How tempting it is for the mind to grasp onto what is directly perceived, and to ossify it into necessarily rigid and falsifying concepts. The raft of skilful use of conceptual understanding is a tricky one to ride, and one which seems to hold much potential for misuse. The Buddha described the Dharma as being […]
It has really struck me over the weekend how much the continuity of meditation is facilitated by a daily practice. For many years when I started on the Dharmic path, I was fiercely concerned that I should meditate every day, following my teachers advice. Like many things in those days, there was a sense of
We experience endlessly, and on top of the flow of seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, and thinking we project and add a fictional ‘experiencer’, a one, a self who is doing this experiencing. And yet, there isn’t anyone there to do this. so who or what is experiencing the experiences? ….. the experience itself is
The Experience is the Experiencer Read Post »
Yesterday I started to catch a cold. My mind was very cloudy indeed, and I felt like I was floating in a cloud. It was really hard to focus on anything and retain that focus as I tended to drift off into blankness. Mentally, it was real hard to apply myself to work, and thoughts
Compassion and emptiness are inseparable. This uninterrupted flowing innate mind Is suchness, primordially pure. Space is seen in intercourse with space. Because the root resides at home, Mind consciousness is imprisoned. Meditating on this, subsequent thoughts Are not patched together in the mind. Knowing the phenomenal world is the nature of mind, Meditation requires no
Marpa’s Teaching from Saraha in a Dream Read Post »
Two nights ago I watched the final episode of Michael Palin’s new TV series – ‘Himalaya’, a series which followed his trek through that extraordinary region. Most of this last episode was set in Bhutan, and showed wonderful views of the environment there, the mountains, the valleys, and life in villages and monasteries. Calling me
Calling Me Back Home Read Post »
Hmm … that was a real tough weekend! So many challenges to rise to, so much energy expended keeping everything going and everything together … I’m now ready for a rest when I get back to work! Buying into the headline of the story But lying there reflecting on the weekend last night, it really
Generalisations Obscure the Truth Read Post »
I thought I’d respond to Al’s comment on my previous post here, and share something of how Deity mediation works in a Vajrayana and Mahamudra context. Seems like you’re in a great space – if I may ask – how much “concentration” is applied during your meditation – I do recall you mentioning devotional aspect
Deity Yoga and Concentration Read Post »
There are some beautiful changes in my meditation at present which I thought I’d share. A month or so ago I switched to doing my daily meditation out in the open again, having spent much of the last 6 months meditating indoors. It’s been such a joy to meditate under the open sky, regardless of
The Blessings of Meditation Read Post »
When you read some of the amazing Kagyu texts and books in print in English today, I can’t help but be awed and grateful for our good karma in having these clear and lucid teachings available in undiluted form at this time … and so easily available too … without having to climb mountains or
Direct from the Source Read Post »
