can anyone point me towards a/any texts, commentaries, books, pdf's, etc. that help one's understanding of emptiness as it relates to Vajrayana practice specifically?
I have studied some Madhyamika (Chandrakirti, a little Nagarjuna, and so-forth), but I was hoping for something a little more geared towards the Vajrayana practitioner. I study in a terma tradition, if this helps any.
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
If you scroll down the page it says that the book should be read by people that have finished ngondro.
There's gotta be something else to help this guy out. Maybe post in the Nyingma forum?
1.The problem isn’t ‘ignorance’. The problem is the mind you have right now. (H.H. Karmapa XVII @NYC 2/4/18) 2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse. 3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me. Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
The view isn't different in Tantra and the Sutra meditations on emptiness carry over for the most part.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
If you scroll down the page it says that the book should be read by people that have finished ngondro.
Yes that is true, I finished many years ago.
/magnus
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
i read yesterday in the book, confusion dawns as wisdom. there was a story when atisha was going to tibet and he asked the translator what sutras and scriptures he had studied. the translator gave a profound list and atisha was wondering why would the tibetans need him if the translator is so learned. then atisha asked that how does he apply the teachings. and the translator said that he applies each sutras teaching how it is instructed in that particular scripture and applies that method to all the scriptures. Atisha then realized the tibetans need him because he knew that all the scriptures are interconnected that they compliment each other. my writing of this is a bit of a rape but still.
its not that shunyata is somehow different in vajrayana. all you need is the correct view, and that helps. then qualify to practice vajrayana. you dont know it perfectly but some experience and intellectual understanding so youre not totally in the blue when it comes to knowing what is emptiness.
like konchog said its not different in sutras and tantras.
of course if you want to know how it applies to tantric practices like generation stage or so i cant answer that question but i think you would find some help in '' deity , mantra and wisdom '' book.
but really, emptiness in tantra and sutra is the same, and when you understand emptiness you understand both sutra and tantra better.
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....
In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….
Vajrayana is about practice, or should be. If you have a basic grounding in Sutra teachings about sunyata, that's enough. If you try to practice Vajrayana worrying about what the difference might be between Mantra and Sutra sunyata, you'll get nowhere. Just follow your teacher's instructions about how to do the ngondro and really try to understand the meanings, and that will lay the groundwork, and possibly even more.
Terma wrote:
can anyone point me towards a/any texts, commentaries, books, pdf's, etc. that help one's understanding of emptiness as it relates to Vajrayana practice specifically?
I have studied some Madhyamika (Chandrakirti, a little Nagarjuna, and so-forth), but I was hoping for something a little more geared towards the Vajrayana practitioner. I study in a terma tradition, if this helps any.
The difference is, emptiness nature in a book is a fancy concept.
The experience of emptiness nature and the means how to get there are a different pair of boots. It's like a map and guidbook of South Africa and actually being there or taking the plane.
You might have a look at the heart sutra and acquaint yourself a little with the basic principles of vajrayana and how it works. Because that explains your question. I also suggest you consult your teacher on the matter. But no intellectual explanation will ever be able to replace a personal experience. Once you had that, even a little glimpse of it, then you can understand how all those teachings all make perfect sense.
