| The
Trungpa Tulkus are of great importance in the Kagyu school
of Buddhism, being one of the main leaders of Surmang
Monastery in Tibet. The Surmang monastery was founded
in the 14th Century by Trungmase, a student of the 5th
Gyalwa Karmapa. The 1st Trungpa Rinpoche, Kunga Gyaltsen,
was a principal student of Trungmase. Kunga Gyaltsen was
an incarnation of the Indian Mahasiddha Dombipa, who had
foretold the founding of Surmang. The Surmang Kagyu
lineage flourishes until this very day.
The 11th Trungpa Rinpoche
was born in 1939. He was named "Chokyi Gyamtso,"
or Chogyam for short. Trungpa Rinpoche was
born into the Mukpo family clan, which traces its family
lineage back to King Gesar of Tibet. Rinpoche's
main teachers included Shechen Kongtrul Rinpoche, Palpung
Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Gangshar Rinpoche, Khyentse
Rinpoche and the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. He mastered the
scholar sciences, receiving both the Khenpo degree in
religious and mundane studies, and Kyorpon degree in astrology.
Due to the Chinese oppression, Rinpoche
fled Tibet in 1959. In India, he was appointed by His
Holiness the Dalai Lama to guide the Young Lamas Home
School in Dalhousie. In 1963, Trungpa Rinpoche attended
Oxford University and studied comparative religion. He
also studied Japanese arts later on.
Together with Akong Tulku Rinpoche, Chogyam
Trungpa founded Samye Ling as the first monastery in the
West, in 1967. In 1969, Rinpoche went into solitary retreat
in Bhutan.
After retreat, Trungpa Rinpoche gave up
his monastic vows and became a lay-teacher of the dharma.
His decision became the beginning of the activity of a
living mahasiddha, determined to spread the dharma in
the western world.
In 1970, Trungpa Rinpoche married Lady
Diana Pybus. Due to the harsh criticisms being launched
by some troublesome members within the British Buddhist
Community, Rinpoche resettled in Vermont, USA. He began
teaching the dharma there. Rinpoche traveled extensively
giving teachings, retreats and seminars. He founded over
one hundred meditation centers.
Trungpa’s organization, originally
Vajradhatu and later named Shambhala,
not only incorporated the religious aspect of Buddhism
but also more secular study. Such courses were especially
geared for lay-people and westerners, including flower
arranging, dance, Zen archery, the Japanese tea ceremony,
therapy, calligraphy and other studies.
Thus so, Rinpoche was able to actually
combine the actual life of students with that of the dharma.
Rinpoche's vision of furthering society by teaching Buddhism
was a lasting achievement.
Trungpa Rinpoche founded the Naropa
Institute, a Buddhist University in Colorado
and the Nalanda
Translation Committee, committed to translating
the dharma for the western world.
Rinpoche was known as an artist, as a
teacher fluent in English and as an author. Many of his
books are considered pivotal and authoritative works for
western dharma students.
Above all, Trungpa alone can be credited
for introducing the west to Tibetan Buddhism and the Vajrayana.
His activity was no different from that of Guru Rinpoche.
Most importantly, Trungpa Rinpoche invited
His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa (the first supreme
throne holder who visited the west) to teach in the United
States and throughout the world. It was Trungpa Rinpoche
who laid the foundation for the spread of the Vajrayana.
His books, literary terms and teaching styles are still
the basis used by many other teachers.
Trungpa Rinpoche moved to Nova Scotia
in 1986, with the goal to move the Shambhala headquarters
there. Rinpoche died the next year due to liver damage.
His cremation in Vermont was attended by thousands. At
the time of his cremation, many signs occurred which indicated
the passing of a greatly realized master. The administrator
and regent of Trungpa’s organization, Osel Tenzin,
died in 1990 due to HIV infection.
Therefore (since Trungpa Rinpoche empowered
his eldest son Osel Rangdrol Mukpo to be the Shambhala
lineage successor in 1978), on was the advice of His Holiness
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Osel Rangdrol Mukpo became the
head of Shambhala. Rangdrol Mukpo was referred to by his
father as the Sarwang (earth lord) or Sakyong Rinpoche.
The
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche continues to guide
the institutions his father oversaw. A
true bodhisattva, Trungpa Rinpoche’s legacy and triumphant
accomplishments remain pivotal to the spread of Buddhism. |
