The Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche was born in the province of Kham in eastern Tibet in 1939. When he was just thirteen months old, he was recognized as a major tulku, or incarnate teacher. At the age of eight, Trungpa Rinpoche received ordination as a novice monk. Following this, he engaged in intensive study and practice of the traditional monastic disciplines, including traditional Tibetan poetry and monastic dance. His primary teachers were Jamgon Kongtul of Sechen and Khenpo Gangshar, leading teachers in the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages. In 1958, at the age of eighteen, Trungpa Rinpoche completed his studies, receiving the degrees of kyorpon (doctor of divinity) and khenpo (master of studies). He also received full monastic ordination. The late 1950s were a time of great upheaval in Tibet. As it became clear that the Chinese communists intended to take over the country by force, many people, both monastic and lay, fled the country. Trungpa Rinpoche spent many harrowing months trekking over the Himalayas (described in his book, Born in Tibet). After narrowly escaping capture by the Chinese, he at last reached India in 1959.

Trungpa Rinpoche composed the doha titled A Symphony of Great Bliss at the age of nineteen while he was fleeing from Tibet, most likely in the area of Kongpo. This delightful and profound doha presents the view, path and fruition of Mahamudra in language that is both colorful and instructive. Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary on this text provides insight into the circumstances surrounding this doha and teaches the meaning of the doha with clarity and precision.

Trungpa Rinpoche was a close dharma brother of Thrangu Rinpoche, and this long close friendship was the inspiration for Thrangu Rinpoche's search for and teaching of this doha, lost in the archives since the 1960's. Translation by David Karma Choephel. 4 talks on 3 DVDs.

Chogyam Trungpa's Symphony of Great Bliss, Thrangu Rinpoche, Vajra Echoes, 3 DVDs, 6.5 hours, $60.00

Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist master known for his deep compassion and the clarity of his teachings. He was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to serve as the principal tutor to His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Oryen Trinley Dorje. Thrangu Rinpoche is a full holder and teacher of the Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. He founded the Namo Buddha retreat center in Nepal, has established two shedras (monastic universities) in Nepal and India, and serves as Abbot of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. He also built Tara Abbey, where nuns receive a full dharma education qualifying them to become khenpos or teachers. Thrangu Rinpoche teaches entensively throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. He has centers in Maine and California, and is building the Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado.