Vajradhatu, an international organization of Buddhist churches, takes its name from the Sanskrit term meaning "indestructible space." It was established by the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Boulder, Colorado, on February 22, 1973, to consolidate the activities of Tail of the Tiger in Vermont and Karma Dzong in Boulder, Colorado, both of which had been previously founded by him. Trungpa Rinpoche served as president of Vajradhatu until his death in 1987. He was succeeded by the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin.
Following the Vajra Regent's death in 1990, Trungpa Rinpoche's eldest son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, was named president. The administrative functions and activities of Vajradhatu and Nalanda Foundation were closely linked: their respective boards of directors were composed of the same individuals, with a few exceptions, and the corporations typically held joint board meetings. On September 6, 1977, Vajradhatu was incorporated in Canada as an Ontario corporation. The organization began moving its international headquarters to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1985, and on August 8, 1989, was reincorporated in the Province of Nova Scotia as "Vajradhatu Buddhist Church."
Vajradhatu currently operates several large contemplative centres and over 100 local groups worldwide. Late in 1992, together with Nalanda Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization also founded by Trungpa Rinpoche, it began doing business under the name "Shambhala." Vajradhatu's head offices are currently located at 1084 Tower Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Vajradhatu Recordings (now Kalapa Recordings) was the department of Vajradhatu responsible for creating sound recordings of the teaching and administrative activities of Trungpa Rinpoche and of other principal teachers and administrators of Vajradhatu, for a twofold purpose: to make a permanent record of these activities, and to provide the means for disseminating their contents to a wider audience through the sale of sound recordings as well as through their transcription and publication in written form. The articles of incorporation of Vajradhatu include the mandate "to promote, encourage, and advance the teachings of . . . buddhism through . . . development and dissemination of audio visual materials including tape recordings and motion picture films, and any other forms of communication." Sound recordings were created or acquired by and retained in the custody of Vajradhatu Recordings in Boulder, Colorado pursuant to its policy of creating a permanent record of the teaching and administrative activities of the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and other principal teachers and administrators of Vajradhatu.
Vajradhatu Recordings retained custody of these sound recordings until their transfer to the Vajradhatu Archives in 1989. Fonds consists of sound recordings of a broad range of activities of Vajradhatu, including general administrative activities, community activities such as meetings, social events, holiday observances, and volunteer groups; ceremonies; and visits from important Buddhist teachers. All of these activities were conducted or presided over by its founder and president, the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, or his successor the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin, or other principal teachers and administrators.
The fonds is arranged in the following series:
1. Business conference or meeting
2. Ceremony for Buddhist lineage holder
3. Community holiday
4. Community social event
5. Community talk or meeting
6. Delek and dekyong system
7. Dharmadhatu or international sangha conference
8. International administration
9. Meditation instructor or teacher training
10. Music
1. Ngetön School of Higher Learning
12. Shrine blessing or dedication of centre
13. Visiting teacher
14. Volunteer or service group
15. Young people's education.
Title based on contents of the fonds.
Extent includes duplicates.
Some audio reels show evidence of deterioration.
As a conservation measure a number of audio reels have been exercised
and copied to both digital and high-quality cassette formats.
Portions of the fonds are restricted to authorized students. Access
to those records is by arrangement with the Archives Director.
Inventories accompany series descriptions.
For additional details see the Vajradhatu Archives Database of Holdings.
Further accruals are expected.
Photographic records related to portions of the fonds are described
in the Vajradhatu and Nalanda Foundation Information Office Photographic
Fonds Finding Aid.
Related materials may be found in the following fonds of sound recordings:
the Venerable Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche fonds; the Vajradhatu Seminary
fonds; the Nalanda Foundation fonds; the Naropa Institute events fonds;
the Shambhala Training events fonds; and the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin
fonds. An inventory of verbatim transcriptions of portions of the fonds
exists.
Return to description list.