Dharma Wheel

Malcolm wrote:
That special connection is nothing more than the dependent origination you create with that teacher. You cannot take those promises outside of empowerment at all.

Of course not. Without the empowerment itself, there is nothing to promise and nothing to hold.

You have five aggregates; these are the cause. The teacher arranges their connection to the five buddhas, the result, through the empowerment. If you don't attain buddhahood during the empowerment, then you have a path to follow. OK, thanks. How does the teacher arrange this connection? My guess is...

You have five aggregates; these are the cause. The teacher arranges their connection to the five buddhas, the result, through the empowerment. If you don't attain buddhahood during the empowerment, then you have a path to follow. OK, thanks. How does the teacher arrange this connection? My guess is...

I've often wondered what exactly is going on during an empowerment. I don't see how saying this special connection is the dependent origination created with that teacher really explains anything. Could you elaborate? Well, after the first initiation I ever took (was Guru Rinpoche, given by Chimed R...

I've often wondered what exactly is going on during an empowerment. I don't see how saying this special connection is the dependent origination created with that teacher really explains anything. Could you elaborate? Well, after the first initiation I ever took (was Guru Rinpoche, given by Chimed R...

I know that the Buddha spoke about caring for parents, but this extreme situation where it seems any involvement will just make matters worse and more complicated. Is this a dismissal of the teachings for petty reasons or is this a valid exception to the instructions? Caring for someone does not me...

Konchog1 wrote:Master the Generation Stage and then ask your Guru.

Yep. Definitely that!

From the description it appears that this is a dangerous practice if performed improperly Where should I start, how to prepare? I need information about Vajra Love as much as possible. All "inner practices" are somewhat dangerous as they can sucessfully mess up your energy system if they go wrong. ...

I believed in reincarnation before I came to buddhism.

Because it's the only religion that makes some sense and gives a reasonable explanation to why there is suffering in the world.

My personal question in such cases is, would I have bought the item if it hadn't been available to copy from an illegal source. If the answer is yes, then I actually do harm to the right's owner. If I wouldn't have bought the DVD, book or music, there is no financial harm for the right's owner, so i...

Malcolm wrote: Buddhist ethics also recognize that one must obey the laws of whatever society one belongs to.

So stoning a person for infidelity or the persecution of homosexuals are okay as long as it's the country's law?

It's harmful because you have made a promise, and that is the connection; this is why "dam tshig", "solemn word" is how Tibetans translate the term samaya. There is no mystical basis for samaya. It is premised strictly on accepting a set of promises. No, it's not harmful because you have made a pro...

It's harmful because you have made a promise, and that is the connection; this is why "dam tshig", "solemn word" is how Tibetans translate the term samaya. There is no mystical basis for samaya. It is premised strictly on accepting a set of promises. No, it's not harmful because you have made a pro...

Then of course there is the four Dzogchen "samayas", which are unbreakable since they are not conditioned. Other vajrayana samaya connections are just as unbreakable. Because even if it's nowhere as explicit as in dzogchen, in a highest yogatantra initiation what makes the initiation valid is the c...

Then of course there is the four Dzogchen "samayas", which are unbreakable since they are not conditioned. Other vajrayana samaya connections are just as unbreakable. Because even if it's nowhere as explicit as in dzogchen, in a highest yogatantra initiation what makes the initiation valid is the c...

No, personal experience with empowerment, the way vajrayana practice works in general, logical conclusion taking into account the mechanics of vows and karma. And i have heard teachings on the subject. Although I am sure I can dig up something on samaya in some scriptures, I haven't studied scriptur...

No, personal experience with empowerment, the way vajrayana practice works in general, logical conclusion taking into account the mechanics of vows and karma. And i have heard teachings on the subject. Although I am sure I can dig up something on samaya in some scriptures, I haven't studied scriptur...

So many people speak about samaya, but it is my impression that they, like me, have no idea what samaya really is. I have never read a satisfactory explanation, neither in books, nor online. Nor have I heard any teacher explain this properly. In your knowledge, what exactly is samaya? Samaya is mak...

So many people speak about samaya, but it is my impression that they, like me, have no idea what samaya really is. I have never read a satisfactory explanation, neither in books, nor online. Nor have I heard any teacher explain this properly. In your knowledge, what exactly is samaya? Samaya is mak...

Yep, can be dangerous as it is a potent tool. Firstly you could do it wrong. You could meditate too much, just like you don't learn to run a marathon in a few days you won't be able to meditate for long periods right away. A lot of westerners are quite ambitious in an unhealthy way. And secondly peo...