One thing that’s been coming into view lately in meditation is how my common sense notions that ‘I’ am somehow taking the decisions and choices and thereby the active agent of my life is not actually backed up by experience. My conventional notion is that, for example, when I decide to switch my focus in […]
Nobody is Running this Show Read Post »
I’ve been reflecting more on my experience of Mahamudra Shamatha … resting with the breath. Continuing from where I got to in my last post … the breath isn’t anywhere … and it’s not a thing. There is no breath as such, nor is it in a particular place. So how do I rest on
My Breath Don’t Live Here No More Read Post »
The birds have vanished into the sky,and now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me,until only the mountain remains. from Endless River: Li Po and Tu Fu: A Friendship in Poetry, Translated by Sam Hami. This is so evocative. A truly beautiful image, of Li Po sitting *with* the mountain,
Li Bai / Li Po – The Birds Have Vanished Into The Sky Read Post »
I bow down at the feet of the supreme lama! It’s the mind fixated on objects that causes samsara.If you recognize as spontaneousThe luminous self-awareness, free of fixation,You’ll taste the fruit of the first yoga, one-pointedness. Some talk and talk about union, yet their meditation is all conceptual,They talk and talk about cause and effect,
Reflections on Milarepa – The Song of Distinguishing the Four Yogas Read Post »
I’ve recently discovered a blog called if you see the dhamma … written by Joseiem, which I’ve really enjoyed reading, and commenting on. I thought I’d just lift a set of replies I posted to Joseiem’s comments. I’ve used the title of this post to highlight what I’m trying to point at, not to characterise
Starting from Experience and Starting from Thought Read Post »
Vajra queen, mother of all buddhas,Dark-brown woman wearing bone ornaments who flies through space,You bestow supreme accomplishment on your fortunate disciples:Noble Niguma, to you I pray. You were born in the wonderful land of Kashmir,In a sublime cityKnown as Incomparable in the Land of Jambu,Emanated through Madhyantika’s blessing; to you I pray. In the family
Reflections on The Melody of Wisdom : A Supplication to the Wisdom Dakini Niguma Read Post »
Bestower of uncontaminated, coemergent bliss;Radiant with the full splendor of sixteen-year-old youth;Leader of every assembly of dakinis in the three locationsVenerable Accomplishment of Bliss [Sukhasiddhi], to you I pray. You manifested in a pauper’s home in KashmirAnd trained in realization on the path.Having completed the force of faith and great compassion,You diligently gave gifts without
The Melody of Great Bliss : A Supplication to the Wisdom Dakini Sukhasiddhi Read Post »
The winds have died, but flowers go on falling; birds call, but silence penetrates each song. The Mystery! Unknowable, unlearnable. The virtue of Kannon. Ryokan These incomparable words express so eloquently the mystery of inseparable emptiness and appearances. It’s also a stunning reflection on transience and the Deathless. How he holds both sets of seeming
Ryokan – The Winds have Died Read Post »
I thought I’d therefore share some further reflections on Gampopa’s threefold classification of Compassion (from The Jewel Ornament of Liberation). Compassion with reference to Sentient beings Gampopa’s first category – ‘Compassion with reference to Sentient beings’ is simply the desire to help beings when we see that they are suffering. However, due to our level
Deepening Compassion Read Post »
(The third slogan of the Seven Points of Mind Training). This slogan is the third of the points on the actual practice – the cultivation of Bodhicitta. Let even the remedy subside …. The antidote will vanish of itself …. Even the Antidote Itself is Liberated in its own Place …. What is the Remedy
Self Liberate Even the Antidote Read Post »
