The Legacy

The Ocean of Dharma inaugural conference on the life and teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche closed yesterday with reading of Rinpoche's poetry by David Rome and Anne Waldman, which followed a day of panels that ranged from the literary legacy to publishing around dharma art teachings and editing the Shambhala teachings. During the Literary Legacy panel, which I participated in, Samuel Bercholz described in detail the last instructions that Chogyam Trungpa gave him about publishing his work and preserving his voice for the future. Judith Lief spoke about plans to devote her editorial energies to producing volumes of the Seminary Transcripts for general readership. Melvin McLeod talked about the double duty we have to both widen the view of Chogyam Trungpa in the world while deepening our own understanding and that of others. Walter Fordham was also on that panel and talked about, among a variety of things, how Rinpoche had a miniature replica of a Scottish throne on which he placed a small frog when he was in residence at his Court and how he placed the frog under the throne when he left. Walter spoke on larger issues as well, but this wonderful detail for me demonstrated the importance of caretaking all the objects collected by the Vidyadhara during his lifetime, and how nothing was trivial, not even a child's toy, in his world. Although there was much humour. Martin Janowitz gonged us out of the conference. People left, I think, feeling that something had shifted in our world for all of us. I guess that's what these things are for! Naropa was a gracious and tireless host. Today on to a meeting in the Boulder Shambhala Centre shrine room to talk about what the Chogyam Trungpa Legacy Project should be and how we should accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. The meeting will be opened by brief remarks from Diana Mukpo, followed by an overview provided by Carolyn Gimian, or moi. Then it's open mike night. With two microphones and a room full of people who feel passionately about the legacy -- anything could happen. No secret handshake or password required. Please come if you can.