Vajrahridaya

Exactly the type of information ralis ignores in his staunch stance against everything religious.

Buddhism is not a religion for me, but I appreciate your concern. Edit: everyone has rituals, why not take up those rituals that help one get in touch with the spiritual state of perception? "Spiritual state of perception." Is that the ambiguous type of statements that gets your juices pumping? What the heck does that mean? I mean really? Spiritual state of perception? :lol: For clarities sake! The Buddha was merely unpacking that with all his explanations and clarifications of explanations, and offering methods that help people help themselves into that. He didn't create a religion in the sense that Christianity is a religion or Islam is a religion. He manifested a tradition of self observation and self discovery! What you see in Buddhism is a reflection more of your own lack of seeing past the surface or appearance of things. I'm not trying to say, "be a buddhist!" Just open your mind to another understanding, a deeper perception. Then again... do what you want! If I'm inspired to write, I will write, because it's not against the law here yet.

You have a very narrow view of the needy. What he teaches is feeding the needy, and inspiring many more people to help those less fortunate. What, you think all money should be spent dressing people many of whom created the situation they are undergoing? This isn't an excuse to not help if and when you can, but real help is instilling the inspired tools that help people help themselves into a new state of perception and action. Of course, many are so poor and fighting for survival that they don't have time to apply any sort of spiritual tools or contemplation. Still... all that money used for the stupa, would have maybe fed a few hundred people for a month, then what? But wisdom lasts even beyond this life. Your view still smacks of jaded negativity. This is utterly amazing and deeply positive! What do you think Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche does?? Your constant state of negative perception around spiritual traditions is bewildering to me. You are obviously not a student or supporter of the Dzogchen lineage and teachings if they are deemed so unworthy of spreading and spending money on.

It's interesting, that word religion. Everyone has a different experience and definition of this word. "I'm actually not religious, but spiritual..." Ah another ambiguous term that is defined only by the context of what it appears around! How about we fly past all our pre-conceptions about things, pre-conceptions about concepts, and pre-conceptions about spiritual traditions of any form!? Just fly free, and truly fly free! If everyone was flying free... there would be no need for Guru's, Rinpoches and Monasteries, or even spiritual traditions with time tested and working tools that bring people in touch with their intrinsic freedom. All of these are just practical methods arising dependent upon the needs of the people. If you really don't think you need them or think they are the antithesis to your process. That is fine, as you do have your process, as unique as it is, own it. But don't expect me to take your dark and murky, as well as dogmatic outlook of a tradition that has illumined countless Samsarins into the experience of constant awakening, as the absolute truth.

:lol:

Some people have the tendency to see the word Buddha or -ism and run into a pre-conceptual field of dogma in their mind. I've experienced bliss and bliss realms far deeper than even those that can be realized here on Earth, but I've also experienced this here on Earth. That is one of the side effects of the 8 fold path, deep and relaxed peace and bliss. This is one of the basis' for wisdom. We cultivate this blissful perception as part of the practice. In fact, if you understand what dependent origination/emptiness means, the only natural inner response is unadulterated bliss and freedom! edit: "Since everything is but an apparition, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter" -Longchenpa

No, it is not... WOW... this goes to show how little research you have done in the positive. This also reveals where your mind is at as the information that reaches it and penetrates it is reflective of the state of perception of it. Even the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa fund hospitals and help fund organizations that clothe the needy. I could name 12 Rinpoches that I know of that give money to organizations that do such things. I'm sure there are hundreds more! I don't know of that many Rinpoches. But, teaching the Dharma is worth more than any of this, which is something you just don't understand.

Ah... excellent! My Rinpoche's book! Yes, what Scotty said is relevant... try to relax into the experience, let go into it. The body arching, or spinal movement is natural when the winds start flowing through it. You are experiencing the power of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoches dream practice Terma or treasures. I've experienced exactly what you are describing, both in and out of bed. The practice is very good, it's a genuine practice and you should start waking up in your dream space eventually.

Yes, Dilgo Khyentse did build and fund these things. So have many other Rinpoches, some of which I named above. You certainly have a nac for focusing on the negative ralis. As well as a nac for convincing yourself that it's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Quite sad really. Your mind is like a steel trap.

You'll probably ignore my post on Dr. Shaw above. She has far more positive things to say about the Buddhist tradition than negative things. All the other stuff you said is true to a degree, but we still need our living examples and guides. Also, No, it's not MOST of the guru's, swamis and Rinpoches that are in America are abusing their position, only some are, and because you focus on that... you live in that perception of a tradition that is essentially pure, but filled with flawed Buddhists. But also filled with great examples! My own Rinpoche, Tulku Orgyn Rinpoche Karmapa Sogyal Rinpoche Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche Venerable Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche The incredible Garchen Rinpoche who spent 20 years in a Chinese prison just doing his practices in secret in his mind and came out even more enlightened than when he went in. What you choose to focus on is what colors your perception. You want to expose all the negative things about everything... that's an endless journey bro! Exposing the positive things is just as endless... why not go there? Who's sugar coating anything? Life is full of dualities, and most of us know that already.

Exactly!!

I've heard of Miranda Shaw. I did a google search on her and yes, I am most definitely interested in the things she has to say about Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism in general, the vast majority of which are completely positive! Why would you quote the above Ulises when there are so many more positive and worthwhile things to quote from her... Here's one such link: Buddhist Goddesses of India My Mom who is has her PHD in Womens Art and Spirituality would love these books and the wonderful things she has to say about Women in Buddhism and Vajrayana, as well as the Tibetan History of women in Vajrayana. Why don't you guys flip the coin? Passionate Enlightenment by Dr. Miranda Shaw Review A feminist critique of a male (and Western) view of the Tantric tradition [and also] a balanced reassessment of a tradition too long misunderstood. -- Review Product Description The crowning cultural achievement of medieval India, Tantric Buddhism is known in the West primarily for the sexual practices of its adherents, who strive to transform erotic passion into spiritual ecstasy. Historians of religion have long held that the enlightenment thus attempted was for men only, and that women in the movement were at best marginal and subordinated and at worst degraded and exploited. Miranda Shaw argues to the contrary, presenting extensive new evidence of the outspoken and independent female founders of the Tantric movement and their creative role in shaping its distinctive vision of gender relations and sacred sexuality. 5.0 out of 5 stars well researched and essential reading, December 16, 1995 By A Customer This review is from: Passionate Enlightenment (Paperback) This study by Miranda Shaw is a must for everyone trult interested in the finer aspects of Tantric Buddhism. The author thoroughly explores the role of women in the development of vajrayana and comes to the justified conclusion that women's role has been much greater than is usually admitted by both Tibetan AND Western scholars. Rufus C. Camphausen 5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I have read on the subject, May 6, 1998 By Ronald Albury (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Passionate Enlightenment (Paperback) Many of the books I have read on Tantra are basically garbage. This one, however, is that jewel that makes it worth while sifting through the garbage. It is well written, well researched, and can be understood by westerners. I highly recommend it. 5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding scholarship, very substantial teachings, spiritually tuned-in-- an amazing book, November 6, 2009 By roar99 - See all my reviews This review is from: Passionate Enlightenment (Paperback) This book is amazing. Shaw describes the content of the Tantric texts starting from an awareness of women's full participation in creating Tantric buddhism as a religious system. She reads the texts through the eyes of who the participants in Tantra really were and uncovers a ton of material about visualization practices, gender relations, enlightenment, and relationships between men and women. She is very sensitive to the interplay between religious texts, awareness practices, and social realities and really talks about Tantra as a religious construction meant to bring awareness within a particular social setting (a setting which is not that unfamiliar in certain tragic respects-- ie patriarchy). It was extremely satisfying to be introduced to the concept of "dakinis" with as much depth and poetry as she brings to her discussion. I used a lot of the images and text in her book to do my own visualizations, with very powerful results in my own life. I think these Tantric buddhists are really on to something. I am in a feminist episcopal community and a lot of her discussion about the way the metaphysics and theology of Tantra supported female enlightenment and full participation by women in this religious community, in a context of patriarchy, was illuminating. I can see in our own Christian community many of the dynamics she describes and this book helped shed light on various strategies for engaging those dynamics. Much respect for the proud and fierce women who created the dakini images of Tantra-- and much respect for Miranda Shaw for writing with such depth and passion about such an important religious accomplishment. The level of commitment that was required to write a book with this kind of substance is amazing to contemplate. Thank you Dr. Shaw for bringing the fruits of your research to light, for the benefit of others.

I don't see this as eye opening. I also already knew about this. This is still a confused age of information and degradation, money, power and sex. The vast majority of human kind are confused and lost in darkness. I still don't focus on that... what for? Just as there are those that have abused the term and practice of "tantra", there are those that have not. None of what any of you have said takes away from the merit of the practices of Buddhism when they are actually applied and utilized for their intended purpose.

Yes, I should have been more clear there. Whao! Why would I want to bury my head in that level of information, since I already knew and know about it? Why not do a google search and read books on the positive occurrences surrounding these Monasteries as well as the amazing Masters that came out of them? If you dig in the dirt, you are mostly going to find worms and more dirt, but there are also precious metals in that dirt as well, some platinum, gold and plenty of diamonds! I will focus on those... because those will make me a better person with a more enlightened outlook on everything. If I focus on the worms, my mind will become like what it focuses upon.

Like I wrote... I was writing for the sake of writing, because I was inspired to write! I enjoyed what I wrote as much as I enjoyed writing it. So... I guess I was merely writing for my own enjoyment? I guess you didn't really read either of my posts... so be it. I guess you saw the word Buddhism and you ran. To quote from the gist of my previous post without the word Buddhism in it... "This is mostly written for the sake of writing it, like anything I write here. I'm not really trying to convert anyone, as everyone has their process, which is valid and true for them, as there is no universal truth, except that things, purposes and states of mind arise dependent upon causes and conditions of things, intentions and states of mind since beginningless time and forever after. I agree! Purpose is subjective and there really is no inherent purpose to anything, except to evolve. That's all there is, evolution, impermanence, going, doing, manifesting... infinite potential. Once you realize the ever present peace, bliss and malleability of everything... what are you going to do with it? How are you going to channel that inspiration so that it truly lasts and has the conditions to support it's constant experiencing and sharing?"

Yup!

That's what the practice of Tantra and Dzogchen attempt to do with the energetic pulls that arise based upon the evolution of fear and the energy of desire arising based upon a feeling of lack. Most "natural" behavior in sentient beings arises based upon a feeling of lack and a fear of change, or death. I've definitely had my glimpses, which have completely transformed my perception permanently. I also completely agree! It's really about perspective, which is based upon experience and interpretation of experience, based upon experience. There are so many flows Kate. Look around you! See all the different flows of people? Many seemingly natural flows just lead to incarceration in ambiguity and ignorance... More times than not, I see the word "natural" tossed around as an emotional, and intellectual excuse to not question and investigate deeper. Do you think renouncing sex and conventional social activities is "going against the flow" of life? Flow is just energy, you do with it what you will, based upon your inner feeling and what you want out of life. Most "natural" cravings arise due to the evolution of fear and sense of lack or incompleteness... to not see that I think is reflective of a lack of investigation. As if this craving for copulation and sense friction was the only dimension to live a long and fulfilled life from? Of course, there are so many methods and Buddhadharma has instigated a vast array of methods for lay practitioners that include Tantric sex and Tantric pleasure experiencing where one transforms the flow of pleasure or releases the flow of pleasure into the elixir of wisdom, in every moment. People who master this can do the same with pain. I think most people are in denial of how trapped by the pulls of the 5 senses they are, and how each pleasurable fulfillment of one sense or another is merely a reflection of impermanent and unsatisfying endless craving for more from without due to a sense of lack from within. If a person has truly renounced ego... then that person could take it or leave it with the same inner state of complete fulfillment. :lol: That's a confusing statement. What? I was not talking about unwilling children, or even children at all. I was more talking about a 70 year old male master and maybe a 20 year old female youth who knows what she is doing and has awakened intelligence. I was not sanctioning child or sexual abuse. Kate, most people continually harbor their cultural conditioning as a platform for misconstruing information.

I am not denying this at all. There are also those that have renounced renunciation and just renounce ego instead. I have yet to master that one... I would think a vast minority. But, out of all those inducted into the monastery for a time being, not all of them stay, plenty learn something of great value. I've had a couple of friends who were monks since kids, and they were wonderful people who I enjoyed being with. They weren't Rinpoches or recognized Tulkus mind you, just regular people, but they were genuinely nice and gentle people. I met them in NYC at one retreat or another. So, life is filled with different occurrences, some will jade your mind and others will open it to the experience of beauty. I don't deny the horrors that humans do, but I choose not to focus on that. This doesn't benefit me or anyone else, especially when I'm not in a position to change it. :lol:

There is lots to agree with here. I've also read lots of incredible and positive success stories concerning pre-Chinese Tibet, from biographies and autobiographies. I think it's interesting that the human psyche clings more to the stories of negative revelation than positive revelation. Don't you think? Is the glass half full or half empty? Or neither, maybe it's just a glass and you fill it to the degree and with the substance you want to fill it with?

Then stop belittling my writings style, stop insulting my syntax, stop insinuating that I'm brain washed, stop following me around and talking to me as if you knew what Buddhism was about, without actually having learned much from it at all except more facts about wickedness of Samsara reflecting your jaded view of humanity. You've done this for over a year now... talk about a frozen narrative! The vast majority of your posts here are negative responses to me. Seriously! The things you say are reflective of what I said about you. Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche talks about people who have an experience and think it's "rigpa", but it's really just one of the jhana states, either form or formless... non-the-less... merely a jhana state. Which are powerful and wonderful, but not "rigpa." The things you say are reflective of this. You ultimate no-separation, oneness. You don't reveal the insight congruent with the experience of "rigpa." You haven't read Chogyal Namkhai Norbus more nuanced books that you need permission to read that will contextualize your experience. You've probably only read the mass consumption works. I am assuming here, but it's based upon a year of reading your posts to me.

Wow, that is interesting. Seriously. I love it! Ugh... alcohol just makes me feel like poo now, no more good feelings on it anymore. It's also boring at this point in my life. It doesn't support my real purpose at all anymore. It doesn't help me engage or transcend limitations for a time being anymore. It doesn't do any of the old fun and barrier breaking things for me anymore, so what's the point?

:lol: You guys are courageous and I congratulate both of you!

Oh, I read it! Eventually you're going to want something that is grounded and definitive, as well as transcendent and transparent. Something that will guide you as a deep lasting and evolving narrative. If you see what I wrote as propaganda and don't get the meaning, or depth of it? Then what I said regarding pride still stands. If you see Buddhism as merely another religion, like Christianity? Then you're not ready for clarity. What you said is true to a degree, because life is subjective. Purpose and intention are like things, empty of inherent substance and arise dependently. There really is no inherent purpose to life, and because of the different types of people, we have different manifestations that reflect the different goals and aims of all these different people, spiritual traditions, religions, etc. What the Buddha said covers all that, sees through it, and grants a gem of wisdom as something one can work with, forever. Because it recognizes that you will die, be reborn and if you don't have a grounded aim that recognizes endless inter-connectivity, endless transmigration of the individual mind stream, you will be floundering in ambiguity, the type of bliss that arises dependent upon ignorance rather than wisdom. Buddhism also offers a peer support group stretching into endless dimensions that can help through so many metaphysical traps. The Buddha offered with his triple gem refuge vow (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) clarity and support that lasts beyond the confusion of this life, while fully embracing what this life has to offer on the highest level of acceptance. This is mostly written for the sake of writing it, like anything I write here. I'm not really trying to convert anyone, as everyone has their process, which is valid and true for them, as there is no universal truth, except that things, purposes and states of mind arise dependent upon causes and conditions of things, intentions and states of mind since beginningless time and forever after. To deny something you don't truly understand, or have yet to delve into the depths of, is... not wise. I've delved into so many spiritual traditions over so many lifetimes, and understand where all these different interpretations lead to in an ultimate sense, thus I've exhausted all the possibilities of these different points of view, so I've come to the Sanatana Dharma (eternal way) of the Buddhas and will be sticking with it for the rest of eternity, because it grants me a purpose that lasts past any amount of deaths and rebirths. I agree! Purpose is subjective and there really is no inherent purpose to anything, except to evolve. That's all there is, evolution, impermanence, going, doing, manifesting... infinite potential. Once you realize the ever present peace, bliss and malleability of everything... what are you going to do with it? How are you going to channel that inspiration so that it truly lasts and has the conditions to support it's constant experiencing and sharing? That is the purpose of the 8 fold path. It's far from propaganda, and far from "just another religion." Most of which end with a goal in a high heaven, or merging with a static state of formless being in an attempt to escape, or go beyond everything. The Buddhist goal is constant re-experiencing in every moment the bliss of engaged activity and knowing the tools, both physical and metaphysical that manifest the conditions which support this constant re-experiencing in every moment!

All that you said is fantastic! I have faith in you...