Cessation/Integration of afflictions which in a very general and practical sense will allow you to be sincerely happy...not a contrived happiness. With that, you help others. I know you weren't looking to have visions of flying unicorns or smurfs.padma norbu wrote: The more time goes by, the less faith I have that I will ever achieve whatever it is I'm supposed to get from this whole thing.
.Or, wait, I mean it seems like an utter load of bollocks that the key to ultimate, infinite, extreme power over all reality is in this little teensy tiny heart drop of mine if I just find a way to crack it open and look at it right.
Of all the things you mentioned, this is the one I find least interesting. What Buddhist tradition (with the exception of certain Pure Land traditions) isn't based on insight in order to acquire enlightenment? In Dzogchen, the body is the focus.
. whether it's true or not, one thing I'm definitely sure of: one could easily waste an entire lifetime in sitting contemplation and wind up with nothing but a calloused ass. I'm turning into a pretty calloused ass myself, as you can see.
OK. But is this a criticism of Dzogchen? This can be a criticism of all religous and spiritual traditions.One could easily argue it is just another opiate of the masses.
You were jumping a bit all over the place. Is your concern that your practice isn't going well? Your issues with Dzogchen theory and cosmology?I just don't see it going anywhere. My practice isn't getting any better and I have no reason to believe it ever will.
A Mahayana Buddhist practices to assist all sentient beings. What were you expecting from Mahayana Buddhism?But, if it does, theoretically, result in Buddhahood, then you no longer exist in the way you thought you did, but spontaneously manifest for the benefit of beings as a being which once again needs to awaken to Buddhahood. Seems a bit silly, doesn't it?
And then, like, doesn't everything get destroyed in fire after a few bazillion kalpas anyway?
You're going to die probably before you reach 100 years of age. Does that mean you act like an ass to your loved ones? Your friends? Why bother waking up in the morning? This seems more like an existential problem.What is the point of reawakening Buddhahood if you just have to do it over and over again and everything will be destroyed, anyway? This is the same argument used against samsara: what is the point of struggling to be successful in samsara when we know that all happiness is transitory and wears off and in the end, you will lose everything?
For tantra yes, but you don't have to do this in Dzogchen. Forcing yourself to see teachers or people as Buddhas isn't practical. It's by practice that it unfolds. If it hasn't unfolded, don't try to do it artificially.Also, if we see our guru as the Buddha, doesn't that mean we should really believe it?
What do mean? In a very general sense you are, or can use yogic methods of Dzogchen to overcome/integrate afflictions. Methods like the purification of 6 lokas as an example.Somehow, this is all going to make you a Buddha. Somehow. Don't ask how because that is utterly inexplicable
What Dzogchenpa believes this? What Buddhist believes this? No one who has been a Buddhist for a while relies on blind faith.just proceed on faith even though it really makes no sense
Take a number and get on line with everyone else on this forum.Furthermore, if you consider that I began exploring religious and esoteric ideas at the age of about 15, one could try to make the case that I am merely a dilettante (incorrectly), but the fact is I have been refining my worldview in this manner for 18 years now.