Sunya

Yep, that's the view of some but not all. Especially since most lineages including Sarma schools utilize Dzogchen, which does not see karmamudra as necessary. It is seen as necessary in Mahamudra lineages that are steeped in tantric dogma, but not in those that have the view of Essence Mahamudra. The tantric view in some schools is that you can only attain Buddhahood at moment of death or through a consort. Gampopa, disciple of Milarepa, attained Buddhahood without a consort and without dying. He did this through the path of Essence Mahamudra. Those lineages that do say that it's necessary rely on older views found in the tantras alwayson mentioned. They haven't realized the profoundity of Ati Yoga or Essence Mahamudra.

Thanks for your input, but I don't think that's an accurate interpretation. Tantric sex, as I'm sure you know, has the purpose of uniting the solar and lunar energies, and this is more often achieved in Vajrayana through trul khor (yantra yoga), but I don't deny that karmamudra is practiced in Vajrayana. But even in that context, the yab-yum image on a deeper level symbolizes the play of emptiness and energy. It's not just penis and vagina. Just like in Shaiva tantra where such imagery originated, the yoni and lingam have deeper symbolic meanings. The mantra om mani padme hum is the mantra of compassion and is a prayer for the potentiality of enlightenment to awaken in all beings. To say that it means penis in vagina is a gross oversimplification and actually does harm to the tradition because those with wrong understands will form the opinion that the essence of the mantra and Tibetan Buddhism is to stick a penis into a vagina.

Obviously I don't since I see the sexual practice as completely unnecessary to the core of Tantric Buddhism. It's simply just another method, and completely overplayed in this modern sexually obsessed culture.

rofl and here I was thinking that the jewel symbolizes buddha nature, the potentiality for enlightenment, as the lotus grows from the mud of samsara. How silly of me. Thanks for clearing that up. So for centuries, monks have been chanting penis in vagina! It all makes sense now.

Recently there was some good discussion on OBE and astral travel, and Seth posted about very good free ebook at obe4u.com with good methods. I found a really good article by a Tibetan teacher which talks about dream yoga, the purpose, how the dream state is very effective for dealing with psychological problems and spiritual practice, the steps or stages of dream yoga, and the eventual goal. I think everyone will find this not only interesting but fruitful, whether Taoist, Buddhist, Hindu, or whatever. http://www.spiritwatch.ca/abuddhis.htm A Buddhist Perspective on Lucid Dreaming excerpt:

Not at all. The visualization involves bringing the solar energy in the naval up through the central channel to the lunar energy in the head and melt the white drop down. There are also physical movements that go along with the practice depending on the lineage. The melting of the lunar energy down is how this practice differs from Kundalini, which is a strictly fire practice of raising energy up. Tummo involves the cooling downward feminine energy. Also, there is resting in awareness after tummo to integrate the bliss with awareness. Holding your breath and focusing on the naval is not tummo.

The article is really just an overview and not meant to be used as a practice manual. he doesn't really go into specifics... A really good book I have that does is called The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Even if you regularly have lucid dreams, I think the book would be helpful since the book has methods for accessing rigpa while in the dream state and how to work with obstacles

This looks really good! And this article from his site is quite good too, https://www.ligmincha.org/retreats/tibetan-yoga.html

They have a yantra yoga teacher come in sometimes but there's not one there regularly I don't think. I hate the city to be honest but if they have another weekend thing there and I can afford it, then i'll do it.

some sort of non-physical beings

Cool. I got the book but found it difficult to learn. I then got the DVD from the Dzogchen Community store which shows one of the top teachers doing the preliminaries and I think the first 3 series. I still can't learn it too well. I wish there was a teacher near me who I can learn from. If you have a teacher teaching Yantra, that's awesome

Concluding commentary by Norbu Rinpoche in "Yantra Yoga, The Tibetan Yoga of Movement", Snow Lion Publications page 364: Properly practicing these series of yantras, the temporary benefits are that balance of the four elements - earth, water, fire, and air - is restored, and the body maintains good health; all the various types of disturbances caused by malfunctions of the life-sustaining prana and of the four other pranas are quelled; sight and the other senses become clearer and one's physical strength increases. The definitive benefit is that one acquires the 'eight great siddhis' an important necessity, and the supreme siddhi. The eight great siddhis are: 1. The siddhi of the celestial dimensions, the power to abide in space without dying. 2. The siddhi of the sword, the power to conquer hordes of enemies. 3. The siddhi of the pill, the power to render one's body invisible by means of a medicine. 4. The siddhi of the swift gait, the power to cross seans and to traverse continents in a second by donning special boots. 5. The siddhi of the vase, the power to enjoy foods and riches from a vase with inexhaustible contents. 6. The siddhi of the subjugation of the Yaksas. 7. The siddhi of the vital substance, the power to prolong life and to strengthen the body. 8. The siddhi of the eye ointment, the power to detect treasures under the ground. From The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche p36 The supreme, ultimate siddhi is the realization of the ultimate view of dharmakaya equally. 'thatness beyond mentral constructs' the buddha mind 'exactly as it is'

I never said you were the worst person in the world, but when you act like you're talking down to people, that you're some sort of demi-god and us mere mortals should respect everything you say and dare not disagree with you, and when someone does disagree with you then it's hell to pay because you're going to respond in a hateful tone, well that is arrogance. I know it doesn't feel very good to hear that, but that is the perception you convey with your attitude. Why would anyone want to have an intelligent and open conversation with someone like that? That is what you're after since you come here and start topics I assume

Hmmm.. Dude, just stop rationalizing and getting defensive. Who are you protecting? Everyone here has commented on how you're being a prick. I'm only offering you advice on how to not have such an effect on people. I'm not perfect either.

Oh.

Love is New Age? It's part of every spiritual tradition, especially Buddhism. That's what compassion is, and it's absolutely necessary because otherwise you just get an inflated ego. Mirror check, that's you. This is called projection. Why not be honest with yourself? How do you rationalize arguing with people on the internet in such a condescending and arrogant way? Is that with those with small egos do?

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/14/manning/index.html

Taboo of Subjectivity by B Alan Wallace -- it's a good critique of how modern science conflates consciousness to the physical (it's just brain stuff). I got it after I argued with someone who loves Daniel Dennet and says we understand consciousness because of optical illusions :blink: The point being, the nature of consciousness is entirely subjective and cannot be reduced to an it Painting on the Sidewalk with Water by Joan Tollifson. Talks on Nonduality, very intense book that I can only read a paragraph at a time because it just rips apart ego like a lawnmower cutting grass. Very direct. Buddhist Practice on Western Ground - written by a Buddhist psychotherapist and talks about how Buddhism differs from Western values and ideals, and how that can be applied to therapy The Silent Question by Toni Packer - another mindscrubbing book. Toni was Joan's teacher and they both come from a very direct nondual perspective Clarifying the Natural State - Mahamudra practice manual

alwayson, I would really suggest you relax with the spiritual stuff for a while and work on having loving relationships with people. I mean this in the most sincerest way possible. It's truly amazing how much positive spiritual growth can happen once we let down our guard and just be with another person, warts and all. There's really nothing wrong with you so you have no reason to keep defending yourself here.

Just thought I would post this. It's from Raduga's ebook. I really don't get why he advertises through sexual marketing like that because with his writing style, he needs to advertise to much more intelligent people. I really enjoy his matter of fact writing style. This is from the beginning of the book and lays down the scheme of it. His writing appeals to an analytical mind like mine, so I'm enjoying it and looking forward to putting it into practice. ALGORITHM FOR MASTERING THE PHASE A novice practitioner must understand the procedure for learning and mastering phase entry. This procedure consists of several primary steps, each of which is a unique science unto itself. 1. The first and most important step addresses the techniques used to enter the phase state. It is not necessary to master every type of entrance technique (direct, indirect, dream consciousness). Learning and applying the easiest techniques provides the necessary prerequisites to more advanced methods. If so desired, it is possible to try more difficult entrance techniques in parallel with the moving on to the subsequent steps for mastering the phase. 2. Contrary to popular opinion, the need for conscious techniques does not cease upon phase entrance. It is absolutely necessary to learn and apply methods for deepening the phase to achieve a consistently hyper-realistic environment. Failing to apply deepening techniques almost guarantees that experiences will be dull, uninteresting, and subsequent practice short-lived. Practitioners should immediately learn and apply deepening techniques after mastering any one entrance method. 3. The third step involves mastering techniques for maintaining the phase, as without them the average person would have phase experiences of much shorter duration than is possible. When in the phase, the question of how to leave it almost never occurs. On the contrary, one is normally thrust from it in the course of several seconds if one simply does nothing. 4. After learning all the necessary techniques for mastering the phase state, it is time to learn and apply methods of control, which encompass the ability to translocate, find and interact with objects, influence surroundings, and so forth. 5. Once the previously noted steps have been accomplished, a practitioner may proceed to apply phase experiences to enhance everyday life. Over the course of this guidebook, we will examine dozens of these valuable applications in great detail.

Decondition yourself. Look into classical conditioning and what is called extinction. You've conditioned yourself (as many have, including I) to associate the female form with the desire for pleasure and release of tension. What really worked for me as a way to decondition was to watch porn and contemplate impermanence and death. This may sound kind of morbid, but it really works. You can imagine that the bodies are decaying. Really imagine what's underneath the skin, all of the muscle tendons and organs and skeleton. Contemplate how those females are just human beings who live normal lives full of suffering with momentary happiness. There is an actual person over there, not just a sexual object. That's how you decondition yourself.

LOL that video is pretty ridiculous, but hey I bet he attracts a lot of people to seminars. Whatever works. Robert Bruce isn't better. He advertises Q Link which is an $80 piece of junk. This is a consumer desire-driven culture. Gotta weed the shit from the gold these days. I got Raduga's PDF and it is legit. Thanks Seth. I'm curious, what's your motivation for OBE?

the Yantra Yoga book does not teach tummo.. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche does teach tummo and you can buy books through the Dzogchen Community with instructions in it and other powerful practices, but it's all within the Dzogchen context. You have to receive transmission and be a member of DC. Tummo without the larger context would be pretty useless. It creates a lot of bliss, and if one isn't on the proper path it will just create more attachment to pleasure rather than wisdom. The purpose of tummo is actually to create a lot of bliss for the purpose of not being conditioned by it and increasing Presence. More bliss = more presence = more wisdom.. but also very easy to get more attached and then the practice is useless and becomes dangerous. That's why I don't think it should be practiced by those who aren't on the path.

Why do you place so much emphasis on authority? Use whatever works for you man. You get into some really ridiculous arguments over nothing