Different criteria. Why?

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Viach
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Different criteria. Why?

Post by Viach »

One can often find an explanation: Sutra is a path of renunciation, Tantra is a path of transformation, Dzogchen is a path of self-liberation. And, sutric path is called the path of renunciation because of the vows (do not kill, etc.), tantric path is called the path of transformation because of a way of meditation (shamatha (generation stage - visualizing oneself in the form of yidam)), dzogchen path is called the path of self-liberation because of a way of meditation(vipashyana - stay in an instant presence, rigpa). A question arises: why is the sutric path characterized solely by the criterion of vows, and not by the criterion of the mode of meditation (shamatha and vipashyana) as it is done in tantric and dzogchen ways? After all, in sutric vipassana there is no renunciation, and tantric samayas put very serious limitations. And behavior in Dzogchen is not permissiveness. Why are different criteria used?
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Aryjna
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Re: Different criteria. Why?

Post by Aryjna »

It is not called path of renunciation because of the vows, not only because of that at least.
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Matt J
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Re: Different criteria. Why?

Post by Matt J »

I wouldn't take the Tibetan presentation to actually align with the historical schools. The presentation is useful as a method for elaborating the Tibetan view, but not at all useful for elaborating non-Tibetan views.

I would also keep in mind that many modern forms of sutric meditation probably fairly recent.
Viach wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:16 am One can often find an explanation: Sutra is a path of renunciation, Tantra is a path of transformation, Dzogchen is a path of self-liberation. And, sutric path is called the path of renunciation because of the vows (do not kill, etc.), tantric path is called the path of transformation because of a way of meditation (shamatha (generation stage - visualizing oneself in the form of yidam)), dzogchen path is called the path of self-liberation because of a way of meditation(vipashyana - stay in an instant presence, rigpa). A question arises: why is the sutric path characterized solely by the criterion of vows, and not by the criterion of the mode of meditation (shamatha and vipashyana) as it is done in tantric and dzogchen ways? After all, in sutric vipassana there is no renunciation, and tantric samayas put very serious limitations. And behavior in Dzogchen is not permissiveness. Why are different criteria used?
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jet.urgyen
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Re: Different criteria. Why?

Post by jet.urgyen »

Viach wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:16 am One can often find an explanation: Sutra is a path of renunciation, Tantra is a path of transformation, Dzogchen is a path of self-liberation. And, sutric path is called the path of renunciation because of the vows (do not kill, etc.), tantric path is called the path of transformation because of a way of meditation (shamatha (generation stage - visualizing oneself in the form of yidam)), dzogchen path is called the path of self-liberation because of a way of meditation(vipashyana - stay in an instant presence, rigpa). A question arises: why is the sutric path characterized solely by the criterion of vows, and not by the criterion of the mode of meditation (shamatha and vipashyana) as it is done in tantric and dzogchen ways? After all, in sutric vipassana there is no renunciation, and tantric samayas put very serious limitations. And behavior in Dzogchen is not permissiveness. Why are different criteria used?
it's about emotions.

in sutrayana, theravada tradition and the different mahayana schools, the method is renouncing negative emotions because they are considered poisons to our self. By abandoning, renouncing, negative emotions one stops producing negative karma. So one renounces everything that can be turn to a poison (house, fancy clothes, home, friends, sensorial enjoyable things, family, etc.)

in vajrayana, the way of transformation, one does not renounce emotions because what was called poinson in the renounciation path here also have the potentiality of manifest as wisdom, through application of a transformation method. so emotions that may surge have value and one does not renounce to them.

in atiyoga, the way of selfliberation, is like a final step of vajrayana, just at entering this path emotions are discovered to be a display of one's own potential, not a poison to be thrown away nor something to be necessarily transformed, it is part of a natural thing that eventually settle down or arise, so one does not renounce nor involve with emotions but contemplate them as they selfliberate by themselves. by contemplating emotions they loose their power over ourselves, even if one is producing more emotion, experiencing them, so it selfliberates instantly without effort as the manifests.

this are more or less the main differences I understand.

there is a book called "sutra, tantra and dzogchen" author is elias capriles, where this is explained in academical terms, more official and detailed.
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Viach
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Re: Different criteria. Why?

Post by Viach »

"it's about emotions.

in sutrayana, theravada tradition and the different mahayana schools, the method is renouncing negative emotions because they are considered poisons to our self. By abandoning, renouncing, negative emotions one stops producing negative karma. So one renounces everything that can be turn to a poison (house, fancy clothes, home, friends, sensorial enjoyable things, family, etc.)"

It's not true. Vipassana is the most important practice of sutrayana. There is no renouncing negative emotions there. :shrug:
Viach
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Re: Different criteria. Why?

Post by Viach »

Aryjna wrote: Sat Jul 21, 2018 4:22 pm It is not called path of renunciation because of the vows, not only because of that at least.
Well, tell me why.
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conebeckham
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Re: Different criteria. Why?

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Viach wrote: Fri Jul 27, 2018 1:24 pm "it's about emotions.

in sutrayana, theravada tradition and the different mahayana schools, the method is renouncing negative emotions because they are considered poisons to our self. By abandoning, renouncing, negative emotions one stops producing negative karma. So one renounces everything that can be turn to a poison (house, fancy clothes, home, friends, sensorial enjoyable things, family, etc.)"

It's not true. Vipassana is the most important practice of sutrayana. There is no renouncing negative emotions there. :shrug:
If you're practicing vipassana, truly, I would agree. BUT-and this is a big caveat--in order to practice Vipassana you have to set the stage. Samatha, of course, is a prerequisite for almost all of us, and in order to "till the soil" for insight to occur, you need a calm and stable mind. Such a mind is very hard to cultivate when one is chasing desires. Renunciation is very much the bedrock of Sutra, and frankly of all Dharma traditions, though it has to be understood correctly. If you are constantly engaged in samsaric activity, you hamper your ability to practice samatha, as a beginner. And frankly, almost all of us are beginners.
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