Visionary Experience in Buddhism
- AdmiralJim
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Visionary Experience in Buddhism
So what are Buddhist experiencing when they get visions as a result of particular practices?
I don't know where we are going but it will be nice when we get there
Visionary Experience in Buddhism
AdmiralJim wrote:So what are Buddhist experiencing when they get visions as a result of particular practices?
That really depends on how deluded they are.
Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
yup, visions range all the way from the divine to the ridiculous. An example of the ridiculous kind would be to sit in the dark pressing on your eyeballs and trying to divine meaning into the resulting random light display. Something similar happened to me recently in a meditation class where I focussed on a tiny point on the altar, retinal fatigue set in, and I was treated to an LSD-like light show. Completely useless. Or very nearly so, I guess I did learn a bit about the nature of perception.
Sergeant Schultz knew everything there was to know.
Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
It could only be understood in a particular context ... one may always be careful when maintaining the ridiculous.catmoon wrote:yup, visions range all the way from the divine to the ridiculous. An example of the ridiculous kind would be to sit in the dark pressing on your eyeballs and trying to divine meaning into the resulting random light display. ...
Sönam
By understanding everything you perceive from the perspective of the view, you are freed from the constraints of philosophical beliefs.
By understanding that any and all mental activity is meditation, you are freed from arbitrary divisions between formal sessions and postmeditation activity.
- Longchen Rabjam -
By understanding that any and all mental activity is meditation, you are freed from arbitrary divisions between formal sessions and postmeditation activity.
- Longchen Rabjam -
- PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
If you mean a vision like seeing the Virgin of Guadalupe,
I've never had the pleasure.
But I have had my share of amazements.
I've never had the pleasure.
But I have had my share of amazements.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
- AdmiralJim
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Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
Well I have just finished reading about the life of Tilopa, who is said to have had visions of the primoridal Buddha Dorje Chang, how seriously are we to take these visionary experiences? I myself have had strange dreams with regards to certain aspects of teaching although I don't put much stock in them.
I don't know where we are going but it will be nice when we get there
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Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
Tilopa took this sort of vision seriously, as do most Buddhists, when they have visions of respected gurus, bodhisattvas & buddhas or demons.AdmiralJim wrote:Well I have just finished reading about the life of Tilopa, who is said to have had visions of the primoridal Buddha Dorje Chang, how seriously are we to take these visionary experiences? I myself have had strange dreams with regards to certain aspects of teaching although I don't put much stock in them.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
So what about Catholic saints who are reported to see visions of the Virgin Mary? Are they false from the Buddhist POV since theism is rejected by Buddhists?Will wrote:Tilopa took this sort of vision seriously, as do most Buddhists, when they have visions of respected gurus, bodhisattvas & buddhas or demons.AdmiralJim wrote:Well I have just finished reading about the life of Tilopa, who is said to have had visions of the primoridal Buddha Dorje Chang, how seriously are we to take these visionary experiences? I myself have had strange dreams with regards to certain aspects of teaching although I don't put much stock in them.
- PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
I think the question of when a "vision" is 'true' or 'false' needs to be looked at.Ryoto wrote:
So what about Catholic saints who are reported to see visions of the Virgin Mary? Are they false from the Buddhist POV since theism is rejected by Buddhists?
If we are proposing the idea of the object of a vision (Mary, or Buddha or whatever)
as being essentially different from the mind of the person experiencing the vision,
something exclusively external
then this would be rejected from a buddhist perspective.
So, like the saying goes, if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.
But if one realizes the mind's nature free from obscurations,
then it is no different from a Buddha, even though the vision may appear outside of oneself.
This is because it is only called a 'vision'
when really, it is an expression of the mind's true nature.
It's like shining a flashlight on a wall. The light appear to be on the wall, way over there.
In fact, it is on the wall. But it is also the same light coming from the flashlight, right here.
It isn't two different lights.
This doesn't mean that what Tilopa saw was just all in his imagination.
it means that whatever he saw, that being exists at a level of clarity that is obscured to most people,
like tall skyscrapers that disappear on cloudy days.
I think, the Catholic version is more like the light appearing on the wall
but nobody has a flashlight turned on.
So they call it a 'miracle'.
.
.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
Awesome explanation. Thanks.
Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
If it's a legitimate vision, then they are primarily experiencing the result of some purification.AdmiralJim wrote:So what are Buddhist experiencing when they get visions as a result of particular practices?
Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
- PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
I knew a buddhist who drank all the time and was always going around in a stupa.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
- JinpaRangdrol
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Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!PadmaVonSamba wrote:I knew a buddhist who drank all the time and was always going around in a stupa.
One of the best Buddhist jokes I've heard in a while.
Re: Visionary Experience in Buddhism
If memory serves, Shinran experienced a vision of a Buddha who informed him that Honen was "the man to see" in regard to Shinran's problems with practice.
And if I'm not mistaken, certain Tibetan disciplines cultivate a visionary practice wherein Buddhas and other celestial beings can be the objects of both perception and union. However, as has already been pointed out, these "beings" are not conceived as wholly separate from the practitioner's own concsiousness. Otherwise, the vision would be non-Buddhistic and much more related to "I-Thou Separation" religions that contain Marian apparitions and suchlike...
And if I'm not mistaken, certain Tibetan disciplines cultivate a visionary practice wherein Buddhas and other celestial beings can be the objects of both perception and union. However, as has already been pointed out, these "beings" are not conceived as wholly separate from the practitioner's own concsiousness. Otherwise, the vision would be non-Buddhistic and much more related to "I-Thou Separation" religions that contain Marian apparitions and suchlike...