The Mishap Lineage

The concept of lineage in Tibetan Buddhism is demystified in this study of the author’s own tradition of reincarnated teachers. Chögyam Trungpa was the eleventh tulku in the lineage of the Trungpa tulkus. Here, he presents the stories of the lives of the Trungpas as a point of departure for the discussion of the principles that guide a practitioner’s journey on the path. The historical framework helps us to understand how we can relate to the idea of lineage and community in the modern context of a spiritual journey. Many other aspects of Tibetan Buddhism are connected to lineage—reincarnation, various religious practices, as well as the view of the path as a whole. These teachings are presented in an extraordinarily intimate and personal manner such that the reader receives the stories and wisdom as heart advice.