Response to a question on a List: How do you access your mind. Thoughts are like waves and the mind is like the ocean. How do you access the ocean? Looking at your question, I will respond in three parts: – How do you access your mind? – Thoughts are like waves and the mind […]
The Ocean and Waves of Mind Read Post »
I’m currently studying ‘Songs of Naropa’, a translation and commentary on two Mahamudra songs of Naropa by Thrangu Rinpoche. The book is wonderful, full of Thrangu Rinpoche’s usual systematic and insightful reflections. The Two Doha’s or spiritual songs in the book are new to me, the first time I’ve encountered them. Both are short, and
This is one of my favourite Dharma songs – Milarepa sings so powerfully of impermanence, and conditionality. It’s so beautiful I really cannot bear to add words of my own to it here … The patrons of Nya Non wish Milarepa to stay with them permanently. Milarepa replied, “I cannot stay here long, but I
Milarepa – Song to the Patrons of Nya Non Read Post »
About a month ago I switched to always meditating with my eyes open, after pretty much always meditating with my eyes shut for the last 16 years. In the past I’d tried to switch, but found my ability to concentrate greatly impaired, so had reverted to keeping them shut. However, it has been 3 years
Seems like we often feel that we need to get into certain circumstances in order for our ‘practice’ to blossom. That we need to change the conditions in our lives to somehow support our practice. That we would be able to somehow do it ‘better’ if things were other than how they are now. But,
Right Where You Are …. Read Post »
In response to a further question, asking Which qualities of mind do not pertain to Buddha Nature – is not everything an expression of mind, and primordial wisdom? I think I can see why you say this, and feel this way. In one sense it is so … all that appears to arise has the
Qualities of Mind – Buddha Nature Read Post »
In response to a scenario on a List, where a person was confused as to how it is said that mind has no qualities, and yet it is said to have compassion, fearlessness, in-destruction etc. There are a couple of layers in response to this. As a Shentongpa, I cannot help responding from a Kagyu
Qualities of Mind – Shentong and Rangtong Read Post »
The Whole of the ‘View, Meditation and Conduct’ or of the ‘Ground, Path and Fruition’ are here in this one Doha or Dharma song. Unbelievably inspirational …. it makes me tingle everyone time I recite it. Faith and Devotion well up in response. It’s so odd how something which maps out the whole of the
The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra Read Post »
Is Shentong not part of Madhyamaka? This one is a bit tricky, as more or less all the schools claim that their highest view is in fact the highest madhyamaka view. So, the Shentongpas call their highest view in the tenet system ‘Great Madhyamaka’, and yet so do the Rangtongpas call theirs ‘Great Madhyamaka’, and
Madhyamaka and Shentong – Vimalakirti and Manjushri Read Post »
In response to a quote from a song of Milarepa, where: Rechungpa experienced a glimpse of emptiness and felt lost, because there was nothing to hold on 🙂 Interestingly enough, this is precisely what Madhyamaka method leads to … the realisation that there is nothing whatsoever to hold onto, and whatever we turn to in
Madhyamaka and Shentong – Beyond Thought Read Post »
