Dharma Wheel

So its the Ghost Month...and some of my relatives are to borrow an american phrase "Freaking out." For those of you who might lack some context about this, the Ghost month 鬼月 is a popular Chinese religious belief that every 7th month in the lunar cycle, the gates of Hell or the Underworld ...

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Acquired-Buddhist-Studies-Monographs/dp/1845539974 Was wondering if anyone here had a chance to look over this monograph. A little unsure given that the author resorts to a discussion of "self," although i'm not sure if he means that in terms of how the first...

Page 48 of Overview of Buddhist Tantra by Panchen Sonam Dragpa says: It was taught in the place where most of the Highest Yoga tantras were taught, glorious Dhanyakataka. A footnote attached to this says: In a footnote to Gos Lo-tsa-wa's Blue Annals (p.754), George Roerich identifies Sri Dhanyakata...

I was just wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to either purchase or peruse a copy and might be willing to offer a short review. I'm rather interested in Tibetan Buddhism's reflexive understanding of other Indian philosophical schools and each others, but i'm unsure as to how or where to app...

Gaah.. This conversation is veering off course again. Getting back to the previous topic. I haven't seen much about Dakinis in the Hindu context, although their identification with minor female goddesses makes me wonder if they have any connection to the Yakshinis. They both are dangerous female typ...

I vaguely recall, but isn't there some sort of worldly protector out there who prophesied that if he was released from his vows he'd overturn monasteries, despoil women, etc. etc. Its the one who can't listen to the Epic of King Gesar. I don't know, but now I want to know more too. Just ran a quick...

In Tibet, unlike India, almost everyone is Buddhist. Naturally it would follow that all the spirits are as well. Hmm.. not sure i'd say "all." After all, you got those gyalpos running around making a mess of things at times. ;) The other thing in the Tibetan case, is that Padmasambhava (a...

Still, the question of how and why Dakinis became part of Buddhism remains. Also, why the Dakinis of Tibetan myth are far kinder and conventional than the ones of Indian myth. Perhaps this is an incorrect assumption, but for those daknis who aren't some sort of emanation body of a Bodhisattva or Bu...

I’ve been discussing the Mahamaya Tantra ...... :good: Thank you for that most enlightening bit of scholarship Konchog! It does make a lot of sense when put into that context. And does solve a lot of possible problems rather neatly too. If you remove Robert Davidson's idea of a tribal origin or adm...

Konchog1 wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cENNCJRKOhE

The Aghori and Buddhist HYT must be related.

Oh definitely - at the very least in terms of the externals although their doctrines and practices already point to a view of non-dualism.

By a rather generous donation from a friend, I shall be coming into possession of a copy of Debate in Tibetan Buddhism , which apparently is a translation of "Collected Topics of Valid Cognition." I am rather excited, but it also made me a little curious. It makes sense given the exegetica...

Well since this thread has taken a turn toward Kamakhya and animal sacrifice (guess i'll have to make an alternate Dakini thread later :) ) So some vidoeo resources: 1.) Kamakhya - Tourist Edition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YubnjhWCSjw 2.) Youtube had this documentary called "Shakti: The Pe...

"People identified as Doms have long been workers at cremation places, weavers of ropes and baskets. They are also traditionally well known for their musical ability. A medieval history describes the Dom community as a caste that makes its living from music." Between work at cremation gro...

Sadly it seems my secondary questions are dead in the water though. In terms of the Dakini/Witch/Tribal People connection - I've found a few sources insisting that the folks Clarence and others have seen over at Kamakhya are in fact some group related to the Munda language users. --> https://en.wiki...

They probably are outlawed. But, you know....it's India. :smile: Oh I can speak to that one... it actually varies from state to state. Fits the whole notion of Indian democracy. They are some states like Andrha Pradesh where its business as usual in terms of animal sacrifices. Then you have a place...

I have been to Kamakhya. It is a crazy power spot. I also saw a group of witches there walking in the streets. They acted very differently from normal Indian women. If you ever have the chance, visit. Beware for the animal sacrifices though. Not for the faint of heart and they run counter to Buddhi...

Thank you for your suggestions!

I have meant to visit, but for many years the political situation was pretty violent and in the 90s when I was last in India it was pretty much off-limits to visitors. Oh do tell i'm rather curious - what political situation would you be referring to? I've been scratching my head about what "A...

So in my quest for understanding, i've decided to undertaken the arduous task of studying Indian/Buddhist logic. Except i'm not quite sure where to begin...even in a comparative sense. Formal logic systems were never really that popular in my own culture. The historian of science, Joseph Needham, on...

I have been to Kamakhya. It is a crazy power spot. I also saw a group of witches there walking in the streets. They acted very differently from normal Indian women. If you ever have the chance, visit. Beware for the animal sacrifices though. Not for the faint of heart and they run counter to Buddhi...