Dharma Wheel

as a child whenever I would visit an awe-inspiring place in nature, I would feel a deep sense of "the divine." If I hadn't "happened upon" a guru who showed me how to incorporate that kind of experience, I'm not sure Buddhism would have "worked out" for me. I just coul...

I'm not sure if this post belongs in this forum or elsewhere in the Tibetan section, admin please move it if need be. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what the schema of outer, inner, secret and innermost secret refers to in a general sense. I understand them to be something like outer: ritual ...

I was told (though others disputed with me on the point) that once one becomes a stream enterer one is irrevocably bound to become an arhat. You can't change your mind at that point and enter the bodhisattva path. This is the Hinayāna point of view. This is not the Mahāyāna view of the matter. Does...

First bhumi is Mahāyāna stream entry according to the presentation if the Abhisamayālamkara. How can the other path attainments be interpreted from a Mahayana perspective? For example, in a sadhana it says 'the state of a non-returner is attained'. Is non-returning not something to be avoided for a...

It is mentioned as part of the sravaka path - for instance in the Diamond Sutra. But if one has bodhicitta - aims for buddhahood - then it is not relevant. Sravakas eventually turn to the bodhisattva path according to the one vehicle scheme as presented primarily in the Lotus Sutra. Stream entry ma...

I'm wondering what place stream-entry and other path attainments (culminating in arahatship) have in Mahayana Buddhism? Are they mentioned, and if so how are they understood in the context of the Bodhisattva ideal of remaining in samsara for the benefit of all beings? If you attain stream entry does...

Ok I'll keep the worms canned for now then I'll check out Red Pine's book, thanks.

Thanks Johnny. I found the three turnings wiki article soon after I posted the question, and that does give the basic structure that I'm looking for, but I'd like to see a more elaborate discussion with reference to the specific content of the sutras pertaining to each of the turnings. Also, the wik...

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a basic breakdown of the different groups of sutras, if such a thing exists. Something like, these are the Prajnaparamita sutras, this is what they generally have in common and this is (very briefly) how each one develops that theme. And s...

Thank you. I guess there's no strong evidence of the sort I was looking for in Tibetan Buddhism, although maybe Bon has some more characteristically numinous aspects to its lower 'shamanic' vehicles.

The distinction between 'numinous' and 'mystical' experiences comes from the academic field of phenomenology in comparative religion. Numinous refers to experiences of a divinity apprehended as distinctly 'other' than oneself, usually characterised by trembling, awe and potentially fear. The term wa...

There's another (brief) biography here:
http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biograph ... TBRC_p3143" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was wondering if anyone had any good references/sources for information that discusses the distinction between practicing visualisation of the deity in front of oneself or above ones head versus visualising oneself as the deity? Specifically I'm looking to find a connection between these two stage...

Thanks guys, I appreciate the assistance.

I'm looking for a primary source (ie a sutra) in english which succinctly describes the enlightenment of the buddha under the bodhi tree. Can anyone suggest which sutra I should be looking for?

There's a reference in the Tantraloka (I think) regarding the origins of the Kashmiri Shaivite lineage lying on the border of modern India and Tibet, in a region that I believe at that time would have been the kingdom of Zhang Zhung/Shang Shung. Which makes me wonder about potential (pre-historic?) ...

Zenman, if you want to know about Tummo, check out Lama Yeshe's book: The Bliss of Inner Fire.