The Labrang
Labrang is traditionally a name for the close mandala around a teacher, those who work directly with him or her, and for the place where a teacher lives or teaches. It also includes objects and belongings. Here, we use this term for the belongings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The Labrang, the treasury of the belongings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, consists of several thousand objects. It includes robes and religious relics that he hand-carried out of Tibet, as well as many objects both secular and religious- that he collected, bought, was given, and used during his years in the West. It is traditional for students to maintain these all as sacred objects, viewing them as revealing the enlightened activity of the teacher.
 
Trungpa Rinpoche himself stated in his will:
The monumental objects should be cherished and kept. The household articles should be treated as special, under the guidance of Lady Diana (his wife). I have never conducted myself frivolously, so all my collections should be regarded as objects of learning.
 
During his lifetime and for several years after Rinpoche's death, close students who were personal attendants of the Vidyadhara were the caretakers of the items from his Labrang. In the mid 1990s, responsibility for the Labrang was transferred to the Shambhala Archives. The collection has been maintained by the Archives through the donation of time and funds by students of the Vidyadhara. Much remains to be done. Many items need additional archival quality storage, and treatment by a professional art conservator. Funds for proper exhibition are also very much needed. The Labrang is kept in The Relics Room at the Shambhala Archives, in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, where it is looked after by the Archives staff.
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