The pith teaching of all Buddhadharma.
by Waylon Lewis on Mar 6, 2011
Our Everyday Practice. I’ve heard this quote attributed to both Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, whom I had the honor to know relatively well—as a child, that is—and as you can see from this blurry photo, it’s attributed to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Anyone know? Either way, it’s succinctly sums up the whole point and technique of Buddhadharma. [...]
1,161 views
Comments 4
Winston Churchill’s Black Dog of Depression doesn’t like haircuts.
by Waylon Lewis on Feb 25, 2011
I don’t like standing near the edge of a platform when an express train is passing through. I like to stand right back and if possible get a pillar between me and the train. I don’t like to stand by the side of a ship and look down into the water. A second’s action would [...]
576 views
Comments 12
When Inspiration Leaves…7 Things I Don’t Recommend Doing.
by Waylon Lewis on Feb 22, 2011
Lately, I’ve been depressed. Not badly depressed, but beat. Difficulty breathing, living, being happy. I’m sad all the time. Usually my work is, for me, the same thing as my Buddhist path, or just about—it’s self-cutting, I’m always learning, inspired—but even work, lately, has felt like a heavy weight. I’m a sad boy. But work [...]
1,502 views
Comments 28
Visual Pollution. ~ Dr. Bernie Weitzman.
by elephantjournal.com on Jan 31, 2011
We’re honored to have this guest post from Dr. Bernard Weitzman, a psychologist and awfully smart, kind gentleman. ~ ed. Cleanliness is Mindfulness? On the intersection of contemplative practice, eco-responsibility, an elegant home & sane society. Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche characterized the refuge vow (the vow one takes to become a Buddhist) as leaving home—becoming a [...]
1,293 views
Comments 15
Chogyam Trungpa Video: What is Spiritual Materialism?
by Waylon Lewis on Jan 23, 2011
Spiritual materialism? It is, say, watching this video because I think it might make me a better, more confident, attractive, enlightened or sane person:
458 views
Comments 3
Jeff Bridges hearts Chögyam Trungpa.
by Waylon Lewis on Jan 5, 2011
Jeff Bridges in Tricycle, and now Utne re Meditation, Chögyam Trungpa, Lojong. The Dude abides? Jeff Bridges has been an easy idol to keep since Fearless and Fabulous Baker Boys and that movie with Robin Williams, awesome…and Tron of course way back (was one of the first movies I ever saw on my own with [...]
1,295 views
Comments 2
Meditation Instruction: Chogyam Trungpa. Video:
by elephantjournal.com on Jan 2, 2011
As if asking your lover for their hand in marriage:
394 views
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When Illness Becomes Your Ally: Release, Restore, Radiate
by Ed & Deb Shapiro on Dec 30, 2010
“You have to lean into whatever is happening; whether you get well or not, it has the same one taste.”
231 views
Comments 6
Hierarchy, Complaint, Gossip & Communication in an Enlightened Society. ~ Chögyam Trungpa
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 19, 2010
“Lids & Flowers.” Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche This lightly edited talk and discussion took place at tea for volunteers at Marpa House, Boulder Colorado on February 28, 1978. It was transcribed by Judith Smith and edited by Judith L. Lief. We might go back to the foundation and review some of the case history. Karmê [...]
117 views
Comments (1)
Too Much Stuff Isn’t Sexy.
by Waylon Lewis on Nov 27, 2010
Stuff will suffocate the love in your life. I’ve moved half of my house out of my house over the past week…it’s not fun. There’s drawers full of random things, and dirt and dust and mouse poop…and clothes and books I didn’t know I had. But, then, moving in my new roommate/lover’s things, that’s fun. [...]
1,796 views
Comments 13
Chogyam Trungpa defines true “victory.”
by Waylon Lewis on Nov 13, 2010
Victory is not having to deal with an enemy at all. It is the notion of no enemy. The whole world is a friend. ~ Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Buddhist meditation teacher and founder of Shambhala, Vajradhatu, Naropa University. Would make some great advice for our foreign policy men and women and for our military. More [...]
317 views
Comments 4
Setting Sun Society.
by Waylon Lewis on Nov 7, 2010
There’s so little goodness in the world, it’s shocking. In “setting sun” society, goodness is asked for, then taken advantage of, and unappreciated…while everyone goes on suckering everyone else, hoping for external happiness and, only very rarely, when there’s no other option, do we get real with ourselves. For the aggressive coward or genuine warrior, [...]
432 views
Comments 5
“The only true elegance is…”
by Waylon Lewis on Nov 5, 2010
“…vulnerability.” ~ Chogyam Trungpa Photos of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche at Karme Choling (click for source), a Buddhist meditation center. An excerpt from something I wrote about Karme Choling: I lived at Karme Choling for four point five years. First year I hated it, ’cause it’s all grass and rolling hills and dirt roads…hard to skateboard, [...]
485 views
Comments 2
Bob vs. Buddhism: The Satisfying Conclusion.
by Bob Weisenberg on Oct 20, 2010
When I first started reading Elephant late last year there weren’t too many Yoga writers around, so I started hanging out with the Buddhists. I didn’t know that much about Buddhism, so I started asking naive questions and comparing Buddhist philosophy to Yoga philosophy, etc. Some of my questioning got pretty aggressive, because that’s the [...]
1,245 views
Comments 62
50 Best Quotes, Photos: Chögyam Trungpa, Buddhist meditation teacher.
by elephantjournal.com on Oct 9, 2010
These quotes are taken from a community Facebook Page devoted to Chögyam Trungpa. Please fan it here if you like. All photos are from that page, too. We’ve included attribution in screen capture when there was such. If you know a source, or there’s a mistake in a quote, please say so in comments. 1. [...]
6,631 views
Comments 37
Eka Pada Wha?
by Joseph Boquiren on Oct 4, 2010
Sanskrit throws me on occasion.
416 views
Comments (0)
New Video in honor of 20th Anniversary of Passing of the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin.
by Waylon Lewis on Aug 20, 2010
The Vajra Regent—an amazing and controversial early American Buddhist guru. …was one of the first great Western or American Dharma heirs of the ancient, up-until-so-recently Eastern tradition of Buddhadharma. While, perhaps like Icarus, his path was a tragic one, he flew high, too. He was an amazing man and teacher, a man I consider myself [...]
568 views
Comments 6
Help a great young Buddhist tulku visit US for first time, spread word. (+ videos of last + new Khyentse Rinpoche) (+ Gesar Mukpo’s Tulku movie in Boulder)
by Waylon Lewis on Aug 10, 2010
Update: Shambhala Center Presents MOVIE: TULKU Tulku is a documentary film about young people caught between the modern culture they were born into and the ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture from which they were reborn. They are Western tulkus – all of them recognized when they were children as reincarnations of great Tibetan Buddhist masters. Filmmaker [...]
897 views
Comments (1)
Service is our Dharma.
by elephantjournal.com on Aug 3, 2010
“I’m up late admitting patients to the inpatient hospice unit. Just when I think I’m too old for these late nights without sleep, a person in all their rawness, vulnerability and pain lays before me and as my hands explore the deep wounds in her chest and my ears open to her words, my heart [...]
203 views
Comments (0)
Buddhist Meditation Instruction for Children. ~ Chögyam Trungpa.
by elephantjournal.com on Aug 2, 2010
How to Meditate. A Talk for Young People by Chögyam Trungpa. Has anybody talked to you about meditation? The basic idea of the sitting practice of meditation is that it is what the Buddha did, and because of that, he attained enlightenment. That’s the basic point. And we have been told how to practice that [...]
1,783 views
Comments 3
8 Slogans for Kitchen Practice, by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
by Waylon Lewis on Jul 30, 2010
Buddhist Kitchen Sink Wisdom. I snapped this photo in Marpa House, a Buddhist community home in Boulder, Colorado, the other day. It was good to see these slogans, again—I’d grown up reciting them before prep cook duty at Karme Choling, a rural meditation center in Barnet, Vermont. Explanation of “this food is prepared as an [...]
3,129 views
Comments 7
Container Principle. {Buddhism + 3OH!3}
by Waylon Lewis on Jul 17, 2010
C’mon Ladies, sing it! {Silence} When you have a really lame crowd, wear mustaches & tuxedo vest, gesticulate, jump &…just have fun. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche used to say that if the setting wasn’t right—if there wasn’t a strong, healthy “container”—he couldn’t teach the Buddhadharma. It’s a subtle but profound point: if you’re trying to put [...]
483 views
Comments (0)
Memories of Midsummer’s Days in the Kingdom of Shambhala.
by elephantjournal.com on Jul 12, 2010
Introduction: growing up in the Vajradhatu (now called Shambhala) Buddhist community, or “Sangha,” Midsummer’s Day was probably the biggest, funnest, most elegant day of our year. It was all celebration, pomp, circumstance. Children, games, ceremonies, sun, food, community. A definition from the Shambhala site: Midsummer Day Midsummer Day is an opportunity for families and friends [...]
198 views
Comments 2
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche: The Good News & the Bad News.
by elephantjournal.com on Jul 11, 2010
“The bad news is you’re falling through the air, nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is there’s no ground.” ~ Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
517 views
Comments 2
One of my favorite photos of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche ever.
by elephantjournal.com on Jun 20, 2010
This was taken of Trungpa Rinpoche, a great pioneering Tibetan Buddhist teacher, in the Barnet, Vermont Town Hall right before he was to give a lecture in the early days. Not sure of the year or the photographer, anyone know? I’ll guess 1972 or 3. Anyone know more?
480 views
Comments (1)
Bad day? Buddhist solution is counter-intuitive: think about others’ welfare.
by Waylon Lewis on Jun 18, 2010
Chögyam Trungpa: Nevermind the Bollocks. Well, Trungpa Rinpoche didn’t say that, exactly. He said, Don’t Be Swayed by External Circumstances Although your external circumstances may vary, your practice of exchanging yourself for others should not be dependent on that. Whether you are sick or well, rich or poor, have a good reputation or bad reputation, [...]
214 views
Comments (0)
Why not to smoke pot from a Buddhist point of view.
by Waylon Lewis on Jun 10, 2010
Why Buddhism views Pot as a no-no (hint: it’s not about morality) My buddy D and I have had the is-pot-a-good-thing-for-humans argument for years…well before pot became more or less legal in these here parts. I’ve smoked pot, we’ve all smoked pot. But I was brought up Buddhist, and Buddhism is all about clearing and [...]
8,704 views
Comments 46
Cheerful Birthday, Lady Kathryn Budig.
by Waylon Lewis on Jun 2, 2010
My parents’ Buddhist teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche advised his students to wish one another “Cheerful Birthday,” instead of “Happy” “Happy,” he said in his high Oxonian voice, “is a temporary state of being. It’s one side of the samsara coin.” (I’m paraphrasing). “Cheerful, on the other hand, we can understand to connote a fundamental way [...]
674 views
Comments (0)
Joni Mitchell re: Chögyam Trungpa. “He snapped me out of [cocaine use].”
by elephantjournal.com on May 30, 2010
Painting by Joni Mitchell of Trungpa Rinpoche: Interview with Joni re: Trungpa Rinpoche: Via Reader’s Digest (!): RD: Did you ever have problems with drugs or addiction? Mitchell: I did, briefly. I didn’t get involved for years, and then I went on Rolling Thunder and they asked me how I wanted to be paid, and [...]
4,650 views
Comments 9
Buddhism: 50% of your State of Mind is dependent on your Posture.
by Waylon Lewis on May 19, 2010
Synchronizing Mind and Body in the Present Moment = Effortless Elegance. Let us have good head and shoulders—the basic elegant posture of enlightenment. ~ Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Growing up, I studied Buddhism with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. I can’t tell you how many times he’d remind us that half our state of mind was dependent on [...]
7,667 views
Comments 23
Buddhists love to say, “Everything is impermanent.” So why is tradition so important in Buddhism? ~ Linda Lewis
by elephantjournal.com on May 7, 2010
I asked my mom to explain why there were legitimate grounds for objecting to the removal of a sacred painting from the Boulder Shambhala Meditation Center, when everyone in Buddhist community loves to say, “Everything’s impermanent!” Which is true. She mentioned ‘tantra,’ or thread, and I asked her to write it up. Here’s her answer, [...]
709 views
Comments 10
My kind of Party.
by Waylon Lewis on Apr 29, 2010
AllenGinsberg.org a great web site full of photos and poetry worth losing an hour or two in: Discussion of Tibetan Bhuddism at Allen Ginsberg’s apartment, Boulder Colorado, August, 1976. (left to right) Jerome Rothenberg, Anne Waldman, Peter Orlovsky, Allen Ginsberg, Diane Di Prima, Chogyam Trungpa, student, William Burroughs. c. Allen De Loach. This is the [...]
433 views
Comments (0)
A Poem on the Anniversary of the Death of my Father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. ~ Gesar Mukpo
by elephantjournal.com on Apr 4, 2010
Today is the 23rd anniversary of the parinirvana, or passing, of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a great pioneering troublemaking Buddhist teacher. For photos, click here. ~ ed. Endlessly Giving Court chatter, baby blue and gold, madness in my household, warriorship in my living room, never truly understanding the beauty of your chaos. Monarch of your breath, [...]
2,706 views
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Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche: photos on the anniversary of his death.
by elephantjournal.com on Apr 3, 2010
Cheerful Parinirvana, to my only father guru: today is the anniversary of the passing of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Licking honey from a razor blade, Eyes of the learned gouged out by books, The beauty of maidens worn by display, The warrior dead from not knowing fear― It is ironical to see the dharma of samsara: [...]
1,285 views
Comments 4
Celebration + Commitment of Jakusho Kwong + Chogyam Trungpa.
by John Pappas on Apr 3, 2010
Via Carolyn Rose Gimian, excerpt: “Contemplating the Parinirvana of the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.” Cross posted with our friends at Dharma/Arte On April 4th, in 1987, “Chogyam Trungpa passed into nirvana. (For those not familiar with this expression, it is the day he died.) It is a time when his students and others affected by him [...]
4,343 views
Comments 14
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Will. {Parinirvana: the 23rd anniversary of his death is Sunday, April 4th}
by Waylon Lewis on Apr 3, 2010
You can buy copies of the above calligraphy, by Barbara Bash, by clicking over to Chronicle Project. Born a monk Died a King such Thunderstorm does not stop We will be haunting you, along with the dralas! Jolly Good luck! It’s gotta be one of my favorite short poems. I’ve had it memorized after a [...]
922 views
Comments 3
Chogyam Trungpa: space as teaching.
by Waylon Lewis on Apr 3, 2010
Chogyam Trungpa, video from Buddhist lecture, Karme Choling, 1973. “Dharma Drive-in?” Looks like Dr. Jeremy Hayward, to me, in the convertible. Trungpa Rinpoche’s talks always had long moments like this, particularly in the beginning—he was perfectly comfortable, unlike most of all of us, with space. It would shake out and sift down the nervousness disguised [...]
819 views
Comments 9
Setting Sun Vision, via Chogyam Trungpa from Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior.
by elephantjournal.com on Mar 23, 2010
Luckily, Great Eastern (because it’s continually rising) Vision comes next, in the text.
430 views
Comments 2
Green Restaurant: FAIL (update: see comments)
by Waylon Lewis on Mar 9, 2010
Update: see comments. TRANSITIONS My parents’ Buddhist teacher, Chogyam Trungpa, used to come and visit my school when I was a child (he asked parents to always treat their children with respect, and so we were never called “kids,” but always “children”). My mother, a teacher at the Vidya Elementary School (lucky me), used to [...]
904 views
Comments 7
A Classic Commencement Speech: Steve Jobs (Plus, the Buddhist 4 Reminders).
by elephantjournal.com on Feb 28, 2010
The Four Reminders are something we Buddhists repeat, and remind ourselves of, every day. But there’s nothing patently “Buddhist” about them—we’re basically just remembering that life is vulnerable, fragile, precious, and shouldn’t be wasted doing stupid, selfish, insincere stuff. Four Reminders Joyful to have Such a human birth, Difficult to find, Free and well-favored. But [...]
1,968 views
Comments 11
Boulder Shambhala Center: Vajradhara Thangka to be Replaced. {Trungpa, Sakyong}
by Claire Lochridge on Feb 10, 2010
Thangkagate Editor’s Note: As a loyal, grateful student of both the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, I both regret and miss the many changes to VCTR’s legacy and understand that “change” is inherent to our Buddhist “tradition.” Let’s remember that Trungpa Rinpoche loved to pull the rug out from under his students, [...]
2,132 views
Comments 21
The 16th Karmapa: The Lion’s Roar & other videos of the late, great Tibetan Buddhist teacher.
by Waylon Lewis on Feb 8, 2010
When I was a child, a so-called “Dharma Brat,” I knew the 16th Karmapa a little—he was like a sports star in my childhood home, with pictures tacked up everywhere, news of him once in awhile. I called him the Big Man in the Big Hat. For more on the Karmapa, and his charismatic reincarnation, [...]
646 views
Comments 10
Homemaker Buddha.
by Waylon Lewis on Feb 1, 2010
Meditation practice isn’t for monks on top of peaceful mountains. It’s for life: silly, messy, aggressive, humble daily life. Ever feel like this? Busy/crazy/sometimes lazy with the many mundane details of daily life, yet still focused, smiling, holding your seat? The above reminds me of me, only my tools are laptop, dog leash, bicycle, cappuccino, [...]
809 views
Comments 2
A Non-Theistic Definition of Faith?
by elephantjournal.com on Jan 11, 2010
Chogyam Trungpa + Meister Eckhart = QotD. Chogyam Trungpa: Buddha in your heart is a symbol of faith: you could be immaculate and perfect, as perfect as Shakyamuni Buddha himself. That possibility already exists in you. In this case, faith has nothing to do with praying to somebody. Faith is a sense of dignity.The Christian [...]
240 views
Comments 3
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche: Meditation 101.
by elephantjournal.com on Jan 7, 2010
Above: Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a great Nyingma master and friend and teacher of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (at right). Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, on Meditation. All quotes and links: Shambhala.org. By meditation we mean something very basic and simple that is not tied to any one culture. We are talking about a very basic and simple act: [...]
1,545 views
Comments 13
How Do You Get 48 Comments on a Light-Hearted Article Featuring Rod Steward Singing “If You Think I’m Sexy”?
by Bob Weisenberg on Dec 30, 2009
Well, you start by ignoring the title of the article: “Bad Day? Here’s a reminder not to take yourself too seriously.” It all started with my very first comment: You see, there it is again–that gaping difference between Buddhism and Yoga, which I keep trying so hard to explain and study away. In spite of their [...]
288 views
Comments 5
Why I say “Merry Christmas!” to all.
by Waylon Lewis on Dec 25, 2009
A lot of people, manyyy of my friends, hate Christmas. And for very good reasons. For anyone who likes green grass and blue skies and clean air and healthy children…well, the sheer volume of crap we give to one another is sickening. Like too much ice cream. Still, I love Christmas, always have. Even if [...]
1,371 views
Comments 15
“It’s Quite Ironical, very Funny Indeed.” ~ Chogyam Trungpa
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 22, 2009
What’s actually important is here and now. ~ Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche A trippy, cool, interesting video/photo montage/musical mishmash, with a great simple talk by this innovative, direct Buddhist meditation master: “Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche from a 1983 lecture in L.A. mixed with music by Deep Forest.”
577 views
Comments (0)
Bad Day? Here’s a reminder not to take yourself too seriously.
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 21, 2009
Our capacity to take ourself seriously is nearly limitless. You want proof? If Rod can sing about how sexxxy he is with…that hair…those pants…hey. The cosmic joke, as Chogyam Trungpa put it, is on all of us. Life is suffering. So, smile. Or, as Longchenpa, another great Buddhist teacher put it…well, the quote’s on the [...]
5,390 views
Comments 57
What it was like to be a student of Chogyam Trungpa in 1976.
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 20, 2009
The Story of a Student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in the late 70s. Video. Love this. I grew up in this world, and have heard many such similar stories, most more positive than this, and with a bit less resentment…but everyone’s experience is valid, needless to say, and the personal honesty of these reflections is [...]
461 views
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