This book represents a distillation of key teachings given by Chögyam Trungpa on the "Path of Individual Liberation." In other words, it focuses on entering the Buddhist path and the foundational teachings often referred to as "Hinayana."
An extremely influential Tibetan teacher in North America, Chögyam Trungpa coined many terms, influenced the translation of Tibetan into English, and introduced Buddhist thought and terminology to many western peoples between the 1960s and the 1980s. His style is a unique expression of Buddhist ideas for a western audience. In this first volume, buddha-nature is related to as a basis for practice and as the inherent capacity for awakening shared by all people.
"To begin with, we have to find out who we are. When we do so, we realize that we are buddha already, that we possess buddha nature. We might like that, or we might find that difficult to accept." (page 17)
"The path is joyful. Being a human being, being yourself, being a member of the sangha, is joyful. You should really enjoy yourself. Enjoyment comes from the sense of things being truly what they are. That brings great joy, and it brings the greater joy of uncovering buddha nature, your inherent capacity for awakening..." (page 20)
"In the Buddhist-English terminology that has developed,
suchness or isness refers to something that is fully and truly there. It is connected with rediscovering buddha nature." (page 446)
To begin with, we have to find out who we are. When we do so, we realize that we are buddha already, that we possess buddha nature. We might like that, or we might find that difficult to accept.
~ Trungpa, Chögyam in The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One, page(s) 17
...the Buddha is referred to as sugata, “he who has gone joyfully on the path.” The Buddha is not referred to as “he who sat painfully,” or “he who felt bad about himself,” or “he who managed to get through his pain and has now attained buddhahood.” He is referred to as joyful.
The path is joyful. Being a human being, being yourself, being a member of the sangha, is joyful. You should really enjoy yourself. Enjoyment comes from the sense of things being truly what they are. That brings great joy, and it brings the greater joy of uncovering buddha nature, your inherent capacity for awakening...
~ Trungpa, Chögyam in The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One, page(s) 20
In the Buddhist-English terminology that has developed, suchness or isness refers to something that is fully and truly there. It is connected with rediscovering buddha nature.
~ Trungpa, Chögyam in The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One, page(s) 446