In 1958, the Chinese invaded Kham in Tibet, destroying monasteries and imprisoning monks. In the previous summer, Khenpo Gangshar foresaw that the difficulties Tibet was already experiencing were going to escalate. In order to help the monks progress rapidly on the path so they could meet their challenges skillfully, he gave this teaching on naturally liberating whatever you meet. Thrangu Rinpoche, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche received this profound cycle of teachings. Khenpo Gangshar summarizes this teaching at the outset:

"A worthy student is one who aspires to practice the profoundest of the profound and secret vajrayana - the essential oral instructions of all the anuttara yoga tantras or the nature of the realization of effortless ati. To meet the needs of such a student, these three points should be taught: The preliminary steps of mind training, the main practice of pointing-out, and the subsequent application, combining the profound advice into key points."

The preliminary steps include the analytical meditation of the pandita. The main practice, the resting meditation of a kusulu is presented in two points: resolving and distinguishing. The profound advice includes instructions on the wisdom of emotions, taking the bardo state as the path and taking sleep as the path.

In these talks Thrangu Rinpoche provides clear and concise commentary on this amazing text. Rinpoche concludes several talks with meditation sessions. Others conclude with question-answer sessions with students.

Note: Additional 2-hour talk with Q&A session on Vajrasattva practice by Khenpo Jigme.

Khenpo Gangshar's Naturally Liberating Whatever You Meet, Thrangu Rinpoche, Vajra Echoes, 1 MP3 CD, 13 hrs., $63.00

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.


Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo (b. 1925- ?) - a renowned master of the 'crazy wisdom' approach, who was connected with Shechen Monastery. He was a root teacher of both Thrangu Rinpoche and Chgyam Trungpa Rinpoche. For a while it was thought that after the Chinese invasion of Tibet he died in prison between 1958 and 1961. However, it has also been reported that he in fact survived 22 years of imprisonment, and passed away in 1980 or 81, before any of his former students could contact him.