tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304792190086448127.post3542045067171503688..comments2024-02-04T01:37:53.246-08:00Comments on Mountain Phoenix over Tibet: Tantra Mantra Mumbo JumboMountain Phoenixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01726933027905675503noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304792190086448127.post-5238796931978786452012-02-06T04:54:50.315-08:002012-02-06T04:54:50.315-08:00Very influential. I'm sharing on Facebook :)Very influential. I'm sharing on Facebook :)Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304792190086448127.post-35091571388903569722011-11-20T05:50:47.570-08:002011-11-20T05:50:47.570-08:00Dear Mountain Phoenix-la,
I think you're an i...Dear Mountain Phoenix-la,<br /><br />I think you're an incredibly honest practitioner — in the sense that you are incredibly well aware of the exact level of your own practice! And my own teacher tells me that this kind of honesty is the mark of really having heard and, most importantly, reflected on the Dharma. He also taught me never to "copycat" the Lama's (or older practitioners') gestures, prostrations, or other ritualistic behaviour, without really understanding their meaning, or, if the meaning has been explained, if it doesn't make any sense to us, avoid following them (but not speak out or justify the reasons why not).<br /><br />So what you say makes sense to me as well.<br /><br />On the other hand, my teacher also enforced the idea that on Vajrayana we should set a high goal but slowly work downwards until we find a level with which we're comfortable with, and then, very slowly and progressively, work towards that goal. I'm a very recent practitioner and not a Tibetan (so I'm handicapped by not understanding lots of cultural and traditional aspects surrounding the Dharma practices), so after initially rejecting this approach ("why should I receive first the initiation and only afterwards the explanation of the vows I didn't know I had to keep?") this was a subject of much reflection of my part. I concluded that the little I could understand was less than a drop of water in the ocean of Vajrayana teachings, so how could I have an opinion about the ocean if the only thing I knew was that drop of water? Should I reject the ocean because all I knew was to look at a drop of water? It seemed to me that I was self-constraining myself to a very narrow view, and, by placing limitations, how could I expect to reach liberation from all constraints? It seemed a bit contradictory to me!<br /><br />So my current approach is simple. I'm perhaps far worse than you in defining what my level is, but I know it's very, very low. The more I'm exposed to profound teachings, the more intensely I reflect and meditate on the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to the Dharma and on the Four Noble Truths or the Four Seals; there is still a wealth of work for me to do on such foundations of the Dharma. The more I read about samayas and their consequences, the more I carefully watch the precepts for having taken the refuge vows; how can I expect to be able to be serious about my samayas (even Atisha lamented that they were so hard to keep) if I keep failing to pay attention to my refuge precepts? When I hear about Dzogchen teachings, I tremble in fear — because they're so easy to misinterpret, and I'm sure I'm not a valid vessel yet to be able to practice at that level. There is simply too much confusion in my mind.<br /><br />So my approach might seem a bit insane to you, but here is what my teacher recommended me: never to reject the opportunity to receive teachings, empowerments, or transmissions, even if I don't understand them fully at first. *Always* make sure that I receive the proper explanations from a qualified teacher — sometimes, as with empowerments, I might just receive the explanations afterwards, but that's far better than not receiving anything at all. Carefully analyse all that I've received/attended/participate in, and find out at which level I am, and practice accordingly. Moderate my enthusiasm for "more Dharma" by making careful selections — there is no point in accumulating transmissions after transmissions if I don't intend to practice them all! So there is here a balance to be achieved: the opportunity to get access to the Dharma is limited, so not rejecting the opportunity is good for my practice; on the other hand, it's worthless to become a "Dharma collector" — just getting a long pile of practices and teachings to put on a shelf to gather dust — or to proudly tell people around you how many teachings and practices you have received! — is completely worthless.Luís Miguel Sequeirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15538752866049989369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304792190086448127.post-3558744847816778432011-08-23T06:56:03.546-07:002011-08-23T06:56:03.546-07:00Next piece please.Next piece please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304792190086448127.post-67277507509687523062011-07-15T00:08:30.769-07:002011-07-15T00:08:30.769-07:00Hello there!
Wow, the way you describe what was g...Hello there!<br /><br />Wow, the way you describe what was going on around the Kalachakra sounds so lively! I can imagine how much fun it must have been! Just in case: Maybe I should point out that missing the event wasn’t hard. It wasn’t some kind conflict of conscience or something that my head forced upon my heart. It was all very natural. No big deal. But I got your point when you say I could be more easy going on some things. Thanks for the reminder! <br /><br />Kind regards <br />„MPTO“Mountain Phoenix over Tibetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7304792190086448127.post-21721121838271322172011-07-13T12:21:43.584-07:002011-07-13T12:21:43.584-07:00Dear MPOT la,
you are very hard on yourself and yo...Dear MPOT la,<br />you are very hard on yourself and you seem to make rules for yourself based on intellectual integrity, that you weren't break even when all eight worldly dharmas converge at 7th and G streets in Washington DC, the heart of the city's Chinatown. It is a surreal visual feast to see so many monks and women clad in Benares silk chupas swirling around the Verizon Center, with a world's first........Tibetans outnumbering Chinese at a Chinese site. Then there are all the sudden sightings and cups of teas shared with people one hasn't thought of in years, decades, and longer. And to bring one back from the precipice of nirvana after a day of teachings, there are two or three cultural events to attend every night such as new films, musical performances, dharma talks, and just straight outright parties. I wish you would be a little easier on yourself and allow for some faults and weaknesses to coexist with your intellectual correctness and strengths. That may be a more tantric way. Best wishes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com