Monthly Archives: September 2013

Songs of Renunciation

From the Songs of Milarepa (Dover Thrift Editions):

The way of the world is illusion:
I strive after true reality.
To be moved by earthly possessions is illusion :
I endeavour to rise above duality.
To be the world’s servant is illusion:
I wander in the mountains alone.
Wealth and possessions are illusion:
I renounce for the sake of the faith any I may have.
External things are illusion:
I contemplate the mind.
Distinctive thought is illusion:
I follow after sapience.
Conditional truth is illusion:
I dispose the absolute truth.
The printed book is illusion:
I meditate upon the counsels of the ear-whispered tradition.
Philosophical argument is illusion:
I study at length that which is unfeigned.
Both birth and death are illusion:
I contemplate the deathless truth.
Ordinary knowledge is illusion:
I exercise myself in wisdom.
The delight of mental thought is illusion:
I dwell in the state of reality.
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Muccalinda

Muccalinda Sutta (Trans: Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu)

I have heard that on one occasion, the Blessed One was staying at Uruvelā on the bank of the Nerañjarā River at the root of the Muccalinda tree, newly
awakened. And on that occasion he sat for seven days in one session, sensitive to the bliss of release.
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Tilopa

From Tilopa’s Mahamudra Instruction to Naropa in Twenty Eight Verses; translated by Keith Dowman…

A little daily dose of Tilopa goes a long way… read more

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Refuge

This is another excerpt from the 1909 work, The Path of Light. By today’s standards the language is archaic, yet unlike today’s standards it has not been intellectualized and neutered and watered-down from its full import; yes, there was a time when the message was clear and not afraid to voice the eternal truths…there’s true passion in them thar words… read more

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The Hermit’s Den

Combined with my daily Eremitical Dhyani Buddha Meditations, I’ve been developing a personal breviary of sorts—encompassing daily reflections from Zen Masters as well as passages from both Mahayana and Vajrayana sources, from the Sutrayana and Suttayana. This perpetual series will offer selective passages as well as a brief commentary. First up—from the Mangala-sutta (translated from a work entitled, The Path of Light, by Śāntideva Jan 1, 1909) read more

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The Mandala of Adibuddha Samantabhadra

SEVEN: THE MANDALA OF ADIBUDDHA SAMANTABHADRA

Although all that had been revealed conveyed deep and eternal truths in sundry mystical formulations, Vajrapanī and the gathered assembly had not moved an inch within Vajradhara’s luminous and concave-like pore. Then Blessed Vajradhara extracted the entire assembly from his pore and fashioned them once again into ordinary size wherein they all resumed their seats.  read more

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Tārā as Our Lady of the Void

SIX: TĀRĀ AS OUR LADY OF THE VOID

Emerging from the vajropama-samādhi Mahasiddha Acintapa discerned all that just came before him, the Scrutinies and the Divine Liturgy of Vajrasattva, were all Sacred Events conveyed to his Mind’s Eye. He found himself sitting and holding the mysterious sphere that was the mystic-source of his epiphany: read more

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Benediction

(D) Benediction

The priest of the Five Dhyanī Buddhas also is united with their Primal Source; thus Vajrasattva is esoterically representative of Samantabhadra Ādi-Buddha, the Unborn and Imageless Dharmakaya element. As the Divine Liturgy of Vajrasattva draws to a close, this Primordial Representation is appropriately revealed in the Benediction, with a primary-focal tool being utilized—the imageless-mirror encased in decorative form atop a Lotus-stand: read more

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Liturgy of Light

(C) Liturgy of Light

After the time of silent reflection, an acolyte approaches the altar carrying a Ceremonial Crown which is then placed on the head of the priest after the acolyte removes the former Dhyanī Buddha Crown: read more

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Liturgy of Consecration

(B) LITURGY OF CONSECRATION

Structure of Liturgy:

1. Litany of the Shining Ones: the entire assembly stands and chants the following litany: read more

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