SPECIAL EVENT

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche was a seminal figure in twentieth-century Buddhism, particularly in creating a foundation for the methodical study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in North America. All three of the founders and senior teachers of WBC studied for many years with Rinpoche, up until his death on April 4, 1987. Since then, the worldwide community of his students has gathered together locally to commemorate his life and legacy on each anniversary of his death.

The evening will start earlier than usual, at 6 pm, with the practice of a key practice text that Rinpoche received in 1968 called The Sadhana of Mahamudra. This text embodies Rinpoche’s key teaching of “cutting through spiritual materialism”, which is also the title of his most popular book. He thus made this practice a key part of his transmission of Buddhism to the West, and had it practiced at all of his centers every fortnight. While it is a complex and advanced practice, it is open to everyone, even newcomers, when practiced in a group setting. (Individual at-home practice is restricted to authorized students).

The practice involves a short period of sitting meditation followed by the rapid chanting of a liturgy in English, along with visualization and some mantra repetition, ending with another short sitting period. While the imagery and symbols are extremely complex, the main point of the practice is to experience the energy of our lineage, and this is accessible to beginners and advanced students alike. The practice will be introduced by one of our senior teachers.

Then we will play a selection of video clips showing Trungpa Rinpoche teaching from the seminar The Path of Meditation, which he gave at the first session of the Naropa Institute in the summer of 1974. This will offer us a glimpse of what he was like in real life.

Afterwards, as has been done since his death, we will have a selection of readings of dharma poems, stories and anecdotes, along with a traditional assortment of refreshments. Please join us for this important and festive occasion!

Note: If you have your own copy of the Sadhana please bring it.