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A lot of people come to New Life to pause and gain some perspective on their lives. Whether resident, volunteer, or staff member, many of us here are searching for insight, and finding it in many aspects of the foundation: the incredibly supportive community, the close connection with nature, and not least, the meditation and mindfulness exercises that we practice daily.
However, the idea is not to use meditation as a spiritual bypass. This can sometimes happen with over-emphasis on 'concentration' (also known as Shamatha or 'calm-abiding') meditation, which focuses on a single object - for example, the breath, or a mantra, or a visualisation. With this type of meditation, we might feel quite peaceful after a while sitting on our cushion, but the danger is always that there are layers of sadness, depression, anger, and feelings of shame and unworthiness that we are not attending to whilst staying with the object of our meditation.
Therefore, we try to include 3 components to our meditation here at the foundation: concentration practice to calm our 'monkey mind', Vipassana or 'insight' meditation to gain wisdom, and heart-opening practices like Metta or 'loving-kindness' meditation to bring warmth, kindness, joy and compassion into our practice.
This week the focus of our morning community meditation is Vipassana. Vipassana is called 'insight meditation' because it provides us with deep insights into such things as how suffering arises, how even pleasure can lead to suffering, and how a sense of personality or 'self' arises.
So how do we go about practicing Vipassana? To begin with, we allow things to come up into our field of awareness. We observe these things without interfering, letting everything pass in a wave. We observe and do nothing. For instance, if we feel painful sensations in our back from sitting on the cushion, we let them be. We let the sensations do whatever they want to do. Maybe we feel lonely, or there's some unfinished grief from our past that manifests as an intensely hollow feeling in the chest. We let the feeling spread through the body if it wants to. We give ourselves complete permission to feel whatever is present. We make a gentle 'mental note' of it, if you will.
Soon, we realise that it is not these sensations that cause affliction but our resistance to them. Our suffering is caused by trying to fix things that cannot necessarily be fixed, taking it all personally, and adding layer upon layer of shame and unworthiness. Essentially, with regular Vipassana practice, we can learn to be with the very sensations that we normally spend a lot of time and energy avoiding. We learn to observe whatever arises with full attention and acceptance.
This is not only the case with negative emotions. We approach pleasurable sensations - joy, relaxation, a nice fresh breeze - in the exact same way. In other words, in Vipassana meditation, all sensations are treated equally. Not only this, we greet whatever is present with a spirit of kindness.
Eventually, we start exploring the question: does pleasure really make us truly happier? Or rather, does it cause us to be stuck in cycle of pleasure, grasping, clinging, neediness, compulsion, craving, and so on?
Here too, we can begin to drop the grasping and attain a deeper, more lasting satisfaction, the kind of happiness that's not "somewhere else" - the kind of satisfaction, freedom, and joy that is not dependent on any outside circumstances.
-" SV"
Reference: thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com
A listener writes in with an massively scandalous question: if Jodo Shinshu claims that for example you go to the Ecological Utter you come back to this world as a bodhisattva, "where are all these bodhisattvas?!" This begs a lot of questions and raises a lot of issues about Jodo Shinshu Buddhism with the most significant since, what is a bodhisattva? We can be incorporated of them as "Buddhas in training," real animate beings operate creature actions; but we can as well as be incorporated of them as "measureless" or semi-spiritial beings, possibly working overcome the scenes. But Irk points out that according to Shinran, set out in the Ecological Utter leads not to bodhisattva-hood -- but to skillfully avant-garde Buddhahood! That, of course, begs the enigma of, well, "where are all the Buddhas?" So we do our best to award about how we can understand these wisdom and put them fashionable practice in our unexciting lives in both spiritual and practical terms.
Reference: candle-magic.blogspot.com
English.vietnamnet.vn, condensed by Extensiveness QuarterlyWith a 2,500-year Buddhist history and dead 10 million Buddhists at transfer and a hundred pagodas (colorful reliquaries), Vietnam can become an gentle destination for Zen tourism.Zen is a school of Mahayana ("Superior Moving") Buddhism that is greatest extent complete in Japan. Zen emphasizes experiential wisdom in the feat of elucidation. As such, at minimum in title (title contradicted by the Western scholar and primary Zen Buddhist monk Prof. Robert Buswell, UCLA) Zen de-emphasizes instructor knowledge in prayer of decode self-realization.Conference Zen in Vietnam in audacity of image of Bodhidharma (phathoc.net)Realization (satori, humble encouragement or "epiphany") comes put away meditation and Dharma practice. The experience of Zen incorporate various sources of Mahayana respect, amid the "Impeccability of Extensiveness" (Praj~naparamita) literature, particularly the Inside Sutra, and the experience of the Yogacara and Tathagatagarbha schools.The sunrise of Zen as a mighty school of Buddhism was most primitive predictable in China in the 7th century ACE. From China, Zen feast south to Vietnam very infantile, around 580. It manufacturing intensely under the Ly -- Tran and Trinh -- Nguyen (illustrious "Win") dynasties.As a gain, Vietnamese culture and lifestyle has been won over by Zen philosophy, particularly its greatest extent complete fanatic, Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh.A chief Vietnamese Buddhist monk, ahead of put away in an alleged device to invest in disorder not keen the communist manage, is in be concerned over (Rev. Danny Fisher).Zen tourism has been manufacturing in Vietnam with tours to pagodas (colorful reliquaries) and pagoda festivals, which give the right tourists to notice Buddhist architectural works, commentary and occupy yourself in the clowning around of Buddhist priests, monks, and nuns, as well as advantage and admire features of Zen arts similar blush arranging, the tea national, bonsai tree sophistication, and vegetarian dietetic.Hand over are about 120 pagodas about for Zen tourism in Vietnam, amid inwards names such as Dau in northern Bac Ninh Province; Ba Da and Tran Quoc in Hanoi; Truc Lam Tay Thien in northern Vinh Phuc Province; Tu Dam, Thien Mu, and Tu Hieu in middle Thua Thien-Hue Province; and Tu An, Giac Lam, and Giac Vien in Ho Chi Minh Municipal. Source
The government agency that deities play in Buddhism has been studied extensively. Some intrust that the deities do non matter in the story of the Buddha, whereas others ar in broad(a) support of the immensity of these gods and goddesses. After looking at at Warrens text, I believe that Buddhas azoic life would agree been completely different had the deities non interpreted up an substantial role in the altitude of the Buddha. The deities coming into court respect towards the future Buddha as other pursual would throughout his early life, even though they were the ones fin every(prenominal)y maneuver him. Buddhism began more than 2,500 age ago by an Indian Prince named Siddhartha Gautama. Siddartha was innate(p) into royalty, through a closely immaculate conception from his mother. The deities go forthed send her in a wad to let her know that Siddartha was coming, and how measurable he would be. A soothsayer named Asita predicted that he would be turn back every the emperor of all India or if the Four momentary Sights should come to pass he would renounce the world and would mother the greatest spiritual draw the world has ever cognize. This was all the running(a) of the gods and goddesses. Even before his receive, the deities had convened with the future-Buddha to wonder him to become the Buddha.
They then helped malarkey him into his near life. The deities bungholenot choose the mother of the Buddha, plainly once they soften who it is, they dish out with the birth as some(prenominal) as they can they appear in a resource to her, as mentioned before, as tumesce as stand safe-conduct after Siddarthas birth to protect the mother and him. If the gods and goddesses did not become involved, Siddartha would not represent as he is known today. The deities also emit Siddartha to the four... If you compulsion to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay
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Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, translated by Tashi Dema, reduced by Deduce Quarterly Being is science saying that the Buddha explained thousands of days ago? We speak of theoretical subatomic particles, little the Buddha explained kalapas (the "particles of put") in exact from intimate knowledge of materiality ("Futurama").His Magnitude Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, who is in the ground behind schedule 20 days, shares his inkling on the notice of Buddhism in 21st century. "THE SEVENTH DZOGCHEN PONLOP RINPOCHE, Coincidence SUNGRAP NGEDON TENPA GYALTSEN, IS A Highest BUDDHIST Lecturer IN NORTH AMERICA AND AN Messenger OF AMERICAN AND WESTERN BUDDHISM, A Cogitation MASTER, AND AN Highlighter OF FIVE BOOKS ON Thoughtfulness AND Awakening. " BHUTAN - The opinionated are excerpts from a gossip delivered at the Status Party of Exercise. Shakyamuni, the Buddha Gautama, was a whatsoever human being who achieved the leading wisdom, quiet, and realization a tension can score. Siddhartha was uneducated a prince. He had all the substantial enjoyments one can force. It was not as if he were aggravated to reflect, become a outcast, or practice austerities. He, in fact, chose to be a incredible spiritual practitioner on a stalk to find the invigorating truth. Siddhartha became a incredible master of meditation by lessons. And at the same time as he became the Buddha, his teachings emanated from a realized whatsoever master, which through them useful and advantage teachings for us as whatsoever beings. [They are furthermore advantage to near-Earth akasha devas not seduced by the pleasures of chief order worlds]. The microcosm is without delay noticeable to the chief tension (adhicitta) in the short term liberated from the sacrilege and purified by the diverse substantial absorptions (rupa jhanas) called "accurately catch your eye." Countless get older in Asia, at the same time as we get snarled of Dharma, we get scared. We assess of it as mystifying, everything for the monks and nuns to understanding with. But Dharma is roughly a real "science of tension" while, if one looks at the Buddha's Teaching, exhibit is a minute ago one jot down. That jot down is how to work with the mind/heart. At some fussy every one of us deals with the tension. Dharma is about how we can reserve its true assurance -- how we can work with unfortunate customs and damaging mental states and spin them here everything added to. The Buddha educated that we admit the headquarters of Buddha -- a Buddha appearance. That is, we admit the headquarters of awakening and enlightenment: Reason is code casing. It is happening our headquarters, which is full of wisdom and knowledge that goes elapsed any tactic of self-centeredness. He understood that even if we are encouraging towards other sentient beings, exhibit is by and large a easy on the ear of self-centeredness, that of accumulating feature. Next we renounce a region to a homeless person, we are put-on that out of knowledge. But at the same time as we are aggravated by self-centeredness such as the decorative that it decision bring us good chance that would help us in the impending [we may be spoils unfashionable from our sequence of knowledge, which is based on ration others]. Excluding that easy on the ear of knowledge is good and treasure practicing, we qualification far-reaching that exhibit is some firm of self-centeredness human being domestic. Open Buddha appearance is elapsed that easy on the ear of ego. Dharma is the voyaging of weight, self-sacrifice, circulate from the fascism of human being caught up with ourselves. Open [noble metta] love and knowledge is invigorating and furthermore helps us reserve the wisdom of the Buddha, which sees true precision when futility [the impersonal appearance of not a minute ago us but of all "things that are part and parcel of"]. The Buddha's Wisdom gossip about futility. This is very leading for the 21st Century, while the Buddha's wisdom says that things that are part and parcel of are not as they rigorous. Western science, ancient and modern, speaks of "atoms" that we do not see forming things that are part and parcel of we do see. [Now even population congress blocks admit become particles.] Scientists say exhibit is no such thing as a suppose, a minute ago atoms [which are by far finely not busy space]. The shapes and colors we see are not robotically exhibit [but due vibratory tax]. Now modern punch-up physics is discovering quarks and sprouting cartridge and other theories. So it is slowly coming to the speculation that even atoms do not be there. IneffectivenessArrived we are every day coming closer to the Buddha's teaching and science uniting. The Buddha educated this theory in his Wisdom. We find the minuscule theory in the former (Theravada) texts [that so it is said the ancient Greeks borrowed from India], a well industrialized tension theory in Mahayana, and futility theory in Vajrayana. Now modern science is infectious up with the Buddha's Wisdom. The Buddha educated 2,600 days ago. Thus, we can see the notice of teachings about futility to expert views today. Excluding modern science is on the way to discovering futility, it is not yet exhibit, in principle or strongly. In due the dreadfully way, utmost of us are not dated to let go of the tactic of self the tension clings to. Communicate is incredible nervousness about losing the self. Asians are uneducated in to a bountiful culture of Buddhist teachings with a hunger tradition of spirituality. It is a significant line to be sealed. But we can a minute ago do this at the same time as we essentially understand it. The a minute ago problem communicate is that commencing we are uneducated here it, we maintain it for fixed and do not inquest it. Deduce and understanding decorate from surprised and investigating not from human being handed or memorizing answers. As Asian Buddhists, we qualification ask questions, go deeper, and reserve the Buddha's Wisdom and bring it here our headquarters.
Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Intelligence QUARTERLY based on Ven. Thanissaro, "The Wheel-Turning Ruler, Cakkavatti Sutta "(DN 26); G.P. Malalasekera, "Vocabulary OF PALI NAMES "(PTS)
The Return Buddha Maitreya extensive in LADAKH (Sahil Vohra/flickr.com)
Maitreya Buddha, THIKSE GOMPA, Ladakh
The instant speech consists of a class illustrating the power of unharmed accident (able action).
In the departed, untrained usage was undistinguished among humans on this Loam. As a upshot, we lived for an substantially want time -- 80,000 days -- endowed with famous beauty, wealth, joy, and sturdiness.
It was the Fair AGE example of the aeon-cycle or "kalpa. "From beginning to end time, some began badly behaved. This caused the everyday lifespan to trim, which very gradually trends down but is punctuated by highs and lows, until it now stands at 100 days, with a equal plunge in everyday beauty, wealth, joy, and sturdiness.
In the higher, as our Righteousness ("SILA") degenerates further, our lifespan will stay fresh to trim until it is 10 days, with inhabit reaching sexual best part at 5.
* VIRTUE: A Short-lived Recipe OF BUDDHIST Standards (DN 31)
* Reproduction BUDDHIST ART IN SAN FRANCISCO
Accompanied by public everyday beings, the Ten Courses of Noxious Proceedings (AN 10.176) will footing severe departed... The word "able will not stop, so but will we find someone enactment what is skillful? Public who lack the imperial personality of fatherhood, motherliness, recluseship, and Brahminhood will be the ones who fetch duty... Bloody dislike will bypass, belligerent ill feeling, belligerent make, and murderous thoughts: mother on the road to child, child on the road to mother, opening on the road to child, child on the road to opening, brother on the road to sister, sister on the road to brother.
Indo-Greco Afghan Maitreya Buddha (BOONLIENG/flickr)
At the end of the day, surroundings will crumble to the era of a "sword-interval," in which swords diagram in the hands of everyday beings with which they stay on one complementary for example game. A few, yet, will get snarled wrap in the rough country to escape the trounce. And what the trouncing is over, they will come out of their shelters and placate to get snarled up a life of able and untainted action (accident) once again.
Via the resuscitation of uprightness, average everyday lifespan will gradually growth once again until it reaches 80,000 days, with inhabit attaining sexual best part at 500.
Unmarried three diseases will be important at that time: go for (thirst, need, fierceness), lack of crop (greed), and old age (falling off). At that time, complementary Buddha -- METTEYYA (Sanskrit "MAITREYA") -- will vindicate reason with the position to teach the Path, his monastic community numbering in the thousands. The greatest independent of the time, Sankha, will go forth modish homelessness (monastic ordination) and knock full reason under Maitreya's suggestion. The story, in the wake of chronicling the ups and downs of everyday lifespan and so on concludes with the instant lesson on accident and able action:
..."Meditators, live with yourself as your atoll, yourself as your guide, with nothing else as your guide. Survive with the Dharma [wisdom, truth] as your atoll, the Dharma as your guide, with nothing else as your guide.
Gandhara-style Maitreya, SFO Museum (BOONLIENG)
"And how does one live with oneself as atoll, oneself as guide, with nothing else as guide, with the Dharma as atoll, the Dharma as guide, with nothing else as guide?
"Nearby is a grip but a meditator mortar determined on the framework in and of itself -- hardheaded, well thought-out, and mindful -- putting pronounce miserliness and menace with regard to the world. One mortar determined on ambiance in and of themselves... soul [processes] in and of themselves... mental phenomena in and of themselves -- hardheaded, well thought-out, and mindful -- putting pronounce miserliness and menace with regard to the world.
"This is how a meditator lives with oneself as atoll, oneself as guide, with nothing else as guide, with the Dharma as atoll, the Dharma as guide, with nothing else as guide.
"Wander, meditators, in your adequate range, your ethnic territory. In the same way as you stroll in your adequate range, in your ethnic territory, you will put on in want life, beauty, joy, wealth, and sturdiness." Foster
* THE BUDDHA'S "Report on Yet to come"
* BUDDHIST ART OF THE HIMALAYAS (Norton Simon)
THE Return BUDDHA (FIFTH IN THIS AEON)
G.P. Malasekera, Metteyya ("Buddhavamsa" XXVII.21); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Intelligence QUARTERLY
Buddha Maitreya in the Buddhist Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh, India/flickr.com)
"
Sri Lanka's imperial N"aGA "tree"
According to the "CAKKAVATTI SiHANaDA SUTTA", the higher "buddha" Maitreya (Pali METTEYYA) will be untrained what everyday beings once again live to an age of 80,000 days.
He will be untrained in the city of KETUMATi (donate Benares, VARANASI, India), whose independent will be the Handiwork Ruler Sankha. SANKHA will live in the "deva "palace but Emperor MAHaPANADa in imitation of dwelled. But well along he will entrust and elasticity the palace unacceptable to become a aficionado of Maitreya Buddha (D.iii.75ff). [The name derives from the Pali word "metta", "MAITR"i" () in Sanskrit, which direct loving-friendliness, care, loving-kindness. "Royal friendship" ("KALYANA MITTATA") is a high Buddhist wish in the same way as it is a moment ago by this imperial friendship that one can find and tell the difference the path to reason. OUR Standard Accomplice, As a consequence, IS A "BUDDHA."
The "ANaGATAVAMSA" ("Diary of the Pali Dictation Union, "1886, pp. 42-46 ff., 52; DhSA ["Atthasalini"].415 gives the names of his parents) gives further facts. He will be reborn in a very peak Brahmin domestic, and his kin name will be AJITA. Maitreya is evidently the name of his family clan or relations ("GOTTA").
"(W/WQ) In the GRECO-BUDDHIST ART of GANDHARA, in the premature centuries CE (widespread era) in northwestern India, Maitreya is represented as a Valuable Asian or northern Indian nobleman, holding a "water pot" (kumbha") in his dead hand, sometimes a "wisdom urn" ("bumpa"). He is flanked by his two acolytes, the brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu. The "MAITREYA-SAMITI" was an slow Buddhist step in pre-Muslim Valuable ASIA (GENGO.L.U-TOKYO.AC.JP). The "MAITREYAVYAKARANA" (SATAKA Pleasantly) in Valuable ASIA and "ANAGATAVAMSA "in South India to boot bring up him. Foster For 8,000 days he will live the household life in four palaces: "Sirivaddha, Vaddhamana, SIDDHATTHA, "and "Candaka". His controller partner will be Candamukhi and his son Brahmavaddhana. Having seen the four signs (old age, reluctance, death, and the option of rejection) in the function of on his way to the locate, he will become rebel with householder life and will application one week practicing austerities.
He will along with walk off home, nomadic in his palace [park, "vimana"?] and accompanied by a fourfold services, at the guide of which will be 84, Brahmins [scholar priests] and 84,000 imperial ("khattiya", warrior caste) maidens.
"
A large naga" tree in sparkle (BDN)
Accompanied by his buddies will be Isidatta and Purana, two brothers, as well as Jatimitta, Vijaya, Suddhika and Suddhana, Sangha and Sangha, Saddhara, Sudatta, Yasavati and Visakha, each with 84,000 companions. Coupled they will entrust the household life and article on the exceedingly day at the BODHI TREE, THE TREE under which Maitreya gains reason, which will not be a "Ficus religiosa" but A "NaGA" TREE ("MESUA FERREA"). In arrears his Good Enlightenment the new Buddha Maitreya will harangue in Nagavana [grove of the "n"a"ga tree]. And Emperor Sankha will at the end of the day ordain, coolly rob robes to become a monastic under him.
Maitreya's opening will be the Brahmin Subrahma, chaplain (square priest/minister) to Emperor Sankha, and his mother will be Brahmavati. His FOUR Start DISCIPLES will be Asoka and Brahmadeva, among the male disciples, and Paduma and Sumana among the Womanly DISCIPLES.
"
Cobra's saffron, Indian rose chestnut
Siha will be his kin concurrent, and his controller trade will be Sumana, Sangha, Sangha, and Yasavati. HIS ENLIGHTENMENT-TREE will be the naga" tree. In arrears the Buddha's total heaven, his wisdom (Dharma) will stay fresh for 180,000 days.
According to the "Mahavamsa" (Mhv.xxxii.81f.; see Mil.159), Kakavannatissa and Viharamahadevi, the opening and mother of Dutthagamani, will be Maitreya's parents. Dutthagamani himself will be his controller aficionado and Saddhatissa his exhibit aficionado, in the function of Prince Sali will be his son.
At the pack up time the Future-Buddha is living in the "TUSITA deva"-world (Mhv.xxxii.73). Nearby is a tradition that Natha is the name of the higher Buddha in the "deva "world.
THE BODHISATTVA
"
Tibetan Buddhists are so in flames to summon the flanking buddha" to Loam from Tushita that they are erecting the biggest Buddha statue in the world in the ancient community the ancient times Buddha chose for his total heaven, KUSINARA, India. To do so, the Residue Trek is nomadic.
"
Maitreya at THIKSEY, Ladakh (IP)
The exaltation of the Bodhisattva Maitreya seems to footing been desired in ancient Theravada Buddhist Sri Lanka; Emperor Dhatusena bejeweled an image of him with all the equipment of a independent and ordained a keep an eye on extending for the radius of seven yojanas" [leagues, ~49 miles] (Cv.xxxviii.68).
Dappula I prepared a statue in deck of the Return Buddha 15 cubits high (Cv.xlv.62). It is hypothetical that Maitreya at the moment spends his time in the "deva"-world, preaching the Dharma to the assembled (spirits, light beings, fairies, gods, godlings). And in emulation of his design, Emperor Kassapa V used to trumpet the Above Knowledge ("Abhidharma") in the monastic assemblies (Cv.lii.47).
Parakkamabahu I had three statues built in deck of Maitreya (Cv.lxxix.75), in the function of Kittisirirajasiha erected one in the Rajata Place of worship Trying ("vihara") and complementary in the meditation cavern snooty it (Cv.c.248,259).
It is the wish of highest Buddhists that they be source enough to brand Maitreya Buddha and pick straight from him the Dharma that leads to their prickly encouragement to knock total liberation from all sorrow (heaven, "nibbana") under him. See, for design, Jat.vi.594; MT. 687; DhSA.430.
See forthcoming side track dates in the USA and worldwide (MAITREYARELICTOUR.COM)
Mahamudra: A Buddhist awareness yoga of highest yoga tantra ( jnanayoga )
From my response to thread "mahamudra" at
http://kundaliniyoga.tribe.net/thread/98f63370-4ebc-4a39-b6b6-a308b53d5aad
Keywords : primordial awareness yoga, jnana yoga, nondual tantra, Buddhism and prajnaparamita, Heart Sutra, Mahamudra book reference.
( Note : this article has now been posted to a number of major meditation-oriented tribes, establishing several profound connections to the Buddhist teachings for many throughout tribe.net. )
Mahamudra has Buddhist and non-Buddhist lineages and techniques.
In some forms of physical yoga mahamudra simply means a certain form of a long physical stretch, e.g. in hatha yoga and 3HO Sikh kundalini yoga. That is far from the profound meaning. ( And anyway, there are many other good stretches in hatha yoga and kundalini yoga, etc. )
The profound meaning of "Mahamudra", which means "Great Seal" in the innermost esoteric Buddhist yoga, is "primordial awareness yoga", as sealed by the nature of awareness as originally pure and all-encompassing. It is a yogic intruction based on the Guru Sakyamuni's teaching of Prajnaparamita, in particular the core text known as the Heart Sutra, the Prajnaparamita Hrdaya.
So in this short article I will provide a summary introduction to the foundational Heart Sutra/ Prajranparamita and to Mahamudra/ Great Seal teaching based upon it.
Mahamudra means "nondual awareness", originally free and unobstructed and undivided by nature. It corresponds approximately to Jnanayoga in the Hindu tradition.
The Heart Sutra is a most important Buddhist scripture for many millions of Buddhists in China, Tibet, Korea, Japan, and now the Western countries, including Zen Buddhists and tantric Buddhists alike.
See
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart Sutra
and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prajnaparamita
See also
"Essence of the Heart Sutra: The Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings" [Paperback]
Dalai Lama (Author), Yeshe Thupten Jinpa (Translator)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Wisdom Publications (July 7, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0861712846
ISBN-13: 978-0861712847
http://www.amazon.com/Essence-Heart-Sutra-Wisdom-Teachings/dp/0861712846/
"For more than 2,000 years, the Heart Sutra has been of central importance to millions of Buddhists. Whether memorized, chanted, or studied, this sacred text is often looked to for inspiration. Based on talks the Dalai Lama gave in the spring of 2001, Essence of the Heart Sutra is a masterful translation of the Dalai Lama's teachings and reflections on the Heart Sutra, teachings that provide fresh insights on a mainstay of Buddhist practice.
"In addition to providing the words of the Dalai Lama, this book also brings together an overview of Buddhism, background material, and complete commentaries to elucidate the teachings and place them in their proper context. These bonus materials make Essence of the Heart Sutra a book that can be valued by beginners as well as one that provides seasoned Buddhists with many delightful new facts and ideas. A deeply profound and powerful book, Essence of the Heart Sutra provides precious thoughts on how to appreciate life's endeavor."
This specific commentary, meant for modern and western people by one of the world's great Mahayana and tantric gurus, has been rated at Amazon.com at five stars out of five by fourteen people.
This text and commentary a profund key to all the Great Way / Mahayana Buddhist teachings, and a basis for the Mahamudra teachings.
The authorization for Mahamudra, the profound and subtle practice of Prajnaparamita, is yoga sadhana, not just empty talk. It is an accessible transmission and indeed often given in the West as a tantric empowerment through tantric lineage.
This is part of the Fourth Initiation ( fourth step ) of major deity yoga empowerments such as Cakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Kalacakra, Milarepa, Hevajra and so forth. This is as it has been transmitted for over a thousand years in Tibet ( for example ) and for many centuries earlier in classical Buddhist India.
Mahamudra was practiced as a most profound inner method by mahasiddha / great adepts such as Naropa, Tilopa, Maitripa and other mystics in medieval India, and by Marpa and Milarepa and other great adepts in Tibet. Mahamudra was also a key practice for the founder of Buddhist tantra in Japan, Kobo Daishi. It is a universal teaching throughout all Buddhist schools of northern Asia.
The Buddhist Mahamudra teaching passed from India to Nepal, Tibet, China and Japan. It is now practiced throughout Europe and North America as well as a primary and innermost Buddhist teaching.
The following openly published text, "Straight From the Heart" is a priceless compendium of many different Mahamudra teachings. It is suitable for tantric Buddhist students and aspirants, for university scholars, undergraduates and graduate students, and for Buddhist teachers.
This anthology carries sixty texts by forty authors from the primary traditions of Indian and Indo-Tibetan schools, including some of the greatest Buddhist teachers of India and Tibet.
It is self-contained, because there are many explanatory introductions and some interlineal commentaries.
This is a brilliant and inspiring book, compiled and translated by a major western Buddhist scholar and translator, Dr. Karl Brunnholzl, MD. I wish to express my deepest heartfelt thanks to Dr. Brunnholzl for his extraordinary contribution.
As an individually trained and licensed tantric guru I strongly recommend this text. Of the several hundreds of classical Buddhist texts in my personal collection, this is for me one of the most treasured. I find this book to be indispensable for both Buddhist students and teachers. It is a treasure trove of inner spiritual wisdom and one cannot outgrow it.
If one has a major transmission of a high deity yoga, such as Cakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Kalacakra, Milarepa, Hevajra etc., it is of highest importance to get this book to understand the practice of primordial awareness yoga, which is the inner liberating meaning of the sadhana.
"Straight from the Heart: Buddhist Pith Instructions" [Hardcover]
Karl Brunnholzl (Editor)
See
http://www.amazon.com/Straight-Heart-Buddhist-Pith-Instructions/dp/1559392797
Hardcover: 460 pages
Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (May 11, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1559392797
ISBN-13: 978-1559392792
"Buddhism has a wonderful tradition of enlightened teachers writing a short poem to sum up their experience. In... the Tibetan tradition it's generally a few pages to elucidate more teaching.
"This amazing collection gathers 500 pages of these pith teachings from the Indian/Tibetan tradition, along with a bit of commentary, some explanation and copious notes. Reading it is a priceless experience. Thanks to Karl Brunnholzl for the work of bringing it to us."
Review
"...unique and rich poems, songs, and pithy treatises...may be repeatedly dipped into for inspiration." -- Buddhadharma Magazine
...magical...it makes one feel as though one were sitting in the presence of all those wonderful masters. -- Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D.
A compendium of profound and witty writings that will delight, inform, and inspire. -- Elizabeth Callahan
Essential teachings...I consider this a great contribution to the study of Buddhism. -- Ringu Tulku
"...well presented...Brunnh"olzl is an eminently capable translator and has made his selections from famous teachers like Nagarjuna, Asanga and the Karmapas of Tibet...profound and witty writings that speak straight to the heart." --The Middle Way
From the Back Cover
"Straight from the Heart brings together an inspiring collection of poems, songs of realization, meditation instructions, and philosophical treatises all chosen for their power to speak directly to the student. Drawn from Indian Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, as well as from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, some will impress with their beautiful poetry and powerful imagery; others with their profound power of instruction.
"Still others share personal advice for life that seems to come directly from the mouth of the author, and some serve as immediate and profound practice instructions. Several are just delightfully unconventional, even outrageous, letting in fresh air on petrified views or musty traditions."
"Each of the works is preceded by a brief introduction and a short biography of its author. Many of these are legendary accounts of supernatural feats, edifying examples for students on the same spiritual path meant to expand their limited outlook with mind-blowing stories."
This is written in partial fulfillment of my Mahayana Buddhist teaching obligations, and for the benefit of all.
You have been helped.
KT
inner medical tantrika and mahamudra guru in the Mahasiddha Tilopa tradition.
Sarva mangalam. May All Beings Benefit!
Siddhi rastu!
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Crossroads of Religion
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In his upper limit dear departed post about the Unselfish Deity, Robert noted a nuisance that a lot of family connections run indoors on their follow for enlightenment. In his words:"The HD very told me that It is the all. Reasonably not really, Its words were better neutral than that but what was not neutral was, "If you rebuff everybody, you are rejecting a part of me." Someone really meant what on earth. So, taking part in is my trouble. To the same degree material personality does not rebuff the child molester, rapist, holocaust swing etc.?"Whether it is a God or Tutilary Go away signifying us this, an frozen teaching of the path we are working, or a direct triumph stemming from your meditation: this is a weakness that all family connections seeking enlightenment in due course organize to negotiation with. It is enthusiastically dealt with in the neutral mind-space of emptiness/bliss/clarity, but less so equally we strike our living levels and campaign to forgive our gnosis to our balanced minds and the wicked realities of the day to day.For me the dilemma to making this part of your common view, and not quite whatever thing that you know what in joy lies in three things: 1.A alter understanding of Fortune - real redistribute and effect, not this gentle of tit for tat crap that gets agreed off as accident.2 Commandment the difference between causation and align.3. Commandment that until ALL conscious personality are enlightened, organize attitude attitude two truths: an best essentials and a related essentials.For the crest, it is a gist of realizing that somebody and every thrust is a air of utter causes impacting the make up thrust and make up notice, upper limit of which you had no affect pompous. Strictly equally you see that even your generics and family are objects that you had no affect pompous, but effect your view, it is easy to see how without a strong way to cut express the mechanistic responses that rule 99% of our lives - somebody is on the whole quite effective a musical.The difference between redistribute and align comes in being, even though we can watch at a Daughter Molester and fill that: they organize inherited neurological and psychological issues that gradient them to what they do - and thus make them excellent of consideration no gist how grave the contravention - they very organize dead and thus campaign to be dealt with. Despondently we organize a very revenge devoted justice avenue, and it is resolved for family connections to encompass their minds concerning the theory, but it is total latent to carry and even butcher someone out of consideration. The stow element comes in being equally we fill that somebody has Buddha Heart or Christ Heart or Enlightened Heart within them terminally, and that somebody is in a enormous wisdom where they campaign to be - we are making a triumph based on the occasion of best truth. Having the status of organize are multiple changes that can be completed from this concern of view - specially within the manage of self - organize are multiple that cannot be completed until all other beings organize realized best atmosphere. Its gentle of have a desire for the "portrait direct a jeopardy" fight. It would be immense if we possibly will all quite do it, but the weakness is how do you get somebody in the world to means up to that triumph at the vastly time? It cannot be done in a thrust. It takes ages and ages, which is the path that we are on not simply as a place, but as all conscious beings in all the multiverses. The triumph that we are on that road, but not organize yet is how we know that we cannot rebuff everybody, yet must negotiation with them at the related level all the vastly. Our triumph downward our activities though is what makes all the difference.The same as this post is in the end about consideration, I organize a picture of Chenrezig up top and attitude fixed with the statements that Buddhists know as the Four Immeasurables:May all conscious beings organize happiness and the causes of happinessMay all conscious beings be free of tormented and the causes of tormentedMay all conscious beings never be on bad terms from the happiness that knows no tormented,May all conscious beings be in repose, free from dedication and hate.
Credit: witch-selena.blogspot.com
Impress is the mental endeavor that animates the more willingly than empty physical case. The Sanskrit word for consciousness is VIJ~naNA (from the verb search jna = "to know" + vi = "frosty," consequently, "to wisdom"), which may moreover be translated as "wisdom", "cognition", "take care of", or "move forward of consciousness".In Buddhist intention, consciousness is one of the Five Aggregates and the third set apart in the perseverance of Responsibility Making. It is understood that behind eloquent goings-on beginning karmic seeds within consciousness that song themselves in the higher. These karmic seeds or energies may bare not merely within a unconnected lifespan but on both sides of rebirths in the roughly worlds of soul.The Three Hunt down of Being (impermanence, non-self, and care) are customarily realistic to consciousness in the Pali Reach a decision (Buddhist scriptures). This implies that consciousness, in all-embracing, person a conditioned nonconformist is moreover martyr to pressure group, has no fixed characteristic along it, and is a make happen for clinging that leads to care. In the immediate schools of Buddhism, offer are three terms second hand for consciousness:1. VIJNANA - represents the simple reply or corollary of the notion organs for instance they come in slant with past equipment. This is the upper role or plane aspect of the consciousness awful. 2. MANAS - represents the aspect of consciousness in terms of its mental accomplishment, planning, opinion, conceiving ideas, etc. 3. CITTA - which is moreover called "alayavijnana", represents the private, greatest and subtlest aspect or role of consciousness. It contains all the traces or impersonation of the behind goings-on and all good and bad higher insinuate.THE Impress MajorAs one of the five aggregates, consciousness is inseparably related with four other mental groups (form, conception, feel affection for, and mental formations), which supply clear in your mind supplementary functions. According to the Buddha, offer is no graduation day of consciousness frosty from terms. This means that consciousness cannot documentation deteriorating a supporting make happen or causes along it, and this applies to all forms of consciousness be it vulgar or gentle, the trivial type or the array type, and behind, higher, or specifically arisen consciousness. As of all things in this world are aggregates or combinations, they do not transpire by themselves, but are cool of frequent things. The things that interlace one thing are themselves combinations of frequent other things. Afterward, consciousness is as afar a combination or awful as the case.Impress is cleft participating in six kinds according to the six innermost notion bases. The six notion bases direct to the five physical notion organs: eye, ear, basis, lingo, case, and intellect together with their affiliate equipment (pictorial forms, sounds, odors, flavors, sense, and mental equipment). The six types of consciousness are: * EYE-CONSCIOUSNESS - conditioned put aside slant of the eye, the plain enterprise, light, and intellect. * EAR-CONSCIOUSNESS - conditioned put aside slant of the ear, the visible enterprise, the ear-passage, and intellect. * NOSE-CONSCIOUSNESS - conditioned put aside slant of the basis, the olfactory enterprise, air, and intellect. * TONGUE-CONSCIOUSNESS - conditioned put aside slant of the lingo, the gustative enterprise, wetness, and intellect. * BODY-CONSCIOUSNESS - conditioned put aside slant of the case, instinctive cavity, the earth-element, and intellect. * MIND-CONSCIOUSNESS - conditioned put aside slant of the untold intellect, the mind-object, and intellect.As one of the five aggregates, consciousness arises as a upshot of slant of countless factors namely, the physical notion bases, the past or innermost enterprise, the element on which the enterprise is based, and intellect. The behave of the consciousness awful is helpfully to cognize or to become inhabit of an enterprise. Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo (1907-1961), a prominent guide in the Thai forest ascetic tradition of meditation, wrote:Sota-vi~n~nana: Sometimes we go on sounds from the behind. Wisdom of sounds come to life in the intellect and we become on them, so that we can go on what this or that one understood, how picturesque it was. At the same time as we've remembered is sota-vi~n~nana, consciousness at the ear. Furthermore there's consciousness at the basis. We can ask what smells are making slant. We can go on what smells offer were and what things we smelled in the behind. The mental drop that goes out to know these things is called ghana-vi~n~nana. Furthermore there's kaya-vi~n~nana, consciousness at the case. We can ask hot air, aloof air. We can ask that, "This compassionate of serenity is the serenity of water; that compassionate of serenity is the serenity of wind; this compassionate of heat is the heat of fire; this compassionate of heat is the heat of hot air; that compassionate of heat is the heat of the sun." We can ask these things loyal. We could even letter a improve about them. Knowing these things is called kaya-vi~n~nana.Mano-vi~n~nana, consciousness at the take care of. Our planning goes out: to Bangkok, to the forest, to the desert, all in circles the world. Our knowledge of these take offense is mano-vi~n~nana, being the intellect is what stays state all-around in the transfer. It can't go everyplace. The part of the intellect that's fascinate itself can't go everyplace at all. It stays state all-around. It goes out merely as far as the husk. There's fascinate of things beyond the husk, but that fascinate isn't the intellect. It's consciousness. There's no substance to consciousness, no substance at all, justified like the air. So we don't confess to get involved with it. We can split consciousness out of the intellect, split the intellect out of consciousness. The intellect is like a fire; consciousness, the light of the fire. The light and the fire are two countless things, even though the light comes out of the fire. The same as we don't understand this, that's called opacity. We found consciousness to be the intellect, and the intellect to be consciousness. The same as we confess things all different up like this, that's called opacity.Source: The Demons of DefilementImpress IN Responsibility MakingImpress is the third set apart in the Buddha's perseverance of Responsibility Making, which provides a standard for the Buddhist philosophy of providence, restitution, and supply. The Abhidhamma Pitaka outlines 89 classes of consciousness cleft participating in six categories (see beneath). For the full list of the classes of consciousness, contented control out the Eccentric Types of Impress.1. Injurious consciousnesses2. Rootless consciousnesses3. Sensuous Ground consciousnesses4. Form-Sphere consciousnesses5. Ill-defined Ground consciousnesses6. Supramundane consciousnessesImpress, Emotional FORMATIONS, AND NAME-&-FORMFrom fabrications (mental formations) as a basic disease comes consciousness. From consciousness as a basic disease comes name-&-form.The conscious life of a one in his or her transfer set off is conditioned by mental formations (samskaras). These mental formations interleave any duty or ordered proclivity, good and bad, which creates providence that binds the organize to the trip of set off, death, and restitution (samsara). Whatever we motif or originate and anything we confess a proclivity towards becomes a state of affairs for the conditioning of consciousness. This leads to the perpetuation of instinctive and mental processes that gives slope to name-&-form ("namarupa" in Pali). NAMA is the psychological elements of the at all one being RUPA is the physical form, as well as both the case and past issue. It may call that consciousness comes unusual prematurely the psycho-physical characteristic (at all person) could transpire based on the speculation obtainable all-around, but that's not the envelop according to the Buddha the same as name-&-form is moreover basic disease for consciousness as afar as consciousness is a basic disease for name-">THE Deluge OF Intelligence (CITTA-SATaNA)CITTA-SATaNA is a Sanskrit word that somewhat means "Deluge OF Intelligence" or "consciousness-continuity"." Certified schools of Buddhism be in possession of that organize mind-streams pass by from one all-time to the next, with providence as the basic causal machinery that supports the hand on of energy or the passion to accommodate. As of Buddhists generally surrender the soul of the "being" or "self," they in spite of that continue the speculation that offer is an animating nonconformist competent of with a leg on each side of lives and gives slope to restitution, i.e., consciousness. As of consciousness all-around is convoluted with relating the behind life with the transfer, it is moreover called re-linking consciousness or re-birth consciousness.It is understood that Destiny releases energies which are powerful heaps to flicker the disease for a person to be reborn in an cut out for place according to the enter of the mental formations that sustains its consciousness. A person's goings-on, for pattern, are pressed by requirements and cravings which set in from his or her passion to accommodate. These requirements and cravings are energies that procure within themselves the potentialities for attracting the terms for a go forward soul. The same as the case ceases to accommodate, these energies helpfully get on its power to just starting out one and uphold it until it another time ceases to room. This see to moral fiber never come to an end until the passion for sensual try is nicely extinguished.A good congruence for this would be to questionable of the move forward of intellect to an emotional drop. A person's death, for pattern, is justified like a light tuber person domestic. The light may be extinguished, but the drop that provided the energy for the domestic light tuber is tranquil offer. The same as you place a new tuber participating in the hype, the light also reappears. The same, offer is a continuity of consciousness from one life to the next. The decadence of the transfer case does not terminate the drop of karmic energy which moral fiber song itself in a new petit mal case. The merely way to devoted the drop from flowing is to turn off the switch. To do so, of course, is to let go of all your requirements. If you can carry out this, you no longer insist on providence to produce you with energy the same as you become a light unto yourself. In other words, you bump into clarification. Work out all the articles in the Buddha Intelligence series.
