The Brilliance of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
April 29, 2010 | 19 Comments
Trungpa Rinpoche cuts right through to the core of our confusion and gives it back to us as wisdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
“We must be willing to be completely ordinary people, which means accepting ourselves as we are without trying to become greater, purer, more spiritual, more insightful. If we can accept our imperfections as they are, quite ordinarily, then we can use them as part of the path. But if we try to get rid of our imperfections, then they will be enemies, obstacles on the road to our ‘self-improvement’.” From The Myth of Freedom
categorized in: dharma
19 Comments
I’m reading The Myth of Freedom right now. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Although I agree that Trungpa Rinpoche’s writings hold a lot of wisdom, and I hear what he is saying about our imperfections, I have a lot of trouble reconciling his words with many of his extremely imperfect behaviors throughout his life as a man (drugs, alcohol, sexual relationships with students). It’s not that I hold a teacher to a higher moral standard, but I do think the trusting vulnerabilities of students following a beloved teacher must never be exploited. Maybe you can tell me how we can hold those two disparate images in the same hand…
Hi Susan. Thanks for this comment. Here are a few thoughts–
First, I know many of Chogyam Trungpa’s close students and have heard lots of stories, some involving drugs, alcohol, and sex. I have never, though, heard anyone suggest anything about exploitation, or of the teacher playing on the vulnerabilities of students to take advantage of them. Chogyam Trungpa never pretended or tried to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. My understanding is that he was who he was, never, ever hid anything, and, if his students are any reflection, was the most skillful teacher imaginable–because his students are among the finest, smartest, deepest people I have ever known.
I’ve heard some pretty wild stories. Trungpa Rinpoche has been described variously as gentle, wrathful, funny, in your face, remote, playful, uncompromising, brilliant, unpredictable, and, most of all, as exceptionally vivid and authentic. Although they may be out there, I’ve never heard anyone say he was dishonest, manipulative, or unkind.
The moment I think to myself, oh that’s who that guy was, I think I get it now–I hear another story that contradicts the opinion I just constructed. So all I can say is, I can’t imagine being able to grasp who Trungpa Rinpoche was, except in my deepest heart of hearts where his teachings radiate as the sweetest, sharpest, and most extraordinarily generous presence I’ve ever encountered.
Just hold them both in your open hand. That’s how it’s possible to understand.
Thanks for your quick and thoughtful response and I will accept your assessment of your teacher. I do, however, think that we make great exceptions for the brilliant people in all walks of life and allow them license to behave in ways we mere mortals are not!
hi Susan, ringing in here 12 years later, never met ChTR, but have studied his words, and,
am close ti his son ( 35 years ‘in the trade’ )
personally l feel thats what ChTR was trying to say, english/tibetan verbal/aural comprehension/language – huge massive ball park of innate possibilities
may i have the dream/faith that my child and his generation will keep he dream alive – be kind, compassionate AND free
tim @bodhiimages
when the light appears the darkness disappears around it ! not necessarily completely everywhere . JUST AROUND IT !! Only upto some distance. HOW EVER BIG IT MAY BE ! for the simple reason that it is not the INFINITE LIGHT !! Some flashes only !!
SUSAN rightly points to the license given to such personalaties is more than what normal folks gets . And clearly the answer she has been given is a very carefully worded yet senstive answer.A true disciple speakth. I have 2 observations for the questioner to ponder on !!
1) As a seeker your job is to pickup anything from anywhere which gets you closer to finding yourself ,CLINICALLY ! for enlightenment/Truth does not care HOW YOU REACH IT ! and morever the whole journey is about dropping your baggage . How does what Rinpoche did or not do help you reach closer to Truth . But if he left something which can help you closer to reaching your goal ,just grab & use it . PEIROD !
2) Also it is the spirit in the human ( part of the infinite ) which comes up with the brillant lights which all experience & then express through words or whatever . Mind & body have no capabilties to churn light on there own such brillance . They are just meduiums . PLEASE REMEMBER THIS LAW ! Hence the activities which you describe were of the body & mind only . THE SPIRIT WAS PURE BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE ANYTHING ELSE , except that . Hence fantastic writings yet weak links in the body & mind sometimes like all Mortals . Rinpoche was connected to the infinite & it was the infinites BRILLANCE which he passed for all of us to use . Let us not worry too much about the object ( Rinpoche ) , just concentrate on the subject ( his writings ). Your victory is assured .
PS; Please forgive for such candid & direct writings if they look like that . The intent is of Love only thogh.
For one summer I attended Naropa Institute. Indeed, Trungpa Rinpoche did have sex with his students, one of whom was my friend with whom I was staying. She, and others, perceived this as their duty to him. I do see this as exploitation, most especially when she, and others, were so young. I am not a person who follows leaders. There was great pressure on me to accept him as my teacher. In fact, the husband of this young woman literally tackled me in the garden because I would not succumb to Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings. Is this compassion? Is this integrity? I am a supervisor in a mental health clinic. How I conduct myself is no less important than how Trungpa Rinpoche conducted his life. I work and sometimes mentor young students. What is the model I present to them? How I conduct myself has the potential to have a strong impact on others. As did Trungpa Rinpoche.
Based on what I read, I believe he had a profound and positive effect on others. However, I simply cannot get beyond his behaviors during the time I was at Naropa.
I know I would feel EXACTLY as you do if I had the experiences you did. It sounds awful. Esp the tackling bit.
The dissonance was profound. And for me, continues to be.
Understandably.
Dear Kristen , The great way is not difficult
for those who have no preferences
When love & hate are both absent
everything becomes clear & undisguised
Make the smallest distinction how ever
and Heaven & earth are set infinetly apart
If you wish to see the Truth
Then hold no opinions for or against anything
To set up what you like against what you dislike
is the DIS- EASE of the mind .
( 10 starting lines from Verses on the Faith by
Chien-chih Sens-ts”an)
Somehow, Trungpas actions seemed to turn a spotlight on the limitations and confusion of others. Alcohol, Tobacco and Sex while having particular dangers associated with them are nothing more than experience. Often, people use Alcohol, Tobacco and Sex as a distraction, an anesthetic and a means to escape what is happening now. Trungpa simply drank, smoked and had sex.
If I accept myself as I am, will I not need self-improvement?
How do you improve a self who is fully OK as it is?