We Might Be F*cked Up, but we’re Never Totally F*cked.

I hope you connect with the below ancient yet accessible wisdom via Buddhist meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche—I did.~ Ben Riggs.

“People often talk about trying to hold back their tears, but as human beings, we should take pride in our capacity to be sad and happy. We mustn’t ignore the preciousness of our human birth or take it for granted. It is extremely precious and very powerful. We cannot ignore our basic human endowment.

Spirituality does not exist on another level, or on a “higher plane,” quite different from ordinary life, as is generally assumed. It is no use trying to be different than you are. Spirituality is not about trying to be something more than you are or something better than you, for that matter. What is known as relative truth, or the truth which exists right here, now, in our everyday life, that truth has to be accepted as the general ground, and it is also the absolute truth.

True spirituality is not a battle; it is the ultimate practice of nonviolence. We are not regarding any part of us as being a villain, an enemy, but we are trying to use everything as a part of the natural process of life. As soon as the notion of polarity, of good and bad develops, then we are caught in spiritual materialism, which is working to achieve happiness in a simple-minded sense, on the way to egohood.

Everybody possesses the unconditional possibility of cheerfulness, which is not connected purely with either pain or pleasure. You have an inclination: in the flash of one second, you feel what needs to be done. It is not a product of your education; it is not scientific or logical; you simply pick up on the message. And then you act: you just do it. That basic human quality of suddenly opening up is the best part of human instinct. You know what to do right away, on the spot—which is fantastic.

That is what we call the dot of basic goodness and unconditional instinct. You don’t think: you just feel, on the spot.

Basic trust is knowing that there is such a thing as that spark of basic goodness.

Although you might be in the worst of the worst shape, still that goodness does exist.”

~ from Ocean of Dharma by Chogyam Trungpa, edited by Carolyn Rose Gimian

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~ Source info re: above video:

http://www.shambhala.org/teachings/category.php?media=video
Naropa 1974
©1974 by Diana J. Mukpo.
Shambhala.org Copyright © 1994-2009 Shambhala International (Vajradhatu)

See also Tibetan Buddhist Path: Talk One, Spiritual Materialism (47mins) at http://www.chronicleproject.com/CTRlibrary/index_CTRlibrary.html

Shambhala Web Site: Vision – Lineage – Meditation – Community at http://www.shambhala.org

Shambhala.org Teachings Library
http://www.shambhala.org/teachings/
This Teachings Library has video, audio and written teachings of the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and the Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche, and Pema Chödrön.

Additional online audio and video presentations of Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s lectures and seminars in “Talks by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche: ” at http://www.chronicleproject.com/CTRlibrary/index_CTRlibrary.html
Some have summaries, study guides, commentaries or discussion. Includes:
“Meditation: The Path of the Buddha” (6 talks – video) at http://www.chronicleproject.com/CTRlibrary/meditation.html
“Tibetan Buddhist Path”. Boulder, Colorado; Naropa 1974 (14 talks – video) http://www.chronicleproject.com/CTRlibrary/index_CTRlibrary.html
“Skillful Means and Wisdom on the Buddhist Path”. A DVD set of 18 talks on 5 disks has been released by Kalapa Recordings. See more at The Chronicles at http://chronicleproject.com/stories_243.html

Learn More About Meditation at http://www.shambhala.org/meditation/
You can find out more about our Meditation Programs available at your local Shambhala Meditation Centre: List of over 200 Shambhala Centers and Groups Worldwide http://www.shambhala.org/centers .
Meditation programs and Shambhala events worldwide http://www.shambhala.org/programs/

Biography of The Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/vctr/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Trungpa .

The Chronicles of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche www.chronicleproject.com
Chronicles of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche is on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chronicles-of-Chogyam-Trungpa-Rinpoche/24520044987

Chögyam Trungpa Legacy Project http://chogyamtrungpa.com/wp/

Great Stupa of Dharmakaya http://www.shambhalamountain.org/stupa.html and http://www.shambhala.org/stupa.php

Shambhala Publications Books of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche at http://live.shambhala.com
“Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism” by Chogyam Trungpa
at http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-57062-957-0.cfm

50 Best Quotes, Photos: Chögyam Trungpa, Buddhist meditation teacher http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/10/50-best-quotes-photos-chogyam-trungpa-…

The Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche – Video and Text Biography, Schedule, Contact, etc. http://www.sakyong.com./sakyong.php
Sakyong.com Online Archives http://www.sakyong.com/archive.php
These have video, audio and written teachings of the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche -Official YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/officialsakyong

The Sakyong Wangmo, Khandro Tseyang
Invoking the Mother Lineage: The Sakyong Wangmo and feminine principle. http://www.shambhala.org/community/SakyongWangmo.php

EveryBodhi (formerly Buddhist Youth Project) http://every-bodhi.org
EveryBodhi on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/BuddhistYouthProject
Buddhist Youth Festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JRmxkj9ETM

Shambhala Sun http://www.shambhalasun.com “Today’s leading Buddhist magazine, bringing a contemplative view to all the important issues in life.”
Buddhadharma www.thebuddhadharma.com “An in-depth, practice-oriented publication for Buddhists of all traditions.” Online is “information on each issue including brief excerpts from many articles.”

Shambhala Media at http://www.shambhalamedia.org
Books, CDs, DVDs, Poetry, etc. by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche at http://www.shambhalamedia.org/SearchResults.asp?Cat=2
Toll Free 1-888-450-1002 Ph: 902-421-1550 x1
Communicates the vision, teachings, and culture of Shambhala and the Sakyong lineage through publications, recordings, and other media. Shambhala Media also includes the two following links:
Shambhala Archives at http://www.archives.shambhala.org.
Shambhala Times, community news magazine at http://shambhalatimes.org

Shambhala International
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B3H 2Y5, Canada
Email: [email protected]
phone (902) 425-4275
fax (902) 423-2750
Shambhala is a global community. There are more than 200 centers and groups around the world, as well as thousands of individual members.

Shambhala web site: Vision – Lineage – Meditation – Community at http://www.shambhala.org
Shambhala -Affiliations The Global Mandala at http://www.sakyong.com/affiliations.php

Shambhala Europe at http://shambhala-europe.org
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Fax: +49 (0) 221-310 2450