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I too would recommend reading his teachings. I have found them edifying and also quite entertaining. If it is any consolation, after reading these books I felt no inclination to get really drunk on sake and screw as many women as possible.
Ocean of Dharma is 365 paragraphs teachings in 'english'; what I mean is they are understandable at face value without reference to other texts/sutras. Though on many levels I am sure. They give a feel for Trungpa but are bite size.
Trungpa once came to a Zen center I attended. I was looking forward to hearing him talk because I had enjoyed his books so much. But when, seated in the front of the meditation hall with a large glass of clear liquid by his side, he opened his mouth and spoke, I could not understand a word he said. Literally.
Later, at an informal gathering, Trungpa sat with the Zen teacher at a small table at one end of a rectangular room. Again, the tall glass of clear liquid was before him. Students from both schools kneeled at low tables and talked Buddhist shop while sipping tea.
As time went by, the thought occurred to me that I would never again see Trungpa and I wanted to get closer to him. So I thought up some off-the-shelf Buddhist question and approached the table where he was sitting. I put my palms together, bowed, and asked my question. I was no more than a couple of feet from him.
When he opened his mouth and started to respond, I thought his breath would knock me off my feet. It was very high-octane and I had to make an effort not to back away from it.
His answer was about 200 words long. Of those 200 words, I understood exactly one. That one word was "Cheetos." I was not about to ask him to repeat his answer and so I put my palms together, lowered my head and bowed once more. But as I came up from the bow, his right hand suddenly shot out like a rattlesnake on a mouse. He grabbed my pressed palms firmly and, when I looked up in surprise, he pulled my hands downward and stared intently into my eyes. He didn't say a word, but his eyes said with perfect clarity, "Let's cut the bullshit!"
It was one of the best teachings I ever received, drunk or sober.
Just wanted to say, that's a totally awesome story. Wish I could have been there.
From my understanding, Chogyam Trungpa would often refer to his behaviour by saying, "It is my karma." I really can't fault him. I can't fault anyone. We all have different lives to lead, and that's just the way it is. His lineage is refered to as "the mishap lineage" so I've read in one of Pema Chodron's books.
I thought maybe he did it to really get into the minds of western people, a brave and noble sacrifice. And that even when he was drunk, he was still the most awake person in the room...
Milarepa was part of the lineage. He practiced black magic for some family business. Allegedly. Then he studied with Marpa eventually who had him build several towers as part of his upadesha pointing out instructions. Milarepa is said to have eventually attained enlightenment. He drank nettle tea in a cave for a long time and took his difficulties as dharma practice. http://www.kagyu-asia.com/l_mila_t_advice_gampopa.html
I am afraid because if I read the eyes I would know. Now I have to perfect eyes too Maybe it is spontaneous wisdom and compassion from studies and intelligence and suffering?
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I too would recommend reading his teachings. I have found them edifying and also quite entertaining. If it is any consolation, after reading these books I felt no inclination to get really drunk on sake and screw as many women as possible.
Well, no more inclination than normal, anyway.
Just wanted to say, that's a totally awesome story. Wish I could have been there.
I thought maybe he did it to really get into the minds of western people, a brave and noble sacrifice. And that even when he was drunk, he was still the most awake person in the room...