How do I know I'm doing things right?

[Tenma]

Okay so I've been trying to follow instructions on meditation such as this form of Thonglen:
http://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-mas ... d-training
However, how do I know that I'm following the instructions properly? Or if I am doing a sadhana, how do I know I'm doing the right thing instead of mistaking stuff and so on? The answer "ask your lama" will not be considered yet as my time has not come to meet him/her yet. Other answer please.

[Ayu]

I believe, if you do it wrongly, you will feel it.

[明安 Myoan]

Bokar Rinpoche said in "Chenrezig: Lord of Love" something like, if you grow in compassion and love, your practice is progressing. Study, remember, cultivate bodhicitta as your basis in everything you think, say, and do. With such a foundation, any practice will bear fruit.

[Tenma]

I believe, if you do it wrongly, you will feel it.

Wouldn't that be deluding yourself? For example, I really look through a Manjushri sadhana after receiving its empowerment before later on realizing I didn't do the practice right(like 5 dhyani Buddhas empowerment, memorizing the various extra mantras and not just the main one, etc.). The same with a Short Tun that had a few revisions for me where I had no commentary, thus following the sadhana and guessing until when I read the commentary, I had to change aspects of the practice.

[jet.urgyen]

Okay so I've been trying to follow instructions on meditation such as this form of Thonglen:
http://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-mas ... d-training
However, how do I know that I'm following the instructions properly? Or if I am doing a sadhana, how do I know I'm doing the right thing instead of mistaking stuff and so on? The answer "ask your lama" will not be considered yet as my time has not come to meet him/her yet. Other answer please.

i had more or less the same questions a few time ago.

the reticence of cut the grasp to an "i and them" diminishes, so the fear of giving the best of "i" and taking the worst of "them" dimishes. that you know that tonglen is working. look at your awareness, cognition, of "i and them" before, during and after doing tonglen. this awareness lead to another awareness: there is nothing to fear at all. fear diminishes means tonglen training is working.

regarding sadhana, i don't know what or how you are applying, but i did lot of tonglen through an Avalokitesvara anuyoga sadhana and i totally recomend it.

in general the way of check if one is doing things right is by looking at tawa, gonpa and chopa, corresponding to what you are applying.

[passel]

Start with refuge and bodhicitta, during the main part practice to the best of your ability and understanding, and dedicate the merit at the end. Think reflectively and pay attention to external feedback. Develop experience and seek out practitioners who are senior to you. Best of luck.

[Konchog Thogme Jampa]

Okay so I've been trying to follow instructions on meditation such as this form of Thonglen:
http://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-mas ... d-training
However, how do I know that I'm following the instructions properly? Or if I am doing a sadhana, how do I know I'm doing the right thing instead of mistaking stuff and so on? The answer "ask your lama" will not be considered yet as my time has not come to meet him/her yet. Other answer please.

i had more or less the same questions a few time ago.

the reticence of cut the grasp to an "i and them" diminishes, so the fear of giving the best of "i" and taking the worst of "them" dimishes. that you know that tonglen is working. look at your awareness, cognition, of "i and them" before, during and after doing tonglen. this awareness lead to another awareness: there is nothing to fear at all. fear diminishes means tonglen training is working.

regarding sadhana, i don't know what or how you are applying, but i did lot of tonglen through an Avalokitesvara anuyoga sadhana and i totally recomend it.

in general the way of check if one is doing things right is by looking at tawa, gonpa and chopa, corresponding to what you are applying.

What is the Sadhana? Can you PM it to me, plus practice requirements!!??

[jet.urgyen]

Okay so I've been trying to follow instructions on meditation such as this form of Thonglen:
http://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-mas ... d-training
However, how do I know that I'm following the instructions properly? Or if I am doing a sadhana, how do I know I'm doing the right thing instead of mistaking stuff and so on? The answer "ask your lama" will not be considered yet as my time has not come to meet him/her yet. Other answer please.

i had more or less the same questions a few time ago.

the reticence of cut the grasp to an "i and them" diminishes, so the fear of giving the best of "i" and taking the worst of "them" dimishes. that you know that tonglen is working. look at your awareness, cognition, of "i and them" before, during and after doing tonglen. this awareness lead to another awareness: there is nothing to fear at all. fear diminishes means tonglen training is working.

regarding sadhana, i don't know what or how you are applying, but i did lot of tonglen through an Avalokitesvara anuyoga sadhana and i totally recomend it.

in general the way of check if one is doing things right is by looking at tawa, gonpa and chopa, corresponding to what you are applying.

What is the Sadhana? Can you PM it to me, plus practice requirements!!??

it is called avalokitesvara korwa tongthrug, it requieres at least the lung transmission.

i'm sorry i can't share it that way haha, sorry. the booklet is so cheap that i bet the cargo cost is more expensive.

in any case, i don't see why you could't use any paceful action sadhana (avalokite, tara, manju, etc.)

[Konchog Thogme Jampa]

i had more or less the same questions a few time ago.

the reticence of cut the grasp to an "i and them" diminishes, so the fear of giving the best of "i" and taking the worst of "them" dimishes. that you know that tonglen is working. look at your awareness, cognition, of "i and them" before, during and after doing tonglen. this awareness lead to another awareness: there is nothing to fear at all. fear diminishes means tonglen training is working.

regarding sadhana, i don't know what or how you are applying, but i did lot of tonglen through an Avalokitesvara anuyoga sadhana and i totally recomend it.

in general the way of check if one is doing things right is by looking at tawa, gonpa and chopa, corresponding to what you are applying.

What is the Sadhana? Can you PM it to me, plus practice requirements!!??

it is called avalokitesvara korwa tongthrug, it requieres at least the lung transmission.

i'm sorry i can't share it that way haha, sorry. the booklet is so cheap that i bet the cargo cost is more expensive.

in any case, i don't see why you could't use any paceful action sadhana (avalokite, tara, manju, etc.)

Thank-you!!

I'm following Garchen's instructions on Tonglen he recently gave, I'm practising Chenrezig so was excited about the possibility of combining the two together.

Not sure how though!!!

I will investigate!!

Thank-you again!!!

[Tenma]

What is the Sadhana? Can you PM it to me, plus practice requirements!!??

it is called avalokitesvara korwa tongthrug, it requieres at least the lung transmission.

i'm sorry i can't share it that way haha, sorry. the booklet is so cheap that i bet the cargo cost is more expensive.

in any case, i don't see why you could't use any paceful action sadhana (avalokite, tara, manju, etc.)

Thank-you!!

I'm following Garchen's instructions on Tonglen he recently gave, I'm practising Chenrezig so was excited about the possibility of combining the two together.

Not sure how though!!!

I will investigate!!

Thank-you again!!!

Wait, so I can add on the practice of Ganges Mahamudra that Garchen Rinpoche gave to the sadhana practice of Manjushri he gave as well?

[Konchog Thogme Jampa]

it is called avalokitesvara korwa tongthrug, it requieres at least the lung transmission.

i'm sorry i can't share it that way haha, sorry. the booklet is so cheap that i bet the cargo cost is more expensive.

in any case, i don't see why you could't use any paceful action sadhana (avalokite, tara, manju, etc.)

Thank-you!!

I'm following Garchen's instructions on Tonglen he recently gave, I'm practising Chenrezig so was excited about the possibility of combining the two together.

Not sure how though!!!

I will investigate!!

Thank-you again!!!

Wait, so I can add on the practice of Ganges Mahamudra that Garchen Rinpoche gave to the sadhana practice of Manjushri he gave as well?

He said you could perform Tonglen with a Sadhana.

[jet.urgyen]

it is called avalokitesvara korwa tongthrug, it requieres at least the lung transmission.

i'm sorry i can't share it that way haha, sorry. the booklet is so cheap that i bet the cargo cost is more expensive.

in any case, i don't see why you could't use any paceful action sadhana (avalokite, tara, manju, etc.)

Thank-you!!

I'm following Garchen's instructions on Tonglen he recently gave, I'm practising Chenrezig so was excited about the possibility of combining the two together.

Not sure how though!!!

I will investigate!!

Thank-you again!!!

Wait, so I can add on the practice of Ganges Mahamudra that Garchen Rinpoche gave to the sadhana practice of Manjushri he gave as well?

i don't know and frankly i don't know mahamudra

[conebeckham]

There is so much confusion here.

TongLen means "taking and sending." It is part of the Mahayana, really, part of the transmission of "LoJong" or "Mind Training."

It can be incorporated into any Deity yoga practice, though.....if you have empowerment and transmission, you simply perform taking and sending while self-generating as the deity.

I strongly recommend Bokar Rinpoche's "Chenrezig: Lord of Love." Even without a connection to a teacher, if you follow the instructions you cannot do harm to yourself, and will very likely benefit yourself and maybe even other sentient beings. But above all, cultivate the aspiration to meet a true spiritual friend, or a true Vajrayana Guru. In the meantime, visualize yourself as Chenrezig, and practice the visualization of taking and sending, using the breath. And don't worry too much.

[Konchog Thogme Jampa]

Wait, so I can add on the practice of Ganges Mahamudra that Garchen Rinpoche gave to the sadhana practice of Manjushri he gave as well?

Don't worry. If you want to follow Garchen Rinpoche Mahamudra the Ngondro for Fivefold Mahamudra would be the place to start. His Fivefold Mahamudra has Deity Yoga within it though following that. I've never participated in Ganges Mahamudra so cannot comment.

If you are referring to the Yamantaka he gave recently? I would advise staying close to the instructions he gave that accompanied.

Keep it simple, don't let it all take you over. Find a guide/teacher just focus on one or two practices. The Ngondro would be suitable maybe!!!!

[明安 Myoan]

There is so much confusion here.

TongLen means "taking and sending." It is part of the Mahayana, really, part of the transmission of "LoJong" or "Mind Training."

It can be incorporated into any Deity yoga practice, though.....if you have empowerment and transmission, you simply perform taking and sending while self-generating as the deity.

I strongly recommend Bokar Rinpoche's "Chenrezig: Lord of Love." Even without a connection to a teacher, if you follow the instructions you cannot do harm to yourself, and will very likely benefit yourself and maybe even other sentient beings. But above all, cultivate the aspiration to meet a true spiritual friend, or a true Vajrayana Guru. In the meantime, visualize yourself as Chenrezig, and practice the visualization of taking and sending, using the breath. And don't worry too much.

That book changed my life.

[Tenma]

Wait, so I can add on the practice of Ganges Mahamudra that Garchen Rinpoche gave to the sadhana practice of Manjushri he gave as well?

Don't worry. If you want to follow Garchen Rinpoche Mahamudra the Ngondro for Fivefold Mahamudra would be the place to start. His Fivefold Mahamudra has Deity Yoga within it though following that. I've never participated in Ganges Mahamudra so cannot comment.

If you are referring to the Yamantaka he gave recently? I would advise staying close to the instructions he gave that accompanied.

Keep it simple, don't let it all take you over. Find a guide/teacher just focus on one or two practices. The Ngondro would be suitable maybe!!!!

No, Vagishvara, Lord of Speech through a recorded webcast in January. Yamantaka is not my level. Not too sure if a teenager can be a ngondro with tons of school work, violin, and Christian parents.

[Konchog Thogme Jampa]

Wait, so I can add on the practice of Ganges Mahamudra that Garchen Rinpoche gave to the sadhana practice of Manjushri he gave as well?

Don't worry. If you want to follow Garchen Rinpoche Mahamudra the Ngondro for Fivefold Mahamudra would be the place to start. His Fivefold Mahamudra has Deity Yoga within it though following that. I've never participated in Ganges Mahamudra so cannot comment.

If you are referring to the Yamantaka he gave recently? I would advise staying close to the instructions he gave that accompanied.

Keep it simple, don't let it all take you over. Find a guide/teacher just focus on one or two practices. The Ngondro would be suitable maybe!!!!

No, Vagishvara, Lord of Speech through a recorded webcast in January. Yamantaka is not my level. Not too sure if a teenager can be a ngondro with tons of school work, violin, and Christian parents.

Maybe bookmark for the future!!!!

Back to the original question, if you are becoming more empathetic, compassionate, everyone will be grateful!!!

Then there's Garchen Rinpoche's teaching on Tonglen which is on Scribd, which is a much more advanced 'View'.

All the best with your practice!!!!

[Motova]

If contentment and compassion increase.