Search found 38 matches

by Asabandha
Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:46 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

I can't even say that ngondro is a marathon because where's the finish line? Depends on why you are doing Ngondro. If you are doing Ngondro for the sake of doing Ngondro, well then yes, there is no "finish line". If you are doing Ngondro because you want to develop the necessary basis to ...
by Asabandha
Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:51 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Understanding emptiness
Replies: 145
Views: 27726

Re: Understanding emptiness

I said more conducive , not ideal! ;D I'm glad that one got people riled, as was its intended purpose... But perhaps the real point has been missed, which is that understanding emptiness as a means to creating a more pleasant lie(fe) is not the point of Buddhism and can actually be an even greater h...
by Asabandha
Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:37 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Meditation after being involved in a car accident
Replies: 10
Views: 3411

Re: Meditation after being involved in a car accident

Not long after I started meditating I was involved in a head-on collision. My pelvis was broken. For the following two years I exclusively meditated lying down because sitting was too painful. If falling asleep during meditation is an issue, practice active breathing with counting for a while until ...
by Asabandha
Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:20 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Understanding emptiness
Replies: 145
Views: 27726

Re: Understanding emptiness

Understanding emptiness is perhaps useful, but realization is the goal. To realize emptiness one must generate incredible bodhicitta, a motivation for enlightenment so pure that ego has nothing to do with it and so powerful that the unbearability of others' suffering keeps one up at night. Under suc...
by Asabandha
Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:24 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

What I'm getting out of this is that the more fundamental a practice is the more important it is, and it's never really done. Taking refuge with prostration and generating bodhicitta every day is a profound step that builds faith, humbleness/openness and sets intention... And it maintains existing f...
by Asabandha
Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:56 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

That's a very kind thing, Dechen. :D But I'm just being silly... The only thing on it's way out is my ego (Slowly but surely), and when I say I'm delighted about that I mean it! Coming from a background of Heavy Metal Hatred, I get a kick out of reappropriating depressive/negative phraseology to ind...
by Asabandha
Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:32 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Eyes open during samatha?
Replies: 5
Views: 2459

Re: Eyes open during samatha?

I have been told that a benefit of meditating with the eyes open is that one becomes accustomed to concentrating amid the distractions of visual sense perception. I do both right now, and I feel based on personal experience that meditating with the eyes open does carry over into day to day activitie...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:40 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

:D I'm glad I made you chuckle! hah.. Most of the stuff I write about Buddhism doesn't even make sense to me ten minutes after I've written it. Like ngondro seems simple at face value, right... How about vipassana, that's even simpler right? Hahahah... I kill myself too. If only I could kill myself...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:35 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Home Retreats
Replies: 6
Views: 1991

Re: Home Retreats

Thanks for your thoughts Ron. I'm checking out a nearby retreat center on the 20th of this month for Tsong Khapa Day offerings. My hope is to meet people there and have opportunities to study and go on retreats there in the future. :)
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:17 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

:D I'm glad I made you chuckle! hah.. Most of the stuff I write about Buddhism doesn't even make sense to me ten minutes after I've written it. Like ngondro seems simple at face value, right... How about vipassana, that's even simpler right? Hahahah... I kill myself too. If only I could kill myself ...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 1:28 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Home Retreats
Replies: 6
Views: 1991

Re: Home Retreats

I also anticipate that disciplining my eating habits will be difficult for this first retreat, but it is something I would like to tackle head on and carry over into my daily routine. If I were you, if you want to get the most out of samatha, focus on samatha and not fasting. Give your body enough ...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:36 am
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: My son's safety
Replies: 8
Views: 2201

Re: My son's safety

Hello Madeliaette, I hope you will take comfort in knowing that the negativity your son may have been exposed to is a weak, superficial force indeed when faced with the loving-kindness born of emptiness. Even loving-kindness that simply reflects emptiness without any realization is more powerful tha...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:42 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Home Retreats
Replies: 6
Views: 1991

Home Retreats

For a couple of months now I have been thinking about re-engaging in silent retreats at home. I live with two very respectful roommates who would certainly accommodate me by limiting noise in the house and taking care of my dog, not that they are noisy in the first place but I mean they would have n...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:59 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Difficulties Meditating
Replies: 14
Views: 3743

Re: Difficulties Meditating

I appreciate how enthusiastic you are... It reminds me of when I first started meditating. I was a lunatic, going for days at a time and chasing the highs all the way. There has already been good advice in this thread... Here is what I would like to add: Awesome feelings arise spontaneously when we ...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:41 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

I am only familiar with the Gelugpa and Kagyupa, and as I understand it, the sutra path provides the foundation for tantric practice. That is my understanding too, based on something I read a few years ago before I even called myself a Buddhist. Something I read today confused me, making it seem li...
by Asabandha
Sat Dec 10, 2011 1:17 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Re: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

Thanks Caz, I will look into these things you have mentioned more. I am just starting to learn about Lam-rim, Lojong and Ngondro but I have noticed the many Mahayana elements present in them. I am just wondering if some people in Tibet pursue Paramitayana exclusively as a means to enlightenment or i...
by Asabandha
Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:16 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 29
Views: 6052

Paramitayana and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism

I am wondering what the relationship is between Paramitayana (Basically traditional Mahayanan practices) and Tantrayana in Tibetan Buddhism. For example, is Paramitayana typically practiced prior to Tantrayana, like a progression? I do not practice Tantric Buddhism yet, so I'm essentially practicing...
by Asabandha
Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:51 pm
Forum: Gelug
Topic: Daily Practice in Tibetan Buddhism
Replies: 2
Views: 1618

Re: Daily Practice in Tibetan Buddhism

Thank you for sharing this great collection of talks.
by Asabandha
Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:39 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Karma and the Ten Powers
Replies: 34
Views: 7383

Re: Karma and the Ten Powers

Thanks to everyone for their input. This has turned into a very interesting thread with some pretty heavy topics of conversation. I do not have much to add right now, but this has provided plenty of food for non-thought. :popcorn: Mmmmm, popped Dharma. Delicious!
by Asabandha
Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:07 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Greetings
Replies: 11
Views: 2910

Re: Greetings

Namaste Tenzin :) I am also new. :anjali:

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