Cynicism and Magic: Intelligence and Intuition on the Buddhist Path

by Chögyam Trungpa, OPENING DHARMA TREASURY GROUP (Editor)

A groundbreaking, accessible presentation of Tibetan Buddhism from Chögyam Trungpa, renowned twentieth-century master and teacher.Based on a series of talks given by Chögyam Trungpa during the first session of what was to become Naropa University, Cynicism and Magic introduces key Tibetan Buddhist concepts, including karma, the structure of ego, the paramitas, and the bodhisattva. Employing a unique and intimate teaching style, Trungpa Rinpoche presents these concepts in a larger framework of questions we all What is authentic spirituality? Can I find enlightenment and freedom? How should I approach life, death, suffering, and boredom? How can I develop some discipline, patience, and sanity? Through these accessible teachings, this book will show you how to approach a living dharma with intelligence, and with a sense of openness and wonder.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction, Magic

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2021

About the author

Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (Tibetan: ཆོས་ རྒྱམ་ དྲུང་པ་ Wylie: Chos rgyam Drung pa; also known as Dorje Dradul of Mukpo, Surmang Trungpa, after his monastery, or Chökyi Gyatso, of which Chögyam is an abbreviation) was a Buddhist meditation master, scholar, teacher, poet, and artist. He was the 11th descendent in the line of Trungpa tulkus of the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was also trained in the Nyingma tradition, the oldest of the four schools, and was an adherent of the rimay or "non-sectarian" movement within Tibetan Buddhism, which aspired to bring together and make available all the valuable teachings of the different schools, free of sectarian rivalry.

Trungpa was a significant figure in the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, founding Naropa University and establishing the Shambhala Training method, a presentation of the Buddhadharma largely devoid of ethnic trappings. In 1963, he moved to England to study comparative religion, philosophy, and fine arts at Oxford University. During this time, he also studied Japanese flower arranging and received an instructors degree from the Sogetsu school of ikebana. In 1967, he moved to Scotland, where he founded the Samye Ling meditation centre.

Shortly thereafter, a variety of experiences—including a car accident that left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body—led him to give up his monastic vows and work as a lay teacher. In 1969, he published Meditation in Action , the first of fourteen books on the spiritual path published during his lifetime. The following year he married Diana Pybus and moved to the United States, where he established his first North American meditation centre, Tail of the Tiger (now known as Karmê-Chöling) in Barnet, Vermont.

In 1986, he moved to Nova Scotia, Canada, where hundreds of his students had settled. That Autumn, after years of heavy alcohol use, he had a cardiac arrest, and he died of heart failure the following Spring. His legacy is carried on by his son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, under the banner of Shambhala International and the Nalanda Translation Committee.

Reviews

[Rya Fenner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I didn't care for this book very much. However, I think a lot of that is because of the format. Something is lost when you write down what was originally communicated through speech. I also disagree that this book would be good for someone completely new to Tibetan Buddhism unless they were reading it with the guidance of someone more experienced. There are a lot of words used and concepts referenced that can be overwhelming and confusing to someone without at least the basics.

Despite this, I was able to deepen my understanding of many key concepts in Buddhism and many of the chapters have given me something to think about and delve even deeper into. I didn't expect to like the Q&A format but found it to be one of my favourite parts because many questions asked for clarification of things that I also found confusing and it helped to make the book feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation between teacher and students.

[Nikko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clear and powerful overview to the very practical and experiential aspects to the Buddhist path by one of its great presenters of our era. It is very helpful for those who have started Buddhist practice or really any meditation practice. And full of reminders for those who have been practicing for longer. The pitfalls of spiritual materialism are a very important aspect of this work.

Note: I contributed a short foreword to this book and am associated with the publisher, Shambhala Publications.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and elegant with fantastic narration (if you’re into audiobooks) by Devendra Banhart.

[gabe ks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t think his transmissions could get clearer, more immediate, more…eternal? And then, there came this collection. The finest contribution to Rinpoche’s enormous (and at times daunting) catalogue of work to date. Beginners and experiences meditators alike will benefit enormously from the insights contained in here. Thank you, teacher!

[Sav Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREEDOM IS COMING AT YOU!! do yourself a favor and listen to the audio book narrated by the soft sweet patter of devendra banhart. this type of experience should be heard/felt first, then revisited in text again n again. yeah I liked it a lot this guy’s got some shit to say.

[hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend the audiobook version. the prose in this novel are meant to be heard and spoken aloud, i feel.

[Sol Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book much more than I ended up liking it. Trungpa of course is a wonderful leader of religious thought, the teacher of Pema Chödrön, and a fantastic speaker. But this short book took me a while to get through.

It could be that I’ve read so much of his students that this book felt a bit antiquated to me. It is a collection of his writings from years ago, lovingly put together. But it explained Buddhism so academically that it was hard to engage with, the same way that a textbook is hard. Reading Chödrön, one looses their feet every few paragraphs, by comparison. It has a lot of value, and could serve as a wonderful introduction for some.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compiled with such love. I listened to it driving across Colorado and New Mexico, feeling deeply into the temporal/ geographic seedbed of Shambhala and Naropa.

The editors / compilers bring a sense of nonattachment, indeterminism and no-self into the editing itself, and the introductory writing is something special that frames all of this up. The way that they have treated this bit of the archives makes the work feel ever new.

It's both compassionate and pulls no punches. So it's still Trugpa in that sense. 10/10

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

After listening to and reviewing the Audible version, I wanted to read this work, being so impressed with the listen. One can read my review of the Audible version. That format was a superb reading. This version, like it, flowed with a conversational tone. This is a quick read, yet subtly profound, as is Trungpa's teaching generally. Trungpa's style translates well to the page, and I often felt like I was present in the dharma talks.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t exactly know what I hoped for when I picked up this book but it wasn’t what I got. Part of that may also be the way it was written, there’s something that is missing when you write down something that was originally spoken.
If you’re not well versed in this topic, I wouldn’t recommend it cause it can feel confusing and heavy. If you are however this book might just be for you. 
It wasn’t a bad read, but just not my cup of tea.

[Tamara Ropelato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm new to learning about Buddhism and incorporating into my life. That said, it was an interesting and useful book for me. I plan to keep learning more about Buddhism along with a good friend of mine. I would read other books from this author, and I hope there are more in depth ones. This is good for beginners like me.
I won this book through Goodreads for an honest and fair review.

[Kara Demetropoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Trungpa text that found me as soon as I needed it to.

This is a great introduction-to-Buddhism text, but it also provides lots of fresh insight and perspectives that I feel would be valuable to people on any stage of the learning-Buddhist-psychology journey.

I found the reading humorous, informative, and engaging.

[Karna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took nearly a year to finish this book. I took my time with it being intentional and coming to it when I felt like I needed guidance or motivation to connect inward. Both this title along with Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism take you one an ego journey if you allow the space. Heavy messages that break the facade of our era, much needed in my season of life.

[Micaela Hardyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I’d echo what I’ve seen some others say - I wish I could’ve heard the original talks. Definitely had some good nuggets but you can tell this wasn’t originally intended to be a book. I’m blaming this going a bit over my head on that 🥲

[Paul]

I'll simply say that this is pretty good, and is probably best for those with some understanding of Buddhism, and want to depend their understanding.

I really appreciate the free review copy!!

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, with some exceptional wow moments. I almost wish there had been less discussion on the editing, as it only made me wonder what got removed.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Unsure of how the name matches the content though.

[Erlend Thonstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nydelig

[Voxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing of note was learned. There are much better books on Buddhism.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

To listen to this excellently read work is to enter - for those ready - the magic Trungpa speaks of. After reading and listening to the works of Trungpa over the last two decades, my experience is he invites us into a linguistic mandala. The words are means of drawing us out of our habitual conceptualizing. One must drop intellectualizing somewhat, which keeps one at a distance, and jump in - or be pulled in - to the buddha field, aided by Trungpa's remarkable use of metaphor. To allow this, one accepts that one is often left baffled by the koanic nature of the message, as in the case of Shunryu Suzuki - if one struggles to understand, this blocks the transmuting power of the environment created for transformation. I am often stunned at how Trungpa juggles and dances words to communicate truth, a vajrayana lightness and playfulness that is at the same time both serious and humorous.

To read this work is to experience its title, not as words but as experience. Trungpa exposes for us, after these many years following his death, the spiritual materialism that plagues us possibly more now than when he was with us in the body. We need a healthy cynicism to detect the subtle ways charlatans - political and religious - seek to betray our trust for self-aggrandizement, power, and money. Regardless of Trungpa's failures as a man and teacher, the wisdom he shared deserves our full attention.

[Liz Lem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really resonated with me.

I had many ah ha moments around my own spiritual path. This spiritual path is not linear, and enlightenment is not the goal. Staying on the path is the goal. And by the way, don’t kid myself and lose my basic sanity of what is real.

“The spiritual journey can only take place if we begin to make ourselves available to the path.”

“Spiritual materialism refers to using the name of spirituality to feed egohood. It is based on trying to become a greater person, a wise person, which is very dangerous and problematic.”

“But spiritually speaking, charlatans are people who abuse other people’s energy, not knowing where they are themselves. By abusing other people’s energy, they hope to find their way. Consequently, they hurt people.”

There aren’t too many people with whom I discuss my spiritual practice with. The topic makes a lot of people uncomfortable. I like exploring the different traditions of spirituality. It brings a lot of joy to my life.

It took awhile to read because Chögyam Trungpa taught in a high level manner without many examples. The Q&A with the students was helpful.

I switched back and forth in Audible and ebook format.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward, direct and no sugar coating, either!

There's no pussy footing' around here! Buddhism expressed in no uncertain terms. Reminded me of when I had yogurt for the first time - no sweetness, tart and had to do some mental gymnastics so I could eat it again, cause I couldn't pass up on great gut food now could I?