Search found 55 matches

by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:19 am
Forum: Alternative Health
Topic: Prostrations - Muscle Groups
Replies: 36
Views: 36699

Re: Prostrations - Muscle Groups

Add lungs and heart :) All that moving up and down can be quite a strain if you're not used to it. I no longer get out of breath after 3, but that's a recent development... And while I am not that fit (obviously) I do bike regularly and am not overweight. For people who spend most of their time sitt...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:15 am
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: Consecration of buddha statue
Replies: 2
Views: 2363

Re: Consecration of buddha statue

Personally it took me years to create a shrine, so no - I don't think it's necessary. On the other hand, if you want to ask a teacher to bless a statue (which is perhaps what this question is about) they will probably expect that statue to end up on a shrine. Depending on the background of the teach...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:08 am
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: A severe period of depression
Replies: 16
Views: 4033

Re: A severe period of depression

Personally I found that focusing on the negative - aka suffering - can help only to an extent. Sure it's the basis of the path, but to go beyond it, something positive may be a big help. In my case the Buddha Shyakyamuni 'nectar rain' meditation has helped me find a more positive aspect of myself. I...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:01 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Vajrayana and PTSD
Replies: 27
Views: 9233

Re: Vajrayana and PTSD

There are guru-yoga practices - on the Dalai Lama for instance - that can be done without an empowerment. Personally though I think it's very tricky to do these things with people who aren't Buddhists. Perhaps the simple Buddha 'nectar rain' meditations stripped of specifically Buddhist connotation ...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:56 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: When was the first exclusively Mahayana ordination?
Replies: 31
Views: 9544

Re: When was the first exclusively Mahayana ordination?

Now, as to the larger question of the first exclusively Mahayana ordination: is there such a thing? Are there ordinations taking place that are not through the Theravada, Dharmaguptaka, or Mulasarvastivada Vinaya? None of those are "exclusively Mahayana" in any relevant sense. I agree. Th...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:49 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Is there an Interest in a Classical Yogācāra Thread?
Replies: 6
Views: 2319

Re: Is there an Interest in a Classical Yogācāra Thread?

I think threads on particular yogacara issues belong in the academic forum. I'm sure that unless you're a moderator you can't create a subforum for yogachara.

Personally - if I were a moderator - I'd vote against such a subforum, because it's just not necessary.
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:40 am
Forum: Gelug
Topic: Recordings of tantric empowerments?
Replies: 6
Views: 6355

Re: Recordings of tantric empowerments?

The Gelugpa teachers I've come in contact with all place tremendous importance on the relationship with the teacher (can't just be one-way) and personal presence during any type of teaching. On a sutra level you can of course take teachings any way you want, but you would not have the lung (transmis...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:33 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Are Satipatthana, Shamatha and Vipashyana interrelated?
Replies: 10
Views: 4460

Re: Are Satipatthana, Shamatha and Vipashyana interrelated?

My teacher (Geshe Sonam Gyaltsen - gelugpa) stresses mostly vipasyana (aka thinking about the teachings) and Shamatha (aka concentration on an object and keeping the mind still). You do need all three on the path and a level of concentration is necessary for vipasyana, but for real Shamatha any move...
by Spirituality
Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:27 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Vairocana and Vajrasattva
Replies: 9
Views: 5907

Re: Vairocana and Vajrasattva

Parishodhana and varsuddhani are too different from each other for it to be a 'tibetan pronounciation' or transliteration problem. There are likely simply two versions in circulation and the correct one for you is the one your teacher taught you.
by Spirituality
Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:48 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Mahayana and Theravada
Replies: 9
Views: 2418

Re: Mahayana and Theravada

Just take it slow. Try out the various groups in the neighborhood. Google terminology you don't know. Try meditation. If you believe in reincarnation, the group that ignores it (following Steve Batchelor perhaps?) is probably not the one for you. You don't have to pick one anyhow. If at some point y...
by Spirituality
Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:37 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Is 'Wholesome Conduct' in Sex a good Karma?
Replies: 65
Views: 16624

Re: Is 'Wholesome Conduct' in Sex a good Karma?

So, which would the aspiring yogi prefer - sensual craving, copulating potential parents and rebirth as a human being, or liberation? It depends. I've read about the path to liberation [/u] but I feel called to be the founder of a solid family unit. That's fine: lay people are as essential to the s...
by Spirituality
Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:28 pm
Forum: Gelug
Topic: Gaden Lha Gyama
Replies: 27
Views: 9014

Re: Gaden Lha Gyama

I have began reading the book I have again, from the beginning. Had to take a break as between work and the remodeling of the house I didn't have much time for studying. I am able to understand the terms used in the book, from reading so many posts here from the different members who help so many o...
by Spirituality
Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:47 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Newbie from Gelugpa / FPMT lineage
Replies: 8
Views: 2952

Re: Newbie from Gelugpa / FPMT lineage

Greetings Katinka and welcome! Your Private Messaging is disabled, so I will mention that the 'Katinka' URL in your sig does not work. http://www.katinkahesselink.net/t" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; That extra 't' may be the problem. Thanks. Turns out linking to that page...
by Spirituality
Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:51 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Can one benefit from doing only breathing meditation?
Replies: 10
Views: 3688

Re: Can one benefit from doing only breathing meditation?

The only type of person I know of who won't benefit from breathing meditation are people, like me, with issues with breathing, which make it harder to calm down when trying to focuss on the breath than without. Just try it: calming meditation (of which breathing meditation is the most used form) is...
by Spirituality
Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:45 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What Does This Sound Like? Deities Family.
Replies: 5
Views: 1956

Re: What Does This Sound Like? Deities Family.

Glad to hear it helped in some way.
by Spirituality
Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:35 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Why meditate?
Replies: 15
Views: 5647

Re: Why meditate?

Personally I would be somewhat suspicious of a type of meditation that makes people less instead of more aware. Doesn't sound right to me at all.
by Spirituality
Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:09 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Why so many tantra?
Replies: 3
Views: 1383

Re: Why so many tantra?

You pick the one your teacher gives you. As to why so many? I suspect it's simply because India was politically fragmented at the time the tantras came into the world.m
by Spirituality
Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:06 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Why meditate?
Replies: 15
Views: 5647

Re: Why meditate?

From what I understand, meditation generally doesn't solve clinical depression, but it can help in dealing with it, breathing through it. As for people losing their sense of self: that's one explicit goal of Buddhist meditation, so it's not surprising it happens- including people overdoing it. They'...
by Spirituality
Mon Jun 04, 2012 3:58 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Can one benefit from doing only breathing meditation?
Replies: 10
Views: 3688

Re: Can one benefit from doing only breathing meditation?

The only type of person I know of who won't benefit from breathing meditation are people, like me, with issues with breathing, which make it harder to calm down when trying to focuss on the breath than without. Just try it: calming meditation (of which breathing meditation is the most used form) is ...
by Spirituality
Mon Jun 04, 2012 3:55 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: practical way of meditation
Replies: 8
Views: 2689

Re: practical way of meditation

Do make yourself familiar with the object you're trying to visualize in any way you can. Put it on your phone, though perhaps as a background is not respectful. Find a black and white version, copy several times and color it (I did the latter) etc. In general it's a good idea to start with the gener...

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