‘Regard all dharmas as dreams’. This is the first slogan of the second section of the ‘Seven Points of Mind Training’. It’s the first of the slogans which emphasise the ultimate quality of Bodhicitta – that of Emptiness. I’ve been bringing this to mind the last few days. I remember many years ago, when first […]
Regard all Phenomena as Dreams Read Post »
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
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
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 »
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 »
One thing which has come to me over and over again in recent days is the profound ‘is-ness’ of things. By this, I don’t mean the ‘suchness’, to use Buddhist terminology. What I mean is that when I look at a leaf, it is extraordinary how ‘leafy’ it is …. the texture ripples with extraordinary
The ‘Is-ness’ of Things Read Post »
The supreme peerless vehicle of the secret Dzogchen, the Great Completeness, functions to bring you directly into the Sphere of that which is spontaneously there. This sphere, which is the foundation, is unchanging…. It need not be sought for because it is spontaneously present from time immemorial. No trying or effort is required. This path
Longchenpa – Four Themed Precious Garland Read Post »
I have been thinking recently about setting up a Online Dharma Study Group, and wondered if anyone out there was interested. Perhaps I could briefly describe what would be involved, and also some background to how it might be organised? The group study would centre around a Yahoo e-group, like those such as DWBN-chat, which
Online Kagyu Study Group Read Post »
Mahamudra meditation instruction is often presented in terms of two-fold advice – the common, and the uncommon. These could be said to be the general and the detailed or specific instructions. The common or general instructions seem intended to be the base or background upon which all the uncommon or detailed instructions build. For me
Reflections on Tilopa – Mahamudra Pith Instructions 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 »
