**Edit – significant progress has been made on the organization of the online material.ย Vimeo links are still likely to be active, but https://cti.aviaryplatform.com/catalog?ย will take you to a much more orderly presentation of the various talks available now, and likely will be expanded with time.
There is a ton of content up, including a significant collection of many of the dharma talks delivered by Chogyam Trungpa to students throughout the 70s and 80s, as well as other videos exploring or expounding upon his teachings.ย ย Calling him a sharp fellow is an understatement; he possessed a deep and systemic understanding that could account for so much, and was very adept at peeling back the layers of reality to help others observe.ย
He is also a deeply challenging figure, and for all his many strengths, did create an organization that was rife with abuse, considerable amounts of which stemmed from his example, without being matched by his bodhicitta – which according to many who had considerable firsthand experience with him, was quite debatable.ย There are also considerable numbers of people who experienced him as a deeply compassionate and helpful human being.ย It is hard to pin down, and he was anything but binary.. Everything on a spectrum, it is not surprising to think he was not entirely consistent in his behaviour in one way or another.
He has a very good understanding of Buddhism and dharma, and is familiar with and does a good job explaining many of the tricks that minds like to play.ย He did not create a space that was free from those tricks, and abused alcohol to the point of death. He led a significant amount of people out of Tibet on foot, escaping the Chinese army, spent time at Oxford, came to America and established several teaching centers and translation groups throughout the US and Canada, supporting hundreds of local practice centers throughout North America and Europe.ย
There is a lot written about Shambhala.ย Trungpa offers a lot of perspective on teachings, and I find most of his books are good to read, and a number of his talks are worthwhile to listen to, and the few times I have gone to a practice center the people were good to sit with. But, the overarching organization seems to have fallen prey to exactly what Trungpa discussed in his Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, and, if you were a new person looking for a community, I would orient elsewhere before jumping in there, even though there are a number of strengths to the vision.ย Certainly, I would not be providing any financial support.
I have not kept up with how Chronicles has responded to all of the ongoing community crises, and so please be aware that I am sharing this due to the repository of videos and content featuring Chogyam Trungpa, for which it is one of the best resources.ย I do not necessarily agree with all of their views presented.
Unfortunately the vidoes on Vimeo aren’t really posted in order, and several videos are posted as series, but it is easy enough to click through and find the next link you are looking for.
Vimeo links:
Zen and Tantra I – from January 4, 1974
ย – Talk 1ย
ย – Talk 3
ย – Talk 4
Zen and Tantra II – from February 16, 1974
ย – Talk 1 – Shamatha
ย – Talk 2 – Vipasyana
ย – Talk 3 – Tantra
Message of Milarepa – from July 18, 1973
ย – Talk 3 – Renunciation
Life and Teachings of Marpa – from September 2, 1973
ย – Talk 2
Tibetan Buddhist Path – from June 12, 1974, focusing on spiritual materialism
ย ย – Talk 1
ย ย – Talk 2
ย ย – Talk 3
True Meaning of Devotion talks – from August 11, 1973
ย – Talk 1
ย – Talk 2
Jack Niland on Dharma Art – starts here: https://vimeo.com/214894286ย this was an interesting presentation made by one of Trungpa’s students expounding on the principles underlying traditional Buddhist art.
Seeing & Looking, talk by Chogyam Trungpa –ย https://vimeo.com/39299941ย
Touch & Go –ย https://vimeo.com/215723654 – Chogyam’s biography, as captured from Born in Tibet.ย Also put over multiple parts.ย The background music can be a little…intense at times.ย ย Includes different images of the scenery, photographs and drawings by Chogyam Trungpa.ย A good narration of his early experience, combined with satellite footage and other recreations of the inhospitable environments he was escaping through.
There’s lots more content beyond these links; I may come back and add them in order should I ever find the time, but, lots to explore in there. Cheers