This new release marks an exciting milestone for the Chögyam Trungpa Digital Library: our largest single release to date of new recordings! Fifty-seven talks in all. And this is an extraordinary set: all of Chögyam Trungpa’s “Community Talks.”
Community meetings were localized gatherings held by Trungpa Rinpoche and his students at various centers across North America. Wide-ranging in scope and spanning many years, these meetings were a blend of talks from Rinpoche, group discussion, and interchange between teacher and students. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the Vajradhatu community in Colorado, Vermont, and beyond; the nuts and bolts of establishing Tibetan Buddhism in the West; and an intimate window into the rapport and trust Trungpa Rinpoche had with his committed students over the years. Topics run the gamut from day-to-day community life and the logistics of running particular meditation centers to Trungpa Rinpoche’s long-term vision for the greater community, profound teachings on core Buddhist and Shambhala topics, and beyond.
An article accompanies the Digital Library release, providing context for the unique and varied nature of these gatherings and how they evolved over time. Alongside the full playlist, we also include a shortlist of highlights: notable talks and Digital Library staff favorites to give a flavor of the full offering. Perhaps you were an original student of Rinpoche’s and were present at some of these meetings. Or maybe you are new to Chögyam Trungpa’s teachings and intrigued by the context behind his approach to the dharma and how it took shape in North America. Whatever your reasons for exploring this release, there is something here for everyone.