In a thread from a while ago SquirrelNeurons, Type_DXL and others mentioned that there's criticism likely directed at the Bhagavad Gita. I kept thinking about it, and I'm wondering if there are similar philosophical counters to other topics.

I understand there's a lot that can be derived from the sutras, but what I'm looking for is something more precisely aimed at certain themes, even if it's just a neutral comment.

This isn't simply due to intellectual curiosity. There are some recurring discussion topics in my circle, with Buddhism sometimes mentioned in the middle, and I'd like to know what the masters had to say about them so that I can organize my thoughts. In particular:

• Patanjali's Yoga sutras
• Vedanta
• Consequentialist ethics (like those we find in politics and in the military)
• Worship of disembodied spirits (Kardecism, actually, but that's too recent so I'm thinking about something in those lines)

Posting at r/TibetanBuddhism as well.

I have a teacher and follow their teaching, just looking for resources that may have served some of you in your journeys along the way as a supplement. Thanks!

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I can across a disturbing advertisement on my Facebook feed for a ten week course that offers instruction on Tummo and promises “ full enlightenment in ten weeks”. All of the testimonials are about worldly benefits that participants gained after taking the courses it’s marketed the way you out expect a new fad diet to be marketed. It’s taught by some guy named Stef Kling. His name is also the name of the “method” that the course teaches.

Surely this guy is not teaching random people tummo, right? Does anyone know where this guy came from, if he has any lineage? Something about the whole thing left me feeling very uneasy. Any thoughts?

Practicing vajrayana is not the first time i have delved into occult topics. But the problem with these esoteric techniques is: you have great responsibility towards yourself and others.

Confronting others with superficially deeply disturbing Material, that can only be understood in the context of the practice for example will be bad, because you can trigger something unpleasant in others without really wanting to - i think that is also bad Karma and something that I want to avoid.

I also dont feel superior because of this practice, it is just something to do that makes sense to me

So in this spirit I hope to follow the dharma and not hurt myself and others.

Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey (1925–1995) was educated at Sera Je Monastery and trained nine incarnate lamas (tulkus) and thousands of Westerners. Appointed by the Dalai Lama as the first teacher for Westerners at the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives in Dharamsala, he taught there for 13 years. After an extensive international teaching tour, he founded the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre in Dunedin, New Zealand, and taught there for the rest of his life.

In 1983 Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey was invited by some of his long-standing students in Seattle USA to give an explanation of the practice of Kalacakra.

The passages further below are from the edited translation of that teaching. ———————————————————————

The Kalacakra Tantra is a Vajrayana text that belongs to the class of Highest Yoga Tantras.

The text contains four higher empowerments and four higher, higher empowerments.

The first of the four higher empowerments is the Empowerment of the Vase, which leads one to the eight Bodhisattva stage called the Immovable. ———————————————————————

The Empowerment of the Vase

The point of this empowerment is to ripen the mind of the trainee.

First, one imagines offering a girl, between the ages of 12 and 20, to the vajra master. Together with this, one offers the mandala and prayers to the vaira master and requests the empowerment. The vase empowerment is actually given when the imagined girl comes back to the trainee who then enjoys her presence through laughing and fondling her breasts. As one touches the girl's breasts there arises the 'bliss' (Skt. sukha; Tib. bde.ba) which should be experienced as indivisible from emptiness. It is with this experience of indivisible emptiness and bliss that one actually receives the vase empowerment. There is not actually any vase or any pot that is used for this empowerment. What is referred to as the pot are the breasts of the girl, which are called the "vase that holds the white' (Tib. dkar. 'dzin.gyi.bumpa). Because one touches the breasts of the girl and the breasts are likened to the vase, this is called the empowerment of the vase.

Hello, warm greetings, what do you think of Taoism(s)?

I'm Vajrayana buddhist and want to hear other Vajrayana buddhists' thoughts about and learn more, in the scope of spiritual path

Hello r/vajrayana

I have no experience with formal Tibetan Buddhist practice but I am curious to understand more from those who have actively practiced in this way, regarding nature of the relationship with the teacher.

• How frequent was your contact with your primary ‘realised’ teacher/guru?

• Was your primary teacher a Rinpoche or a lineage holder? If not, how frequent was your contact with your lineage holder or Rinpoche?

• Here is an example. I live in the UK, and nearby is one of the monasteries belonging to Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, part of the Shedrub organisation. Let’s say I start attending and beginning a committed ted practice there. I doubt Mr Rinpoche visits the UK too often, and when he does, I am sure his calendar will be very busy. Would I nonetheless consider my teacher to be Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche? Or would my teacher effectively be one of the resident Lamas, who I would presumably have more contact with?

Same goes for the Tergar organisation, and others. Even if Mingyur Rinpoche is writing your course material, I presume you would be lucky to even see him once in a year. How is it possible to have a proper teacher-student relationship in these circumstances? Can he still be your ‘guru’?

I hope you guys will be able to help me understand. Thank you.

Asanga, meditator from the IV century. Traditionally said, he reached through meditation the capacity to meet with Bodhisattva Maitreya in tushita heaven, then bringing his teachings back in five great treatises.

He and his brother Vasubandhu are also referred as great founders of Yogacara

Tashi Deleg all!

I’ve received refuge and transmission/empowerment of Dudjom tersar ngondro which I’ve accumulated(though I still practice). I also received the empowerment of Yumka Dechen Gyalmo as my first empowerment recently. All from the same lama, my Teacher. The empowerment was a small one, where we were in the temple area and we received the four empowerments from the lama as we walked up. My point: I am already turning to it as a main practice. I can’t do the full feast offering and the rituals that take mostly multiple people to do, though I try.

I mostly am doing the mantra — root and body mandala mantras — as my main practice, along with visualization. I’m constantly chanting the mantra throughout the day, etc.

It says in the treasure text: “the crucial point is to rest in meditative equipoise on the nature of reality, in which there is neither granting nor receiving of the royal vase empowerment. There is no need to rely on a vast number of practices of generation and completion phases — through this practice alone, you will reach accomplishment.”

Basically, Vajravarahi/Yeshe Tsogyal is my practice. Yumka Dechen Gyalmo has all aspects of the path available within it. So it’s fine to focus on this practice? Dakini as yidam, so to speak. EDIT: not is it ok, but this isn’t unheard of, no?

Take care!

The Teachings on the Key of Life and Death for the First Appearance of the "Dharma Nature and Bodhicitta" After Death

https://youtu.be/JhkQu4m0QLM?list=PLJ3pLcm4TC6dZmLTl7YzZqdZKU4HDdGOx

Obviously, this will vary among each lineage (Karma Kagyu here) and person but I'm curious! I work best with a fixed schedule, so I'm trying to build a proper weekly routine that I can stick to and would love some inspiration.

So far, I'm doing Ngondro daily (currently doing prostrations), we do a short practice of Chenrezig, Amitabha, and Guru Rinpoche at my Sangha once a week, as well as a session of Samatha and Tonglen once a week (which I also try to do as often as possible at home), and I also inconsistently practice White Tara - that's it as I've only received transmission for this so far. I'm basically trying to figure out how often to do Chenrezig and White Tara because I feel like once a week is not enough but every single day along with Ngondro is a bit too much considering I have worldly commitments as well.

What about you guys? Do you have a fixed schedule or do you just do any practice at any time that feels right?

Please use this thread to discuss random thoughts, discussions and other comments related to Vajrayana Buddhism. This can hopefully de-clutter the front page a bit as this is something users have requested. Let's use it for benefit!

https://preview.redd.it/la1wog8swvuc1.jpg?width=1191&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=722b1532113bb25a9741b28175c6182efb9bd1b0

I'm interested in starting Ngondro practice, and the closest Tibetan center has a resident tulku from the Sakya lineage (trained for over 10 years at Sakya Trizin Academy in Nepal). When I asked him about receiving the Ngondro lung, he suggested he would find the text in English or Chinese for me. But I don't want to trouble him that much.

I found a book titled "The Excellent Path of the Two Accumulations" on Amazon, but it's out of stock. Does anyone have an electronic copy they'd be willing to share?

Thanks a million!!!

Greetings everyone,

I need to track down this book but I've had no luck anywhere, including using ISBN and email the publisher directly. Anyone have a copy they'd be willing to share or know where it can be found?

I’m curious about what the proper way to interpret the Naropa and Marpa prostration story is. Is it really just face value “your guru is higher/more important than the yidam/buddhas” or is it more nuanced?

I'm just curious if this is really common or not. It happened to me and a lama at a teaching I once attended seemed to be saying misfortune is pretty common among Buddhists and referred to it as "paying the bills" of karmic debt. He said better to pay them now in this life than many future lives where the same debts might lead to far more unpleasant circumstances.

In this teaching, he told the story of a former student who gave up Buddhism and married a Muslim guy and converted to Islam. She told this lama when they ran into each other that she's so happy now and has a brand new car, a nice house, and lots of money. The lama was obviously amused by this and said something like, "So, that's good, right? This is good for her...in this life, anyway. Maybe not so good in the next life. We don't know." I don't want to paraphrase anymore of this teaching from memory, but I've explained the essence of it.

Thanks to all who reply!

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Clarity-Marcia-Binder-Schmidt/dp/962734169X?dplnkId=72d596c4-6c9e-4a26-9745-89dbb96f589c

I bought it on Kindle for 8.99. It has beautiful aspiration prayers for both Mahamudra and Dzogchen, and a variety of profound teachings by masters of both traditions. Many of us, particularly if practicing in a lineage influenced by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, may be practicing both systems, but even if you only practice one of them I believe you'd get so much from the book.

Not only is there no difference between being close to the guru or far away, the guru's blessings are stronger when you are far away. For example, Milarepa stayed with Marpa in order to receive all the oral instructions, then went off to practice in the mountains of Lachi. Once, when Milarepa supplicated Marpa with great longing and devotion, Marpa appeared to him in the midst of a cloud, riding a lion, even though he was very far away...

I say this because some people think that when they are a student of a particular guru, they need to stay with the guru all the time. This is not the case. There is actually no difference between staying near the guru or staying far from the guru. If you have very strong faith, although you may actually be living far from the guru, the guru will be right there. But if you have no faith, you may always be in the presence of the guru but still be far away.

– Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche

I'm doing a presentation on Vajrayana Buddhism and would love to hear what practicing Vajrayana Buddhists feel about other schools of Buddhism, as well as other religions in general!

There are multiple accounts on Darma Dode's death. One Kagyu Lama said he died in a horse accident. On the other hand, I'd read that he was defeated & murdered in a protector-deity-clash with Ra Lotsawa. Moreover, in Ra Lotswa's bio, Darma Dode's death has been glorified as a symbolic victory over ignorance or false tantric path.

What is the truth? Any (secular) Tibetans here?

For some years now, I have had a progressively worse addiction to prescription adderall for my adhd. It finally got so out of hand this month that I decided it was time to do something about it. I did what before had been inconceivable, and admitted to the prescribing doctor that I was addicted to it and that he should cancel the prescriptions on file at the pharmacy and put the diagnosis in mg chart so no doctor will ever prescribe it again.

In a week I also have a substance abuse assessment with an addictions counselor so I can enter their intensive outpatient treatment program. I am determined to beat this. For a long time I knew I needed to, but I didn't have the courage. It was finally compassion toward my mother, who told me my addictive behavior sometimes makes her feel suicidal from the stress, that gave me the resolve to take action, as I can't bear the thought of causing her such deep suffering.

The issue is, I asked my doctor to prescribe a tapering dose on the same day i ran out, last Friday. So my dad gave me pills from his own prescription which I gave to my mother, to taper off over a few weeks. But then on Monday my doctor prescribed a taper prescription itself. Despite already having the pills to do the taper from my dad, I could not resist going to pick them up, and I've abused them badly, almost am out of those, and have messed up my taper. It will still be fine, just not as smooth as it could have been. But its still disappointing.

As a licensed addictions Psychotherapist myself (not working right now of course) I know how tough addiction is, and that setbacks, slips, and even relapse is a natural part of the recovery process. It's hard to extend that same kindness and understanding to myself though. I also feel fear of the negative karma from acting on the addiction when I do it, and then even more fear when I do a confession liturgy or vajrasattva but then continue the behavior. I know I need to be kind and patient to myself; this is a wonderful opportunity both to extend Metta to myself, and also do tonglen practice for all those with addiction, imagining that my own suffering from it absorbs and takes away theirs etc.

But I'm wondering if someone can give a spiritual perspective on how to handle this, and the matter of purification of what is essentially actions caused by a brain disease that is going to have ups and downs as I begin the process of recovery. I feel like excessive fear of lower realms or spiritual guilt isn't going to be particularly helpful in decreasing addictive behaviors either, in fact, that tends to actually create aversion to Dharma, since I then begin to associate it with fear and guilt. I have spoken to a Lama mentor (not my root guru, as he's not very accessible) but she has focused more on the practical aspects of what I need to do to get well, and not really talked about the religious element of it much when we discuss it.

So I ask for your own thoughts. Meanwhile I'll make a note to set up an interview with one of my Lama friends to ask them for guidance about that dimension. I just have a fear that perhaps they won't understand addiction is a brain disease that changes the brains reward pathways, so it's not really a "moral choice" kind of thing. It is a choice to decide whether to take steps to recovery, but setbacks will happen for any addict, speaking as a professional in the field and an addict myself.

The Visualization Practice of "Compassion" and "Bodhicitta" Series (2): The Visualization Practice of Initiating the Programme of Entering the Dharma Realm and Attain Buddhahood

https://youtu.be/uJWHtH2MrBk?list=PLJ3pLcm4TC6dZmLTl7YzZqdZKU4HDdGOx

Please use this thread to discuss random thoughts, discussions and other comments related to Vajrayana Buddhism. This can hopefully de-clutter the front page a bit as this is something users have requested. Let's use it for benefit!

https://variety.com/2024/film/global/harvey-keitel-guru-buddhist-drama-milarepa-first-look-1235963957/