuse to the harm that this man did in influencing an entire generation of young people to drink, have casual sex (no matter that is was the more accepted norm back then) and then form uptight and power driven organizations that continue to this day! So yes he was powerful and charismatic but so were a lot of misguided people. If Trungpa was about freedom for the mind the mind his organizations are enough to make you feel strangled to the core. I experienced all of this and no matter how good his books were he didn't live it himself. What a shame and a waste of a precious human life.