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Where was Chögyam Trungpa born?

Chögyam Trungpa, a highly influential Tibetan Buddhist teacher, was born in the Kham region of Tibet in 1939. His birth name was Lhamo Döndrub, and he was the eleventh in the line of Trungpa tulkus, a reincarnated spiritual leader in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Trungpa was born into a wealthy family and was recognized as the reincarnation of the tenth Trungpa tulku, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, at the age of 13 months. He was enthroned as the eleventh Trungpa tulku at the Surmang monastery, where he received a traditional Tibetan education and training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy.

At the age of 18, Trungpa traveled to the capital city of Lhasa to continue his studies at the prestigious monastic university, Sechen. However, his studies were cut short when the Chinese invasion of Tibet began in 1959. Trungpa, along with many other Tibetan monks, was forced to flee his homeland and seek refuge in India.

In 1963, Trungpa was invited to teach at the Oxford University by the renowned scholar and professor, Edward Conze. This marked the beginning of Trungpa's journey to bring Tibetan Buddhism to the West. He eventually settled in Scotland and established the Samye Ling Monastery, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the West.

Trungpa's teachings and approach to Buddhism were considered unconventional and controversial by some, but he gained a following of devoted students who were drawn to his unique blend of traditional Tibetan Buddhism and Western psychology and philosophy. He also founded the Shambhala organization, which aimed to promote secular mindfulness and meditation practices.

Trungpa continued to teach and write prolifically until his death in 1987 at the age of 47. He left behind a legacy of teachings and a thriving community of students who continue to carry on his work and spread his teachings around the world.

In conclusion, Chögyam Trungpa was born in the Kham region of Tibet in 1939 and was recognized as the eleventh Trungpa tulku at the age of 13 months. He spent his early years in Tibet before being forced to flee to India due to the Chinese invasion. He eventually settled in the West and became a highly influential Tibetan Buddhist teacher, leaving behind a lasting impact on the world of Buddhism.