The tour endeth in Budapest

I am sitting in my hotel room listening to Hungarians on the street in Budapest singing Christmas
music. Delighted to have made my way here, where my daughter is finishing a term studying
Mathematics. In London the meeting about the Legacy Project drew about 45 people to the London
Shambhala Centre, which is located in the Oddfellows hall in Clapham. Students of Rigdzin Shikpo's
Longchen Foundation joined the Shambhala crowd for a lively discussion. I have been showing a set of
120 slides from the Archives collection. These have been very well received in Europe and give a
sense of yet another treasure trove in the Archives -- more than 100,000 images to be preserved.
London was enthusiastic about the on-line Archive project, especially the possibility of using
volunteer help with transcribing and cataloging of material. "Brilliant," said one chap. Thursday
morning I awoke at 4 am to take a flight from Gatwick to Cologne, where I was met by the Cologne
centre director, dear friend Yeshe Fuchs. Cologne is also the headquarters of Shambhala Europe. They
have quite a large facility, many many rooms on two floors of a kind of cultural centre. They would
like to have an exhibit of clothing and other objects belonging to Chogyam Trungpa, to be displayed
during the Congress they are hosting in May 2007. Yeshe and I discussed all the intricacies of sending
the Vidyadhara's belongings to Europe. We'll see if it's possible in this time frame. About 50 came to
the meeting on Wednesday night. People were animated and asked many questions. We had
translated the Sakyong's letter into German -- we being Katrine, who translated for me throughout
the evening. Friday morning I also arose at 4 am to take a German Wings flight to Vienna, where I was
met by Ernest Steininger. I stayed at the home of Otto and Irine Pichelhofer. In the late afternoon,
Sybille Putze picked me up and we took the underground into the city for a tour of the stables of the
Spanish Riding School. I didn't make it into the arena, but I was able to come nose to nose with the
Lippizanners, a great treat for me after working on DRAGON THUNDER with Diana Mukpo. After a
coffee and pastry in the cafe, we made our way through the brilliant lights of Vienna before Xmas --
to the very impressive Vienna Shambhala Centre. The group that came to hear about the Legacy
Project was quite small, less than 10, but they included a number of quite senior students with very
strong connections to the Vidyadhara. I also very much enjoyed the bar they have downstairs, and I
am promised a copy of a picture of several Viennese having a drink in the centre. I'll post it when I get
home. Travelling through Europe has given me much to think about vis a vis the Legacy Project. But
for now, I put my thoughts away and turn to spending time with my family. From the road, Cheers and
best wishes for the holidays.

The Legacy Project en France and in the Churchill Museum

I left for Paris a week ago. Only now have I found access to a computer and internet. A lot to report. In
Paris, I spent the weekend at the Paris Shambhala Centre, where I was presenting a Shambhala
Training level. Rohini Schiff came from Corsica to translate for me, and I had a number of interesting
discussions with her about the translation of dharma into French and in particular how the CT Legacy
Project can connect with the needs of the European sangha. On Saturday night, the centre hosted a
presentation on the project, which concluded with my showing a series of slides about the
Vidyadhara's life and work. A number of those who attended ( in total about 25) expressed interest in
learning more about the project. it is amazing to see how Chogyam Trungpa has touched such a wide
range of people -- here at the Shambhala Centre in Paris, there was a great deal of heart connection
with his teachings. I was introduced Saturday nigth by Laurance Poublan, the director of the centre,
who was also very kind and helpful to me throughout my stay. The coordinator for the weekend,
Arnaud, is involved in theatre in France and also very involved with ikebana. His arrangements were a
wakeful and beautiful part of the weekend. On Monday, I had lunch with Fabrice Midal and two
publishers from Editions du Seuil, a major publisher of Chogyam Trungpa's work in France. Vincent
Bardet and Jean Luc Girodine expressed a passionate connection to Chogyam Trungpa's work and
impact on Buddhism in France, over foie gras and wine. Vincent published CUTTING THROUGH
SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM in France in 1973. France has the largest collection of books in translation.
After lunch, I went to the Hotel Lutetia with Fabrice, an old, elegant and well known French hotel,
where Fabrice and his group Prajna and Philia put on a reception in honor of the Chogyam Trungpa
Legacy Project. Around 90 people attended, including publishers from a number of French houses,
journalists, television producers, philosophers and some French spiritual teachers from other
Buddhist traditions. Very very interesting and lively group. Fabrice gave an introduction to Chogyam
Trungpa and his importance, then introduced me. I spoke with translation about the work of the
Legacy Project and also expressed appreciation for how Chogyam Trungpa is coming to be seen in
France. I was able to offer thanks to Fabrice for the books he has written and his work and also to
Vincent in particular for his very long commitment to publishing Chogyam Trungpa's work in France.
Vincent and Jean Luc also spoke. Afterwards, as we had cocktails and discussion, I met a number of
those present. I was invited to do an interview for the new French internet channel presenting
Buddhism in France, which perhaps I or someone else can do in the future. I think it was all together a
very good event for presenting the Legacy Project, and in particular, sharing it with a larger cross
section of people. A great deal of effort and good energy was expended by Fabrice and the Prajna
and Philia students. I am grateful for this opportunity. Then yesterday I said good bye to my lovely
and generous host in Paris, Claire, who introduced me to a charming old part of Paris in the 20th
arrondissement. I took the Eurostar train to London, where I was met by Sylvester, who walked with
me to the Churchill Museum and War Rooms. Barry Boyce suggested I see this museum, dedicated to
the life of a great man and also showing the history of a very important era. It was really interesting
for seeing how we might create exhibits using the Vidyadhara's collection of clothing, books, furniture
and other things. I'll have more to say about this later. Last night, dinner at a London restaurant with
Sylvester and Claire, one of the Shambhala center directors, Angie, plus Peter Conradi and Francesca
Freemantle. I was especially glad to talk with Francesca, who knew Trungpa Rinpoche in England in
the very early days. I fear my battery may run out -- so I will close. Tonight, a CT Legacy meeting at
the London Shamabhala Centre. Tomorrow I awake at 5 am to catch a flight to Cologne. I'll try to blog
from there.

Update and on the Road

Tonight I was just ready to push "send" with a blog entry when the lights
flickered off and then came back on. It was just enough time to completely
erase my latest blog entry as well as two months worth of mail in the "out"
box of my e-mail program. Impermanence in cyberspace. Reminded me of the
importance of the Chogyam Trungpa Legacy Project all together. Obviously,
you can't fight city hall or impermanence, but given that reality, the
dharma is especially precious. Dharma, in the sense of the teachings, seems
to have an amazing ability to survive in difficult circumstances. The
communist Chinese invasion of Tibet would be one such circumstance. A lot
was lost, but so much was also preserved, both within the country and by
those who carried the dharma out with them -- including the Venerable
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. By that standard, our circumstances are not at
all difficult. However, considering that this is the Darkest of the Dark
Age and looking at what's taking place in the world, indeed the teachings
that Trungpa Rinpoche worked so hard to give us should be guarded and
transmitted by us as well. Hmmm. How did I get so philosophical here? What
I sat down to write was simply that I will be leaving for Europe on
Wednesday, December 6th, where there will be CT Legacy Project meetings in
Paris, London, Cologne and Vienna. I'll do my best to keep up the blog on
the road. I would like to say a bit about the work on the online archive
project that Lynn Friedman has been investigating, but at any moment, the
power might go out again, so I think I should press send soon. Lynn has
been setting up a space for discussion of the project, on line, and we'll
soon try to invite others in for commentary and discussion. There was also
a lunch last week at Curry Village here in Halifax, taking advantage of
Judy Lief being in town to teach "Making Friends with Death." Eight of us
had lunch together to brainstorm ideas for a mentoring/apprentice program,
in part inspired by comments made by Barry Boyce and others at the Halifax
consultation, but also inspired by Judy Lief undertaking a set of three
books based on the Vajradhatu Seminaries, in depth, contemplative teachings
given to advanced students by the Vidyadhara over a span of 13 years. A
great project for an apprentice or two or three. In Boulder the Steering
Committee is meeting; elsewhere lots of conversations about the Legacy
Project. Still somewhat in the "yogurt" phase, for those who know that
expression of Chogyam Trungpa's. All right. Time to press send. I'll write
from the road.