As many of you know Robin Kornman passed away recently, A dear friend of Traleg Rinpoche and inspiration and teacher to many Dharma Students over the years, Robin had tremendous impact where ever he went. Over the last many years he made his home and mark in Milwaukee. May his Humor, Kindness and Wisdom resonate for a long long long time to come.
Remembering Robin
Rinpoche's new book The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind is now available at your local book seller ( if it's not please ask them to stock it! ) or you may order it through the link. Ken Wilber wrote the Forward It's a fuller, more comprehensive manual of the practice of Lojong for the beginner, seasoned practitioner or academic, offering a clear and often point of view altering approach to this central practice of Tibetan Buddhism, and like the warning on Trungpa Rinpoche's 1981 book, 'Could be hazardous to your ego!'. Speaking or typing rather of Trungpa Rinpoche, Traleg Rinpoche gave a wonderful Tribute to Trungpa for the Chronicles of TCR project.
Last summer Rinpoche gave a short talk to a new Internet video site called Dharma TV on Educating our Emotions and it's now available for viewing. Within a short time look for Dharma TV to become a treasure trove of Dharma Video's and information.
Ken Wilber, wrote the introduction to Traleg Rinpoche's new book The Practice of Lojong and is doing an event with Rinpoche in New York City this September 8th & 9th and the New York Society for Ethical Culture were they'll dialog about spirituality in the modern world. [here's a link to Ken's Main site which requires the Flash 8 player]
The Practice of Lojong, by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
Foreword by Ken Wilber
It is my honor to introduce The Practice of Lojong, by one of today’s most respected and renowned Tibetan Buddhist masters, Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche. It is Rinpoche’s belief, which I heartily second, that not only are the secrets of Lojong an antidote to much of today’s emotional pain and suffering, they contain the very practices that can fully awaken the mind and liberate awareness. And not just in a passing, self-help kind of fashion, a “Gosh-I-feel-better” kind of way, but by striking right at the heart of suffering itself, while simultaneously pointing to the enlightened or fully liberated mind.
Grand promise or honest assertion?
Lojong in Tibetan means “mind training.” It is revered throughout Tibet as containing the very essence of the great Mahayana Buddhist teachings, helpfully organized into 7 easily understood groups. Further, these teachings are distilled and presented in their absolutely essential core: practice these, and you practice all. These teachings, in and of themselves, are said to be able to lead one to enlightenment, or what the Tibetans also call the Great Liberation, a liberation from suffering and an awakening to ultimate reality itself. Lojong contains practices that are said to do exactly that because they are grounded in and evoke “bodhicitta”: the mind and heart of enlightenment.
What is this enlightened mind and awakened heart? There are many ways to describe it, but the best way is to experience it directly, for oneself, and that is what this book is all about: the practice and direct experience of awakened mind and heart.
Although this awakened mind-and-heart is literally indescribable—and what direct experience isn’t?—a few things may be said about it. In his introduction, Rinpoche himself emphasizes that, among other things, awakened awareness is “the view from the mountaintop. Without that perspective, we will always be looking up from the valley rather than understanding the vista from the mountaintop.” He goes on to point out that the “lo” of Lo-jong “emphasizes the mind’s cognitive nature, its ability to discriminate, distinguish and so forth. Lo-jong is about training the mind in a very fundamental way. That is why Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche translated this word as basic intelligence.”
What is this basic intelligence? And what kind of “cognitive nature” is being emphasized here? Given the anti-intellectual and anti-cognitive bias in our culture at large, it might be surprising to hear the word “cognitive” used in any but a derogatory fashion. But notice that the GNI of cognitive is similar to the KNO of knowledge which is the same as the GNO of gnosis, and in Sanskrit, that is JNA, which is found in prajna and jnana. And it is jnana—or gnosis—that is said to be the enlightened knowledge, the enlightened mind and heart, that is awakened by Lojong practice. Gnosis is none other than the view from the mountaintop, the nondual view that is capable of delivering us from suffering and awakening the enlightened mind.
Lojong, in other words, is an unsurpassed manual for the awakening of gnosis.
It gets more interesting. Gnosis in action, according to Buddhism, is compassion. And it is the twofold practice of nondual awareness and compassion that characterizes and evokes bodhicitta, or the enlightened mind and heart. The point is that Lojong contains extraordinarily profound and effective practices for awakening both gnosis and compassion. And the result of that, by any other name, is enlightenment—an enlightenment that flies on the wings of nondual awareness and compassion in action.
Welcome, then, to one of the most highly revered manuals of the Great Liberation. Your guide to this precious treasure trove is Traleg Rinpoche, who, I believe, is one of the most deeply insightful and profound teachers not only of the Tibetan tradition, but of any tradition, East or West. He combines an undeniable grasp of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism with a thorough familiarity with us barbarians in the West and our many strange ways.
I say that facetiously, of course; but still, the difficulties of translating a teaching from one culture to another are notorious, and yet time and again I have been struck by Rinpoche’s easy fluency with Western culture and especially its overall intellectual canon, something that, frankly, is missing in most foreign teachers. In fact, I know of no other teacher who better grasps both the Tibetan and Western traditions than Traleg Rinpoche, and thus the combination of the depth of his own enlightenment and the capacity to transmit it are matched by few Tibetan teachers. This makes Rinpoche an ideal Vajrayana teacher for Westerners, and I heartily recommend that, if this book speaks to you, please check out his other works (although there are many, two of my favorites are Mind at Ease and Luminous Bliss).
A manual for the awakening of gnosis, a manual of the Great Liberation. I hope this sounds intriguing to you, because it just as well might have been titled “a manual for the delivery of your own soul—by delivering you from your own soul.” It is only with gnosis or jnana that we are delivered—delivered by the view from the mountaintop, a view so high that it is far beyond even your own soul, your own ego, your own separate self. For it is the separate-self sense, the self-contraction, the egoic coil in consciousness, that fractures and tears this present moment into a subject versus an object, a self-in-here versus a world-out-there, and this self-in-here then suffers the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, a world of victimhood and sorrow and terror and torture and self-delusion…--when the cure for all of those is the simple awareness of presence, in this here and now, that exchanges self for other, and sees beyond both, this view from the mountaintop and its compassion in action, which together make room for an enlightened world—an awakened mind and heart—whose radiance outshine the self-contraction and the tortures of the ego, releasing awareness—releasing you—into your own true nature, which is none other than bodhicitta itself.
This is a manual for just that training, a manual for awakening your own true heart and mind. May it mean as much to you as to the countless number of other souls it has previously awakened.
E-Vam Recordings U.S.
E-Vam Recordings is Traleg Rinpoche’s audio archive, recording and making available teachings that Rinpoche selects for his Students, Students of the Dharma and the general public currently there are 4 CD sets and 2 MP3 sets available for purchase
CD’s -are playable on any CD player. Please note: these are live recordings, some transferred from cassette tape and while every effort has been made to bring the highest quality in spoken word recordings, there might be be some very slight audio interference that was organic in nature. Most CD sets come in a cloth CD wallet
CD Sets cost 65 Dollars U.S. Per set and we pay for shipping [UPS or USPS] within the Continental United States.
Memorial Day Retreat 2005
The full teachings and the question and answer Sessions of the 2005 Memorial Day Retreat in Chatham New York Topic: Mahamudra Meditation. On these 5 discs Rinpoche sets the stage for a deeper understanding of Buddhism through the path of Mahamudra Meditation. Suitable for the seasoned meditator, those just starting out as well as those interested academically.
Labor Day Retreat 2005
The full teachings and the question and answer sessions of the 2005 Labor Day Retreat in Chatham New York Topic: Mahamudra Meditation on this 8 disc set Rinpoche gives a lively discourse picking up and expanding on where he left off on the Memorial Day retreat diving deeper into the various aspects and esoteric points of Mahamudra Meditation. bookends nicely with the 2005 Memorial Day retreat. Suitable for the seasoned meditator, those just starting out as well as those interested academically.
November Retreat Australia 2005: The Eye That Views The Ultimate Meaning
The full teachings and the question and answer sessions of the 2005 Annual November Retreat held in Melbourne, Australia. On this 12 Disc Set Rinpoche offers an incendiary discourse and study of the highly respected Drukpa Kagyu scholar Padma Karpo’s text “The Eye That Views The Ultimate Meaning”, which is a Clarification of the Four Yoga’s of Mahamudra. Suitable for the seasoned meditator, Suitable for those just starting out as well as those interested academically.
August 2004: Mind At Ease
This 6 CD Set is a wonderful companion to Rinpoche’s Book Mind At Ease given during his first cycle of Teaching after it’s publication. As in the book Rinpoche guides us through the various levels of Mahamudra Meditation with vigor, his insightful dialog offering an opportunity for better understand and awareness in the practice of The Great Perfection, right here and now. Suitable for the seasoned meditator, those just starting out as well as those interested academically.
MP3- Are encoded at 128kbps and playable on any mp3 player portable or Computer desktop and mp3 enabled CD players Please note: these are live recordings, some transferred from cassette tape and while every effort has been made to bring the highest quality in spoken word recordings, there might be be some very slight audio interference that was organic in nature.
All MP3’s are sent on a cd’s which can be played as is or you can upload the files from it on to your desktop or portable player and come in a plastic case
45 Dollars U.S. - we pay for shipping [UPS or USPS] within the Continental United States
Australia April 2005 The Meaningful Life in Buddhism:
In this series of talks Rinpoche discourses on living a purposeful life from the Buddhist Perspective .
4 mp3 128 kbps files each approx. 90 minutes and 90 mg in size 7 hours total
Australia April 2005 Mediative Experience:
In April 2005 Rinpoche gave a series of Public Talks where he outlined the Mediative Experience in Buddhism, which began with Buddha’s awakening 2600 years ago.
4 mp3 128 kbps files each approx. 90 minutes and 90 mg in size 7 hours total
Please send us an e-mail if you are interested in purchasing any of these
In 1992 Traleg Rinpoche gave a series of talks on Buddhist Meditation at Sukhavati Retreat Center in Tasmania which were transcribed and developed into a booklet, Basic Sanity It's a perfect starting point to become familiar with Buddhist Meditation as well as Rinpoche's writing and teaching style.
It's a biggish file [8mg] and you'll need Adobe Reader [which is free]
Basic Sanity.pdf
E-Vam Institutes Summer Programs Schedule has been post on the E-Vam website, and they're many great teachers and programs, here's a quick overview of the Talks and Retreat Traleg Rinpoche will be conducting at both The E-Vam Institute in Chatham, New York and in New York City
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Meditation and Emotions
Many people misunderstand meditation to be a method that will help them avoid difficult emotions, believing that somehow in meditation they will discover a peace free from the messy and turbulent world of our emotional life. Buddhist meditation is about discovering how to intelligently and compassionately relate with our emotions. Rinpoche will describe the practice of Buddhist meditation and how it incorporates and ultimately transforms our relationship with this essential aspect of our lives.
Saturdays June 10Th | June 17Th | June 24Th from 2:00pm-4:00pm In New York City At 1455 Lexington Avenue [Between 94Th & 95Th Street] #2A
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Meditation and Emotions: Part I & 2
This is a longer and more extensive presentation of the topic Meditation and Emotions and will be given over a two month period at the center in Chatham on Saturday afternoons (2-4pm) during the months of July and AUgust While each of the talks in this series (Parts I & II) is complete within itself, they also form part of a systematic and interrelated sequence. Participants are welcome to attend one or all of the teachings in this series.
Saturday July 1St | July 8Th | July 15Th | July 22Nd | August 5Th | August 19Th | August 26Th 2pm - 4pm at E-Vam in Chatham, 171 Water Street Chatham New York click >for travel directions
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Mahamudra and Dzogchen
Mahamudra and Dzogchen practices allow us to access our original state
which is called 'realizing the nature of the mind.' Rinpoche will make
reference to Dzogchen and give some comparisons between the two
traditions, for while the Dzogchen tradition says that the nature of
the mind and our everyday consciousness are totally separate, the
Mahamudra perspective says we have to deal with our ordinary states of
consciousness to realize the nature of the mind.
Participants are welcome to stay overnight at E-Vam Institute. See the
accommodation section of our website for details.
July 29Th - 30Th 10:00am-5:00 pm
at E-Vam in Chatham, 171 Water Street Chatham New York click >for travel directions
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Self-transformation through Three-Yana Meditation
n this weekend course, Rinpoche will present the three Yana approach to
Buddhist practice. The Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings can
be understood as separate vehicles or as sequential methods for
personal transformation on the spiritual path.
Participants are welcome to stay overnight at E-Vam Institute. See the
accommodation section of our website for details.
September 1st - 4Th
at E-Vam in Chatham, 171 Water Street Chatham New York click >for travel directions
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There are many different kinds of instructions, practices and
philosophies in Buddhism. These are condensed in spiritual instructions
representing the essence of the Buddha's teachings. But practices such
as Lojong are the quintessence - the essence of the essence - of the
Buddha's teachings.
The most popular and widely used source text explaining Lojong, or mind training is The Seven Points of Mind Training. Originally transmitted in the Kadampa tradition this text has now long been assimilated by all the Tibetan Buddhist schools.
The heart and focus of Lojong practice is the cultivation of bodhichitta or enlightened heart, the realization of our Buddha essence through the cultivation of a compassionate mind.
Rinpoche presents a clear and practical means to understand and implement these
techniques in a line-by-line commentary
This book can be purchased through the link below or at your prefered book seller
In this uniquely insightful overview and practice guide, Traleg Kyabgon presents a thorough introduction to the Kagyu lineage's Mahamudra tradition. The author's approach is straightforward—he presents the Mahamudra teachings as a means of seeing things in, as he says, "a positive and open light. Even things we might normally regard as bad and undesirable can be interpreted in a more uplifting way due to the expansiveness of the Mahamudra vision." Mahamudra—which means "great seal" or "great symbol," referring to the symbol or mark of ultimate reality, or emptiness—points to the true nature of mind as well as the ultimate insubstantiality of all things.
The book includes an exploration of Mahamudra fundamentals and thorough explanations of Ground, Path, and Fruition Mahamudra, including meditation techniques for investigating, experiencing, and contemplating these teachings.
The Forward to Mind At Ease
In this book the author explains spiritual cultivation from the Vajrayana perspective on common preliminaries, the four immeasurable, tranquility meditation and insight meditation. In particular, he elucidates the need to develop the correct view.
The author of this text is Kyabje Traleg Rinpoche, the emanation of Saltong Shogam, one of the three principal disciples of the physician Gampopa, who is the common lineage forefather of the Kagyu tradition. This line of Tulkus successively reincarnated, with each bearing the name Nyima. The ninth one whose name is Karma Tenpa Rabgye Thinely Nyima Gocha Pal Zangpo, was recognized by the glorious sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. Through his vision and faculty of foreknowledge, one year prior to conception. in the year of the Snake, a prediction letter was given with instruction that this letter should remained sealed for a period of one year
and opened only on the tenth day of the first month of the Wood Sheep year. From the central part of Tibet a search was launched to eastern Tibet, where the Tarleg Tulkus had their seat a Thrangu Monastery. Upon opening the letter at the appointed time, the search party was lead to the home of his parents his father, Gyurme Lodro, and his mother, Pema Zung. The house was located west of Thrangu Monastery, three days’ journey by horse, where Traleg Rinpoche had just taken birth in the year of the Sheep, thus confirming the prediction letter to the amazement of all.
Rinpoche is exceptionally learned and demonstrates marked and genuine spiritual activity. He has undergone extensive study and experience in the traditional Buddhist training as well as having studied the contemporary mind sciences. His book is bound to generate both certainty and ease of understanding and will, with it’s many outstanding qualities, bring tremendous benefit to all spiritual seekers in the west. Please students of the Dharma, take this to heart.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche,
Tutor to His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
Urgyen Thinley Dorj, at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra,
Woodstock, New York August 2, 2003
This book can be purchased through the link below or at your prefered book seller
From The Preface of The Essence Of Buddhism:
It might seem that there is no need for another introductory book on Buddhism, since there is a plethora of quality books available on the market, which was not the case a decade ago. However after some thought, I was persuaded that there maybe room for another book, one that introduces the general public to the Tibetan form of Buddhism approached from the perspective of the Kagyu school, which is the second oldest lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. It seems to me that introductory books are either too elementary or too scholarly to be immediately accessible to newcomers to Buddhism. Moreover, I have not yet seen an accessible introductory book that makes the teachings on the three yanas of Tibetan Buddhism easily understandable to a student who is new to Buddhism or even to more experienced students. As a writer , one has a dilemma over how much detail to present. I have tried to maintain this difficult balance so that the text will be neither too shallow nor too dense and inaccessible
The text - based upon teachings I have given in Australia, Europe, and the United States- is divided in to three parts, each devoted to one of the three yanas. Chapters 1 through 4 introduce the student to the four basic principles of early Buddhist teaching. Here the teachings on the Four Noble Truths and Buddhist training on moral precepts, concentration, and wisdom are discussed in some detail. The fourth chapter is devoted to karma and rebirth, which is a central feature in traditional Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
The second part is devoted to sutric Mahayana teachings and tantric Mahayana teachings. Here I deal with what sort of obstacles impediment, and obscurations we need to overcome, the means we employ to overcome them, and the result of having used these antidotes. This is presented from the point of view of the sutric and tantric descriptions of the path and stages of spiritual development.
The final part is devoted to the teachings and to meditation which is seen as the culmination of the three-yana system, and that is from the Mahamudra tradition, which is seen as going beyond Tantra itself.
It is my wish that this book will be of use to newcomers and to seasoned Buddhists as well. In my mind, if only one person is turned toward the dharma for having read this book, I will feel more than amply rewarded.
From the Shambala Website
This lucid overview of the Buddhist path takes the perspective of the three "vehicles" of Tibetan Buddhism: the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. While these vehicles are usually presented as a historical development, they are here equated with the attitudes that individuals bring to their Buddhist practice. Basic to them all, however, is the need to understand our own immediate condition. The primary tool for achieving this is meditation, and The Essence of Buddhism serves as a handbook for the various meditative approaches of Buddhist practice.
Beginning with the Four Noble Truths, Traleg Rinpoche incorporates the expansive vision of the bodhisattva path and the transformative vision of Tantra. The final chapters present the transcendent view of Mahamudra. This view dispenses with all dualistic fixations and directly realizes the natural freedom of the mind itself.
Along the way, the author provides vivid definitions of fundamental concepts such as compassion, emptiness, and Buddha-nature, and answers common questions: Why does Buddhism teach that there is "no self"? Are Buddhist teachings pessimistic? Does Buddhism encourage social passivity? What is the role of sex in Buddhist Tantra? Why is it said that "samsara is nirvana"? Does it take countless lifetimes to attain enlightenment, or can it be achieved in a moment?
This book can be purchased through the link below or at your prefered book seller
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