The Boat v. The Shore
The Boat v. The Shore
One of the problems that I personally have - and I'm confident that I'm not alone - is that it is all too easy to become extremely fascinated by the boat rather than actually actively engaging in the process of trying to reach the shore. By this I mean that I have this great desire to consume all the books and teachings about the ultimate reality and the methods for getting there rather than spending the time in actual practice. This is another form of spiritual materialism, I know, but it really wreaks havoc on one's progress. At a certain point, you have to just lay the manuals aside and get to work.
Re: The Boat v. The Shore
Phantom59 posted this a few days ago on the Tibetan Buddhism thread page by Tenzin Palmo . I found it to be very insightful about practice in modern age.
http://www.mandalamagazine.org/archives ... et-melody/
http://www.mandalamagazine.org/archives ... et-melody/
- DarwidHalim
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Re: The Boat v. The Shore
The article is really good.
These are 2 points, which I like most:
1.
For instance, we’re sitting here thinking, “Now I am Chenrezig, I am white, glowing, I have four arms,” and so on and so forth. This is so important, but we don’t really beleive this. It’s our fundamental delusion that we sit there thinking that really I am Mary Smith, pretending that I am Chenrezig – when of course the truth is that I am Chenrezig pretending to be Mary Smith.
2.
All thoughts – good thoughts, bad thoughts, stupid thoughts, wise thoughts – are they play of the dharmakaya, the wisdom of the Buddhas
------
If we practice Heruka and our name is John, it is not John pretending Heruka. But Heruka pretending John.
For no. 2, Saraha actually mentioned that whatever thought you have, your current thoughts, are actually Mahamudra. Whether you think it is sinful thought or pure thought, they are basically Mahamudra. Because we differentiate it as sinful or pure, we can't see the true nature of that thoughts.
These are 2 points, which I like most:
1.
For instance, we’re sitting here thinking, “Now I am Chenrezig, I am white, glowing, I have four arms,” and so on and so forth. This is so important, but we don’t really beleive this. It’s our fundamental delusion that we sit there thinking that really I am Mary Smith, pretending that I am Chenrezig – when of course the truth is that I am Chenrezig pretending to be Mary Smith.
2.
All thoughts – good thoughts, bad thoughts, stupid thoughts, wise thoughts – are they play of the dharmakaya, the wisdom of the Buddhas
------
If we practice Heruka and our name is John, it is not John pretending Heruka. But Heruka pretending John.
For no. 2, Saraha actually mentioned that whatever thought you have, your current thoughts, are actually Mahamudra. Whether you think it is sinful thought or pure thought, they are basically Mahamudra. Because we differentiate it as sinful or pure, we can't see the true nature of that thoughts.
I am not here nor there.
I am not right nor wrong.
I do not exist neither non-exist.
I am not I nor non-I.
I am not in samsara nor nirvana.
To All Buddhas, I bow down for the teaching of emptiness. Thank You!
I am not right nor wrong.
I do not exist neither non-exist.
I am not I nor non-I.
I am not in samsara nor nirvana.
To All Buddhas, I bow down for the teaching of emptiness. Thank You!
Re: The Boat v. The Shore
Yes, very insightful. Buddhist teachings, what we do with them, whether heavy weight of righteness which is binding or using the tools like that beautiful melody Tenzin Palmo express. Dharma tools are supposed to freeing.sangyey wrote:Phantom59 posted this a few days ago on the Tibetan Buddhism thread page by Tenzin Palmo . I found it to be very insightful about practice in modern age.
http://www.mandalamagazine.org/archives ... et-melody/
“We are each living in our own soap opera. We do not see things as they really are. We see only our interpretations. This is because our minds are always so busy...But when the mind calms down, it becomes clear. This mental clarity enables us to see things as they really are, instead of projecting our commentary on everything.” Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bg9jOYnEUA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bg9jOYnEUA
Re: The Boat v. The Shore
What a day. First Gad Ryangs posts his stories about prayer wheels and now this. If we got a dose of Dharma as potent as this every day, we'd all be Buddhas by midsummer.
Sergeant Schultz knew everything there was to know.
Re: The Boat v. The Shore
Wonderful article. Thanks for posting it. It helped me relax some of the tension I carry around with me.
I am well aware of my idiocy. I am also very aware that you too are an idiot. Therein lies our mutuality.
Re: The Boat v. The Shore
100% agree.mint wrote:At a certain point, you have to just lay the manuals aside and get to work.
I was told, and I agree with the person that told me this, that the entirety of dharma is about letting go of everything. Of course that never seems as fun, useful or interesting as fancy philosophy etc.
Look at the unfathomable spinelessness of man: all the means he's been given to stay alert he uses, in the end, to ornament his sleep. – Rene Daumal
the modern mind has become so limited and single-visioned that it has lost touch with normal perception - John Michell
the modern mind has become so limited and single-visioned that it has lost touch with normal perception - John Michell