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14 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS
The Four Dharmas
of Gampopa
By Russell Rodgers
Russell Rodgers (September 2, Grant your blessings so that my mind may be one with the dharma.
1942 - June 18, 2020) was born Grant your blessings so that dharma may progress along the path.
in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA, He
Grant your blessings so that the path may clarify confusion.
completed a Master’s Degree in Grant your blessings so that confusion may dawn as wisdom.
microbiology at the University
of Californina, Davis. Finding
his work as a microbiologist according to Khenpo Karthar
too intellectually isolating, he Rinpoche, was unable to experience
tossed his textbooks and joined her death properly. Gampopa asked
a commune. While living in her why this was and she replied,
Vancouver, Canada, in 1975 “I am not attached to possessions,
Russ heard a talk by Chogyam nor wealth, nor faith, but I am
very attached to you. Because you
Trungpa, a Tibetan meditation
are only 24 years old, and you are
master. He decided to follow
very handsome, it is very hard for
that path of meditation, which
me to leave you. It is because my
he did with commitment and
attachment to you is so very strong
delight. Studying, meditating, that I am unable to experience
and teaching the Shambhala Gampopa death.”
Buddha Dharma, and creating
situations for others to join in, The author of these lines, Gampopa, Knowing there was no cure for
were at the heart of his life. He lived at a very critical time in the her illness, and at the same time
birth of our lineage and helped
was a Shastri for the Kootenay understanding that her attachment
shape its future in profound ways.
Shambhala Centre when he to him prevented her from dying
After his birth in 1079, Gampopa
passed away in 2020. properly, Gampopa promised that
displayed much curiosity and
he would take a vow of complete
openness to the dharma, and
celibacy, never marry another
received teachings from many
woman, and become a monk. This
gurus. He was also very interested
promise released her from her
in medicine, and eventually became
attachment, and she experienced
a physician. Gampopa married, and
her natural death.
he and his wife were very much in
love. When he was 24, she became
So, as he had promised his wife,
terminally ill. Gampopa was unable
he took the vow of a monk in
to help her, despite his medical
the Kadampa tradition and went
training. Moreover, she experienced
into retreat. There he practiced
great pain and suffering, and
meditation, saw many signs and
