In honor of the Karmapa's 900th Anniversary celebration year, which kicked off earlier this week, the Ocean of Dharma list published an excerpt from the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's 1980 poem, Expose: Acknowledging Accusations in the Name of Devotion. This poem can be found in the collection Timely Rain: Selected Poetry of Chogyam Trungpa. You can join the list or acquire the book by clicking either of the links.
Sometimes it is useful to recall the blind viciousness with which Trungpa Rinpoche was attacked by critics during his lifetime. Ridiculous westerners wrung their hands in outraged angst, and made all sorts of outlandish charges. Even some other rinpoches cried "for shame!" and called for his ouster from the ranks of the righteous.
People tossed all kinds of their own mud in his direction.
The mud never sullied its shimmering target; instantly transformed, it was frozen in flight, and fell to the ground as ten thousand flower petals. Forgiveness of those who wronged him is, I think, unnecessary to consider. He knew that bewildered beings struggle, and cry madness in anguish.
That is why he came.
That is the only reason.
-o-0-o-
Remember, O Tusum Khyenpa!
Remember, O Father Karma Pakshi!
Remember, O Tilopa!
Remember, O Naropa!
Remember, O Milarepa!
Remember, O Marpa Lotsawa!
When I remember your kindness and your power,
I am left in the midst of the dark-age dungeon.
When I taste your great bliss
It is as if for the first time,
As if no one had tasted honey before.
When I realize your devotion,
It makes me so lonely.
When I see and experience anything good and wonderful,
It reminds me of the Kagyü wisdom and what you have sacrificed for us...
Remember, O Father Karma Pakshi!
Remember, O Tilopa!
Remember, O Naropa!
Remember, O Milarepa!
Remember, O Marpa Lotsawa!
When I remember your kindness and your power,
I am left in the midst of the dark-age dungeon.
When I taste your great bliss
It is as if for the first time,
As if no one had tasted honey before.
When I realize your devotion,
It makes me so lonely.
When I see and experience anything good and wonderful,
It reminds me of the Kagyü wisdom and what you have sacrificed for us...
O Knower of the Three Times, omniscient,
We have tried and practiced after your example:
Please don't give up.
When we iron our clothes, it is for you.
When we shine our shoes, it is for you.
When we wear jewelry, it is for you.
We do everything because of you;
We have no personal concern.
If we do not realize your dignity and wisdom,
May we rot and dissolve into dust.
We do everything for your sake and because of you.
We are so sad because of you,
We are so joyful because of you.
Father, if you have strength, this is the time to manifest.
I am about to die
And be reborn in crying and laughing at the same time.
Father, please have consideration for us.
We do not do anything for our own sake.
We do everything for the sake of devotion to you.
When we shine our shoes, it is for you.
When we wear jewelry, it is for you.
We do everything because of you;
We have no personal concern.
If we do not realize your dignity and wisdom,
May we rot and dissolve into dust.
We do everything for your sake and because of you.
We are so sad because of you,
We are so joyful because of you.
Father, if you have strength, this is the time to manifest.
I am about to die
And be reborn in crying and laughing at the same time.
Father, please have consideration for us.
We do not do anything for our own sake.
We do everything for the sake of devotion to you.
.
Nothing amazing about conventional society's views on Trungpa Rinpoche.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find heartening is that so many still find the effects of his work illuminating and inspiring, his books are read, I find myself often looking at as many google pictures of him as I can find, he is still so ahead of his time.
Christian saying - by their fruits you shall know them (perhaps it's a "ye" there instead of a "you").
Trungpa Rinpoche's "fruits" are evident for anyone with eyes to see.
If you practice and you read one of his books and practice on what he says, the "fruit" is always there, no need to ask for outside opinion.
I linked to one of your "best Tibet-o-centric" blog mentions and found some recommended books and discovered Gendun Chopel.
He didn't have to go to the West to get disrespected.
And still decades later his books can be purchased on Amazon and various other places.
I only read an excerpt of his "adornment" writing of Nagarjuna, but was very struck by the reality that we can't really judge anything here in samsara either by our own senses and even our mind, or by relying on "authority" outside of us.
Now I will probably buy the book when I get some $$, because I didn't read what he advised how one should live with this, lol.
But what I read did show me that you can't judge someone by their appearing negative qualities. Perhaps it is true that I am so obscured by all the obscurations, but even I can see the fruits of someone like Trungpa Rinpoche, so I got that going for me, as Bill Murray once said.