rex

Valid points which raises two distinctions on the source of potential obstacles that can arise from doing Deity Yoga and/or Guru Yoga: 1) The original non-starter premise/question as posed by Tibetan Ice, namely that Guru Yoga and Deity Yoga visualisation practices invite invading spirits into practitioners' mind streams; 2) Dealing with any risings or kleshas bought into sharp relief from practice. Edit: Windbagness removed

So what can go wrong and what are the obstacles that arise when visualisation goes wrong? If the visualisation is done within the context of the sadhana and practice tradition from which it originates and the sadhaka has had transmission then there is really nothing to fear. The only folk this uncompromising assertion is likely to alienate are: * people who are teaching themselves and haven't access to the advice of a sangha and experienced practitioners; * people who aren't buddhists and haven't received teachings on core foundational practices and attitudes; * people with a lack of faith in the teaching (who shouldn't be doing it in the first place). In the context of buddhist refuge and transmission there is no need to countenance paranoid ramblings of spirit possession - the only obstacles that will arise will come from one's own kleshas. Edit: tpoys

No. The visualised form is the samaya-sattva and the presence/aspect of enlightened awareness that comes to dwell in the visualised form is the jnana-sattva. The presence of the jnana-sattva confers protection.

Rather indelicately put but spot on. Fair play to Steve for bringing it to genuine seekers' attention. As the translators' dedication goes, "May all those who encounter such a precious text have the good fortune to receive the lineage transmission from a realized master and bring to fruitition its incomparable belssings." So why buy the book if you haven't had transmission then? In his introduction Chagud Rinpoche continues, "As Dudjom Rinpoche notes in the Afterword, the words of this text are the "relics of the dharmakaya." They may be read by those who have received the teachings personally from a lama who holds the lineage; until such time the text should be kept as an object of worship on one's shrine. If this condition is met, there is no doubt that one will emerge victorious in the battle with counterproductive circumstances and obstacles, and that supportive circumstances will bring benefit immeditely in this lifetime and on into the future." edit: glaring tpyos

It's all there with the Four Thoughts, Refuge and Bodhichitta, the Four Immeasurables, the Six Paramitas, and Base, Path and Fruit. Howzabout checking out the Precious Vase? : )

Isn't sneezing supposed to stimulate the same part of the brain that's activated during orgasm? Then there's the guys who sneeze when thinking about or just about to engage in intimacy.

If anyone can get to the UK this October then they can also see Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche in person: http://www.dzogchencommunityuk.org/activities-events/events-calendar/chnn-london-retreat-2013.html

This makes for grim but fascinating reading and dispays a keen awareness of politics, sociology, social psychology and anthropolgy. The Fourth Chapter of The Legend of the Great Stupa: The Portents of the Ruin of the Great Stupa in the Middle of the Kaliyuga Again King Trison Detsen spoke to the Lotus Born Guru, "Great Guru, in the kaliyuga, the age of decadence and corruption, when the Voice of Buddha is a mere echo, will this Great Stupa, this Wish Fulfilling Gem, be destroyed or damaged? Will it decay? And if it is neglected or damaged what will be the portent of its ruin? What vice will corrupt this area of the transitory world? When the signs and omens are seen, what must be done?" Guru Rinpoche replied, "Listen, Great King. The real perfection of this Great Stupa is indestructible, inviolate and incorruptible: it is inseparable from the Body of Infinite Simplicity of all the Buddhas. But the phenomenal fabric of the Great Stupa is perishable, a transitory form in a changing world, and it can be damaged by the four elements. The damage will be repaired by the incarnations of the Lords of the Three Families - Manjusri, Avalokitesvara, and Vajrapani - and the Wrathful Bhrikutis and Tara Devi. "As the kaliyuga progresses towards the final conflagration, life expectancy of man decreases and the weight of darkness becomes more intense, but there remain restraints on the downward path when the Voice of Buddha is heard and the Path of Dharma followed. Towards the end of the era, when man's lifespan has been reduced from sixty to fifty years and there has been no respite in man's increasing egoism, these conditions will prevail, portending ruin to the Great Stupa: householders fill the monasteries and there is fighting before the altar; the temples are used as slaughterhouses; the ascetics of the caves return to the cultivated valleys and the yogins become traders; thieves own the wealth and cattle; monks become householders, while priests and spiritual leaders turn to robbery, brigandage and thievery. Disorder becomes chaos, which generates panic raging like wildfire. Corrupt and selfish men become leaders, while abbots turned army officers lead their monks as soldiers; and nuns put their own bastards to death. Sons see their estates and inheritances stolen from them. Mean and vulgar demagogues become local bosses. Young girls instruct the young in schools. The belch of the Bon Magician resounds in the yogin's hermitage and the wealth of the sanctuaries is looted; the scriptures of the Tathagatas, the images of the Buddhas, the sacred icons, the scroll paintings and the stupas will be desecrated, stolen and bartered at the market price, their true worth forgotten; the temples become dung-smeared cow sheds and stables. "When religious duties are forgotten, spirits of darkness previously controlled by ritual power are unloosed, and frenziedly govern the mind of whatever being they possess. Spirits of vindictive power possess monks; spirits of egoistic wickedness possess the mantradhara or magician; spirits of disease possess the Bon Priest; enchanting spirits causing disease possess men; grasping, quarreling spirits possess women; spirits of wantonness possess maidens; spirits of depravity possess nuns; spirits of rebellion and malice possess children; every man, woman and child in the country becomes possessed by uncontrollable forces of darkness. The signs of these times are new and fantastical modes of dressing - traditional styles forgotten; the monks wear fancy robes and the nuns dress up before a mirror. Every man must carry a sword to protect himself and each man guard his food from poison. Abbots and Masters poison their pupils' minds and hearts; the executive and legislature disagree; men become lewd and licentious; women become unchaste; monks ignore their discipline and moral code; and the mantradharas break their covenant. As the frenzy of malicious, selfish, vindictive and ruthless spirits grows, paranoid rumor increases and ornament and clothing fashions change more frequently. "Drunkards preach the Path to Liberation; the advice of sycophants is followed; fraudulent teachers give false initiations; guileful impostors claim psychic powers; loquacity and eloquence pass as wisdom. The arrogant elevate profanity; the proletariat rules the kingdom; kings become paupers; the butcher and murderer become leaders of men; unscrupulous self-seekers rise to high position. The Masters of the High Tantras stray like dogs in the streets and their faithless, errant students roam like lions in the jungle. Embodiments of malice and selfishness become revered teachers, while the achievements of tantric adepts are reviled, the guidance of the Secret Guru execrated, the precepts of the Buddha ignored and the advice of yogins and sages unsought. Robes become worn by fools and villains while monks wear foreign dress - even murderers wear the sacred robe. Men resort to maledictory enchantment learning mantra for selfish ends; monks prepare poisonous potions for blackmail, extortion and profit. False doctrines are devised from the Buddhas' Word and the teachers' interpretations become self-vindications. Many treacherous paths, previously uncharted, are followed; many iniquitous practices spread; behavior becomes tolerated which was previously anathema; ideals are established contrary to tradition; and all good customs and habits are rejected and many despicable innovations corrupt. The wealth of the monasteries is plundered and spent upon gluttony by those under vow; following errant paths men become trapped by their own mean actions; the avaricious and spurious protectors of the pure teaching no longer fulfill their functions. "The celestial order, disrupted, loosens plague, famine and war to terrorize terrestrial life. The planets run wild, and the stars fall out of their constellations; great burning stars appear bringing unprecedented disaster. Rain no longer falls in season, but out of season the valleys are flooded. Famine, frost and hail govern many unproductive years. Rapacious female demons (Mamo) and the twelve guardian protectresses of the Dharma (Tenma), unpropitiated and enraged, release diseases, horrible epidemics and plagues, which spread like wildfire, striking men and cattle. Earthquakes bring sudden floods, while fire, storm and tornadoes destroy temples, stupas and cities in an instant. At this time the Great Stupa itself falls in ruins. During this pall of darkness the Wheel of Dharma at Vajrasana (Bodh Gaya) ceases to turn; the storm of war rages in Nepal for many years; India is stricken with famine; the Kathmandu Valley is inflicted with plague; earthquakes decimate the people of Upper Ngari in Western Tibet; plague destroys the people of Central Tibet; the Kyi Valley District of Lhasa subsides; the peaks of the High Himalayas in the borderland of Mon fall into the valleys. Three strong forts are built on the Five Peaked Mountain; yogins assemble in the Valley of the Bear's Lair on Mon; two suns rise in Kham to the east; the Chinese Emperor dies suddenly; four armies descend on Central Tibet from the borders; the Muslim Turks conquer India; the Garlok army suppresses the Dharma in Kashmir; the Mongols conquer Tibet; the Jang army enters Kham; the Protectors' Temple, Rasa Trulnang (The Jokhang) in Lhasa is threatened; the famous temple of Samye is desecrated; the stupas of Bhutan tilt and the Wheel of Dharma malfunctions. "The great monasteries of the country become deserted and the belch of the Bon Priest resounds in quiet hermitages; the wise and simple leaders of the monasteries have been poisoned so that the lineal explanations and practices are fragmented or lost; the holders of the lineal traditions meet sudden death. Impostors and frauds cheat the people and black spectres haunt the land. The knot in the silken thread binding demonic forces in divine bondage is untied and the cord of faith keeping the human mind harmonious is severed. The king's law is broken and the strength of communal unity lost; the people's traditions are rejected and the sea of contentment dries up; personal morality is forgotten and the cloak of modesty thrown away. Virtue is impotent and humiliated and led by coarse, immodest and fearful rulers. Abbots, teachers and professors become army officers, while the ignorant guide religious aspirants, explain the doctrine and give initiation. Aspirants speak with self-defensive abuse, while butchers and wild elephants lead men. The passes, valleys and narrow paths are terrorized by shameless brigands; fearful, lawless and leaderless, the people fight amongst themselves, each man acting out of self-interest. Tibet becomes corrupt and defiled. These are the conditions prevailing during the middle of the kaliyuga when the duration of man's life is fifty years: these are the portents of the destruction of the Great Stupa. "These signs and sufferings shall awaken the mind of a man sickened by the human condition. Favoured in his actions and governed by sympathy and compassion towards suffering beings, he shall dedicate himself to the restoration of the Great Stupa. He shall aspire to the highest human achievement and fulfil his wish to re-establish perfection." After Guru Rinpoche had spoken, Trison Detsen and his attendants were stunned and disheartened. Then recovering his senses, Padma Khungtsen, the spiritual leader of Gos, arose and prostrated himself one hundred times before Guru Rinpoche and then addressed him. "Great Guru, let me be reborn to restore the Great Stupa when it is in ruins during the decadence and corruption of the kaliyuga, when man's life is short." Guru Rinpoche granted this prayer. King Trison Detsen asked to be reborn as an assistant to restore the Great Stupa and his attendants prayed that they too should be born to assist in the restoration. SAMAYA GYA GYA GYA THE THREEFOLD BOND IS SEALED Full text: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/stupa.htm

Good info here: http://web.archive.org/web/20120712155803/http://precisiondocs.com/~altaoism/IS123Intro.htm and here: http://web.archive.org/web/20120414014326/http://www.precisiondocs.com/~altaoism/IS1Intro.htm

Mahamudra and Dzogchen both point to the same fundamental nature/Clear Light/Ground Luminosity. Since the Chonyid bardo visions arise from the fundamental nature of mind/Clear light then having recognised the natural state in the bardo of life the practitioner will be able to 'by pass' the visions and go straight to their source.

Discussion here on the deleterious physical and spiritual effects of smoking from the Nyingma viewpoint: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=4050

These may be going for a song on the US site too: Secret Teachings of Padmasambhava http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductDetail.asp?CatNumber=25069 A translation of tantric practices from the great Indian master Padmasambhava, who is credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet. These advanced Tibetan Buddhist teachings provide instructions for gathering and harnessing basic life energy, especially concerning transforming sexual energy and re-directing the essence of that energy toward spiritual realization - when used skilfully by committed practitioners with appropriate training. Also here are teachings on the fundamental elements that make up our world. The commentary by Dr.Lipman describes how to use these life energies for personal development. These two brief works of Padmasambhava, Fivefold Essential Instruction and a Section of Hidden Instruction: the Innermost Essence of the Dakini, not only present the tantric teachings on the channels (tsa), energy (lung), and potencies (tigle) in a clear and practical way, but they also offer a unique Dzogchen perspective on them. The Fivefold Essential Instruction shows how the five elemental phases of earth, wind, fire, water, and space operate at deeper and deeper levels of reality. The Section of Hidden Instruction, the Innermost Essence of the Dakini, is a more comprehensive treatment of the five phases from a Dzogchen view. Cascading Waterfall of Nectar http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductDetail.asp?CatNumber=21825 A profound commentary on two important texts on the preliminary practices, or ngondro, informed by Thinley Norbu's understanding of the concerns of Western practitioners. The main commentary is on the well-known Dudjom Tersar Ngondro, a terma revealed by Dudjom Lingpa. Also included is a second commentary, on a short prayer text (Tsogskhang Dechen) written by Dudjom Rinpoche. Together, these two commentaries offer the occasion for Thinley Norbu Rinpoche to impart his powerful insight into various aspects of the Buddhist path from the tantric point of view.

I've been reading this inspiring treasure recently too and find this quote about the paramitas and their applicaton to meditation really helpful: Not grasping is generosity; Not remaining is morality; Not guarding is patience; Not trying is diligence; Not thinking is samadhi; Not aiming is wisdom. (p.94) The ngondro liturgy has it all : )

Got bit of a Tarot bug at the moment. Much like the synthesising character of the Magical Calendar (http://www.amazon.com/The-Magical-Calendar-Seventeenth-Century-Renaissance/dp/093399933X) the Tarocchi of Mantegna is said to synthesise Platonic, Neoplatonic and Hermetic philosophy. Here's a piece by Adam McLean: http://www.levity.com/alchemy/mantegna.html

Transmission for Tridaya is available here: http://developyourenergy.net/product/advanced/tenaga-dalam-ilahi/ And no - I haven't received transmisssion.

Did someone mention karma and Buddhism? There's this old post of mine: http://thetaobums.com/topic/3938-the-law-of-karma-thread/#entry40415 The thead also includes a good document provided by Lin Ai Wei: http://thetaobums.com/topic/3938-the-law-of-karma-thread/?p=40183

You're welcome! Thanks for the references the second one in particular was very similar. The Tarot is widely praised for its subtlety and depth and I think it is a good option for people who are uncomfortable with grimoires. In Magic and the Western Mind (previous title A History of White Magic) Gareth Knight comments how the Tarot can be incorporated into a system of personal integration: "In its full application the standard symbolism of the Qabalah, the Tarot, Astrological Signs, and of the natural world, such as the Seasons of the Year, may be used to develop a deep, intricate and beautiful system of personal integration and conscious co-operation with inner dynamics, be they psychological or religious". References like the ones already mentioned are good pointers to assist in this. Edit: typos in the quote

Don't know if there are any Dinotopia fans here but here is the Code of Dinotopia: Survival of all or none. One raindrop raises the sea. Weapons are enemies, even to their owners. Give more, take less. Others first, self last. Observe, listen and learn. Do one thing at a time. Sing every day. Exercise imagination. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Don't put out the light.

Post relocated from http://thetaobums.com/topic/27901-soul-mirrors-and-the-tarot/: Browsing in a bookstore I stumbled upon this: http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Arcana-Aurum-Solis-Initiation/dp/0738720860 It's got some appalling reviews but I liked the look of it combining meditations with the Tarot at specific planetary hours with Orphic Hymns. Even though much of the material can be found in other sources the combinations and general thrust looked utilitarian. For the price of a takeaway and carry out (or considerably less through Market Places Sellers) I'm quite prepared to ignore the (suspect?) reviews.

Post relocated to: http://thetaobums.com/topic/27605-tarot-as-a-magical-tool/

For your delight and delectation here are some colour images of the Magical Calendar: http://alwaysinsearchoflight.tumblr.com/post/31859442672/the-magical-calendar-is-one-of-the-most-amazing. These can be expanded to a decent size: http://karmachangchubthinley.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/magicalcalendars1.jpg http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mak80i5Feo1rzhtlmo3_1280.jpg http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mak80i5Feo1rzhtlmo2_1280.jpg There is a translation and commentary: http://www.amazon.com/Magical-Calendar-Seventeenth-Century-Renaissance-Sourceworks/dp/093399933X/ Also this site has a plethora of symbolic images and emblems: http://alwaysinsearchoflight.tumblr.com/archive Enjoy!

I doubt it but it would be interesting to find out. The calendar is a 17th Century synthesis of medieval philosophy and magic that draws on a number of sources such as Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, the Heptameron or Magical Elements of Peter of Abano, Paracelsus' Archidoxes of Magic and possibly the Sworn Book of Honourius. It omits anything with a sinister association.The calendar is subtitled 'The Calendar of Natural Universal Magic, a most profound contemplation of most secret things, encompassing a knowledge of the whole of Philosophy'.

What a spiffing idea! Information only and no desultry exchange of opinions. Teacher Tom Bisio Website http://www.internalartsinternational.com/ Books Bagua Circle Walking Neigong: The Meridan Opening Palms of Ba Qua Zhang http://www.amazon.com/Gua-Circle-Walking-Nei-Gong/dp/1432796895 Nei Gong:The Authentic Classic: A Translation of the Nei Gong Zhen Chuan http://www.amazon.com/Nei-Gong-Authentic-Classic-Translation/dp/1432772244 DVDs Bagua Concepts Vols 1-3 http://www.internalartsinternational.com/dvds/ http://www.plumpub.com/sales/dvd/dvdcoll_baguavarious.htm