Chogyam Trungpa - Techniques of Mindfulness
Tail of the Tiger (Karme Choling), Barnet, Vermont; August 1974
Talk 1: Techniques of Mindfulness
Trungpa Rinpoche begins this first talk by drawing the students away from speculative notions about the nature of spirituality and motivation, thoughts of power or transcendental happiness, or the project of searching for the best or easiest spiritual path. Instead, he asks us to consider mind itself as the necessary starting point and the basis for the path.
Talk 2: Mindfulness of Body/Forms
In this second talk on mindfulness of body/forms, Trungpa Rinpoche starts off by presenting mindfulness of body as being related to "the need for a sense of solidness, sense of being, sense of groundedness," in contrast to the vagueness and grasping of ego-process described in talk 1, and the tendency to "perch," to put special demands on one's body. Here, he describes how placing one's body simply on the ground with good posture and placing the mind simply on the breathing brings a sense of being, a sense of groundedness.
Talk 3: Mindfulness of Life/Livelihood
This particular talk on mindfulness of life, or livelihood, (also "life attitude") addresses, first of all, the general misunderstanding that the meditative state is something to be captured, then cherished and nursed. "This brings regression on the path." Such an approach kills "freshness", and turns meditation into a "domestic hassle," "house chores," "a painful demand."
Instead, while the object of awareness is focused on, "at the same time we disown it." Being willing to disown the object of awareness and disowning the meditative state itself is an attitude and approach which brings confidence. One is confident enough not to have to secure one's practice, but just to "tune in" to practice. Trungpa Rinpoche refers to this approach, connecting to the tangibility of the meditative state and letting that go, as "touch and go."
Talk 4: Techniques of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Effort
This is a talk about discipline, patience, and exertion in relation to practice and everyday life conduct. It is about the effort involved in relating to mind-itself, simple self-consciousness.
Talk 5: Mindfulness of Mind
This talk is about relating to the variety of experiences in practice, experiences of clarity and confusion.
Ground: Balance of tight and loose, inclusive and restrictive
Path: Simplicity, the small immediacy of experience, the dot of nowness
Fruition: The imperialism of mindfulness. Mindfulness and totality
Talk 6: Parrots and Rhinoceroses
Since the mindfulness teachings are not just about practicing on the cushion but relate to everyday life practice and conduct, living in the world, Trungpa Rinpoche always includes teachings on such subjects in his mindfulness seminars. This talk is largely about two different and potentially complementary approaches to lifestyle, the chatty "parrot" and the solitary "rhinoceros," warnings for potential teachers and proud solitary meditators, and basic instructions for working with mind in postmeditation.
The necessity of formal meditation practice
Basic instructions for postmeditation
Lifestyle: parrots communicating in their practice communities and the solitary discipline of rhinoceroses
Bringing a sense of balance to parrot group approach and solitary rhinoceros approach through awareness
A warning to deceptive parrot-teachers and proud rhinoceroses
Talk 7: Practice and Study
In this talk, presented at Shambhala Mountain Center in August 1974, to a group that included many students and faculty from The Naropa Institute, Trungpa Rinpoche talked about the importance of bringing together practice and study, intuition and intellect, which are like "eating food and having exercises," respectively.
One sided emphasis: the "experiential" vs. the "intellectual"
The Buddha and the great Buddhist kings were not drop outs
The need to train and open up our vision
The importance of the intellectual world, and how meditation complements that
Study tips
Chogyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.
MsSVig
Tail of the Tiger (Karme Choling), Barnet, Vermont; August 1974
Talk 1: Techniques of Mindfulness
Trungpa Rinpoche begins this first talk by drawing the students away from speculative notions about the nature of spirituality and motivation, thoughts of power or transcendental happiness, or the project of searching for the best or easiest spiritual path. Instead, he asks us to consider mind itself as the necessary starting point and the basis for the path.
Talk 2: Mindfulness of Body/Forms
In this second talk on mindfulness of body/forms, Trungpa Rinpoche starts off by presenting mindfulness of body as being related to "the need for a sense of solidness, sense of being, sense of groundedness," in contrast to the vagueness and grasping of ego-process described in talk 1, and the tendency to "perch," to put special demands on one's body. Here, he describes how placing one's body simply on the ground with good posture and placing the mind simply on the breathing brings a sense of being, a sense of groundedness.
Talk 3: Mindfulness of Life/Livelihood
This particular talk on mindfulness of life, or livelihood, (also "life attitude") addresses, first of all, the general misunderstanding that the meditative state is something to be captured, then cherished and nursed. "This brings regression on the path." Such an approach kills "freshness", and turns meditation into a "domestic hassle," "house chores," "a painful demand."
Instead, while the ob
Talk 4: Techniques of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Effort
This is a talk about discipline, patience, and exertion in relation to practice and everyday life conduct. It is about the effort involved in relating to mind-itself, simple self-consciousness.
Talk 5: Mindfulness of Mind
This talk is about relating to the variety of experiences in practice, experiences of clarity and confusion.
Ground: Balance of tight and loose, inclusive and restrictive
Path: Simplicity, the small immediacy of experience, the dot of nowness
Fruition: The imperialism of mindfulness. Mindfulness and totality
Talk 6: Parrots and Rhinoceroses
Since the mindfulness teachings are not just about practicing on the cushion but relate to everyday life practice and conduct, living in the world, Trungpa Rinpoche always includes teachings on such subjects in his mindfulness seminars. This talk is largely about two different and potentially complementary approaches to lifest
The necessity of formal meditation practice
Basic instructions for postmeditation
Lifest
Bringing a sense of balance to parrot group approach and solitary rhinoceros approach through awareness
A warning to deceptive parrot-teachers and proud rhinoceroses
Talk 7: Practice and Study
In this talk, presented at Shambhala Mountain Center in August 1974, to a group that included many students and faculty from The Naropa Institute, Trungpa Rinpoche talked about the importance of bringing together practice and study, intuition and intellect, which are like "eating food and having exercises," respectively.
One sided emphasis: the "experiential" vs. the "intellectual"
The Buddha and the great Buddhist kings were not drop outs
The need to train and open up our vision
The importance of the intellectual world, and how meditation complements that
Study tips
Chogyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and The Myth of Freedom.
MsSVig