When you first started... (lightweight question)
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
I wish I'd known that the 4 thoughts that turn the mind to Dharma are just as important to reflect on through out the entite path no matter what higher teaching or training on meditation you've recieved.
'When thoughts arise, recognise them clearly as your teacher'— Gampopa
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
1) Read what is essential..don't reduce your Dharma engagement to books and cognitions.
2) Spend as much actual real meatspace time with as many teachers and students as you can.
3) Do not attempt to practice the Vajrayana without a living meatspace teacher.
4) Never assume that you can judge your fellow students on your own subjective standards concerning height, weight, colour, nationality, diet, temperament or personality type. In particular, do not assume that they will share your ideas of what constitutes 'niceness'.
2) Spend as much actual real meatspace time with as many teachers and students as you can.
3) Do not attempt to practice the Vajrayana without a living meatspace teacher.
4) Never assume that you can judge your fellow students on your own subjective standards concerning height, weight, colour, nationality, diet, temperament or personality type. In particular, do not assume that they will share your ideas of what constitutes 'niceness'.
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
If you mean these Four Thoughts, then yes I agree:
http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Four_thoughts
For myself: 'Practise Patience'.
http://www.khyung.com ཁྲོཾ
Om Thathpurushaya Vidhmahe
Suvarna Pakshaya Dheemahe
Thanno Garuda Prachodayath
Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṃ (मिच्छामि दुक्कडम्)
Om Thathpurushaya Vidhmahe
Suvarna Pakshaya Dheemahe
Thanno Garuda Prachodayath
Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṃ (मिच्छामि दुक्कडम्)
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Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
1) Pick one thing, get proper instructions, then do it consistently. Become an expert in that one thing.Lingpupa wrote: ↑Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:31 pm When you first got started in the Dharma, what was the one thing you would most have liked to be told at the beginning that would have made your life, or even your progress in the Dharma, easier? Something trivial, like "Eat a good lunch at this centre, because supper is usually very small"? Or something deep and meaningful?
2) Also - before even beginning on practice, learn how to listen to dharma. Figure out who is the student and who is the teacher, who is the yellow belt and who is the brown belt. Turn the pot the right way up, clean it so it smells nice, make sure it does not have a hole in it.
3) Always begin again from scratch tomorrow.
Generally, enjoyment of speech is the gateway to poor [results]. So it becomes the foundation for generating all negative emotional states. Jampel Pawo, The Certainty of the Diamond Mind
For posts from this user, see Karma Dondrup Tashi account.
For posts from this user, see Karma Dondrup Tashi account.
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
I'm not sure anyone could have told me anything at the beginning that would have worked or helped much.
For me, it was time, and finding out for myself that I was full of shit over and over again.
It's always been easy for me to gather and collect teachings and intellectual knowledge but every seven years or so I am reminded of how little I really know.
Being stubborn makes it hard for me to listen, but it also makes it impossible for me to stop learning about and confronting my own flaws.
For me, it was time, and finding out for myself that I was full of shit over and over again.
It's always been easy for me to gather and collect teachings and intellectual knowledge but every seven years or so I am reminded of how little I really know.
Being stubborn makes it hard for me to listen, but it also makes it impossible for me to stop learning about and confronting my own flaws.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Relax. Practice is not a life and death struggle against yourself, its more about just doing the method and relaxing and taking yourself as you are. If you just do the method, relax and give yourself a good helping of metta, you will make the road alot easier. After all practice never ends as long as there is life in your body, you will never be done, so why hurry to get there?
So relax and give your self lots of metta. Being tense about progress or goals just adds an extra layer of difficulty.
A teacher of mine included something like this in his practice instruction:
"Practice mainly consists of concentrating on your meditation object and then coming back to it. So if you are doing those two things you are doing it right."
So relax and give your self lots of metta. Being tense about progress or goals just adds an extra layer of difficulty.
A teacher of mine included something like this in his practice instruction:
"Practice mainly consists of concentrating on your meditation object and then coming back to it. So if you are doing those two things you are doing it right."
Nothing remains
Of the house that I was born in--
Fireflies.
- Santoka, 1882-1940
Mountain Tasting: Zen Haiku by Santoka Taneda, 1980, p.48
Translated by John Stevens
Of the house that I was born in--
Fireflies.
- Santoka, 1882-1940
Mountain Tasting: Zen Haiku by Santoka Taneda, 1980, p.48
Translated by John Stevens
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Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Drink boiled water.Lingpupa wrote: ↑Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:31 pm When you first got started in the Dharma, what was the one thing you would most have liked to be told at the beginning that would have made your life, or even your progress in the Dharma, easier? Something trivial, like "Eat a good lunch at this centre, because supper is usually very small"? Or something deep and meaningful?
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Not a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, but I have always found this advice useful:
Keith
_/|\_
Good luck and thanks for practicing,Be patient
Be persistent
Be kind to yourself
Keith
_/|\_
When walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking,
being silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without interruption - what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.
New Haven Zen Center
being silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without interruption - what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.
New Haven Zen Center
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Yes, it's not a race to enlightenment. There's no ego involved, or shouldn't be. The Dharma is there for you to help yourself. But don't use that as an excuse to be lazy. Be inspired by others but don't let their example discourage you from focusing on your own path.daibunny wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2017 1:55 am Relax. Practice is not a life and death struggle against yourself, its more about just doing the method and relaxing and taking yourself as you are. If you just do the method, relax and give yourself a good helping of metta, you will make the road alot easier. After all practice never ends as long as there is life in your body, you will never be done, so why hurry to get there?
So relax and give your self lots of metta. Being tense about progress or goals just adds an extra layer of difficulty.
A teacher of mine included something like this in his practice instruction:
"Practice mainly consists of concentrating on your meditation object and then coming back to it. So if you are doing those two things you are doing it right."
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
"Better 10 minutes happy practice than 1 hour so and so practice", a very helpful advice from my teacher. Wish I got that in the beginning.
/magnus
/magnus
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Stop being like a kid in a sweet shop. Never consider so-called 'basic' teachings as lacking in profundity and ignoring them in favour of the so-called 'advanced' stuff. Find out, understand and implement what the man himself actually said (not what you think he said because it's what someone you respect sort of told you).Lingpupa wrote: ↑Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:31 pm When you first got started in the Dharma, what was the one thing you would most have liked to be told at the beginning that would have made your life, or even your progress in the Dharma, easier? Something trivial, like "Eat a good lunch at this centre, because supper is usually very small"? Or something deep and meaningful?
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Oh yeah, this. Also better to have a shortened practice in a calm or normal mindset / energy level rather than overexerting and pushing for a longer practice when you're already too agitated.
Also ties in with recognizing the need for a slow transition between the hustle and bustle of samsara and starting a retreat. Jumping in head first to a retreat setting with set sessions without moving from higher to lower gears first can be counterproductive. In short, be aware of your own energetic needs and be willing to adjust your practice accordingly when needed.
'When thoughts arise, recognise them clearly as your teacher'— Gampopa
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Ideas, beliefs, opinions and 'shoulds' are fine, but don't waste time worrying about them.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Excellent. Beautiful post. This is what i would have said if i werent such a blabbermouth
Nothing remains
Of the house that I was born in--
Fireflies.
- Santoka, 1882-1940
Mountain Tasting: Zen Haiku by Santoka Taneda, 1980, p.48
Translated by John Stevens
Of the house that I was born in--
Fireflies.
- Santoka, 1882-1940
Mountain Tasting: Zen Haiku by Santoka Taneda, 1980, p.48
Translated by John Stevens
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Allow yourself leting go. If you are not ready for that then stay away, look out for something else, do not pursue the Dhamma path.
Take your time. Allow things to ripen. Grass doesn't grow faster when pulling it.
You will be a different Person. You'll Need to be very honest with yourself. Accept that. Do not choose the Dhamma path accidentially.
Be prepared that Terms will be used differently to what you are used to. That Terms that had Little significance will be used inflationally. Start studying to get into this world but also watch carefully when that's enough. Then stop studying.
There are things beyond logic and common sense. You'll Need to allow yourself opening to that, without overly enthusiasm.
Don't mix the yanas
Check out carefully before (if) you commit.
You may read from that post that this is higher yana stuff. Call ist dzogchen or not. Like it, like it not.
Take your time. Allow things to ripen. Grass doesn't grow faster when pulling it.
You will be a different Person. You'll Need to be very honest with yourself. Accept that. Do not choose the Dhamma path accidentially.
Be prepared that Terms will be used differently to what you are used to. That Terms that had Little significance will be used inflationally. Start studying to get into this world but also watch carefully when that's enough. Then stop studying.
There are things beyond logic and common sense. You'll Need to allow yourself opening to that, without overly enthusiasm.
Don't mix the yanas
Check out carefully before (if) you commit.
You may read from that post that this is higher yana stuff. Call ist dzogchen or not. Like it, like it not.
Ho! All the possible appearances and existences of samsara and nirvana have the same source, yet two paths and two results arise as the magical display of awareness and unawareness.
HO NANG SRI KHOR DAE THAMCHE KUN ZHI CHIG LAM NYI DRAE BU NYI RIG DANG MA RIG CHOM THRUL TE
HO NANG SRI KHOR DAE THAMCHE KUN ZHI CHIG LAM NYI DRAE BU NYI RIG DANG MA RIG CHOM THRUL TE
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
I forgot one:
watch Matrix I with Keanu Reeves
watch Matrix I with Keanu Reeves
Ho! All the possible appearances and existences of samsara and nirvana have the same source, yet two paths and two results arise as the magical display of awareness and unawareness.
HO NANG SRI KHOR DAE THAMCHE KUN ZHI CHIG LAM NYI DRAE BU NYI RIG DANG MA RIG CHOM THRUL TE
HO NANG SRI KHOR DAE THAMCHE KUN ZHI CHIG LAM NYI DRAE BU NYI RIG DANG MA RIG CHOM THRUL TE
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
She means don't use lower yāna explanations to try and explicate higher yānas principles, and vice versa. It is fine to cite something from lowers yānas if it supports higher yānas, for example, citing the Uttaratantra to elucidate tathāgatagarbha in Vajrayāna texts, or Madhyamaka texts to elucidate the principle of freedom from extremes, but you would not cite Dzogchen tantras in a Madhyamaka commentary.
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
It would be refreshing if that principle was widely observed..
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Re: When you first started... (lightweight question)
Thanks for the kind words. We pretty much said the same thing, didn't we. This is funny to me, because the other a day, a Dharma friend said to me that "I have a saying for everything". I don't think it was meant completely as a compliment!
_/|\_
When walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking,
being silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without interruption - what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.
New Haven Zen Center
being silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without interruption - what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.
New Haven Zen Center