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Monthly Archives: April 2020
Khatvanga—A Multi-Purpose Mystical Tool
The Khatvanga is a mystical-ritual tool utilized in both meditation and as a vehicle for directing healing energy. The blog Yoga of the Manomayakāya discusses its use in merging with the Manomayakāya during meditation. I own two, one made out of yak-bone that I utilize inside my house, and the other made of iron (pictured above), which is kept in my hermitage. The Khatvanga itself houses a deity, just as its cousin, the Phurpa, does too. In essence, it is the spirit of the deity that is being invoked when these mystical tools are put into ritualistic practice. With frequent use one’s own spirit merges with the deity—it becomes as One with the practitioner’s energy signature. The Khatvanga with its pointed tip directs the energies of this spirit in life-giving fashion. It is also used as a source of protection during meditation sessions, and recently I’ve been utilizing it as a healing device. By grasping its double-vajra head and directing it downward between my legs, the focused energies have removed pain from my abdominal area, soothed throat pain, and is acting as a repellent against all negative energies, particularly against the demon that is housed in Covid 19. So I consider myself to be doubly protected during this dangerous time—by the use of a face scarf and the protective-sealant of the Khatvanga. I can sense a dominate shield encompassing me during extended periods of meditation, by focusing the energy like a defensive-bubble. Quite a remarkable mystical-instrument indeed!
The Udāna and Covid 19
In these unprecedented times I shall remember these days as my Udāna period here at Unborn Mind Zen. With this new rendition of the suttas written in Light of the Unborn and accompanied with exegesis the ever-present and dominant backdrop has been the lingering presence of Covid 19. I live in upstate NY, pretty close to ground zero in NYC. The death tallies just keep adding up and up, hopefully there will be a peak shortly. But returning to anything resembling normalcy just isn’t in the cards any time soon. The economy has been destroyed, and millions are out of work—quickly to surpass Depression-Era statistics. Social distancing has become the new norm. I used to write many blogs encouraging solitude and aloneness but this present period out-trumps them all. It all started in early March when the Zennist informed us on his blog that he has suffered a debilitating stroke—we wish him well and recovery soon—but it was just a black omen of what has been befalling us since. I pray for the safety and well-being of everyone—we’re all in the same boat together on this one. Despite the doom and gloom we still need to take heart. This horror-show will one day subside, the enemy will be defeated, and it will all become a tragic memory indelibly etched in our collective-consciousness.
The Melody of the Unborn
8.3 (73) Parinibbāna (Nibbāna Sutta)
Thus has it been made known. On one occasion the Blessed One was residing near Sāvatthī, at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. On that auspicious occasion the Blessed One was instructing and arousing and inspiring the monks with a discourse centered on Nibbāna. The monks opened their Dharma-ear and responded wholeheartedly to the Dhamma being displayed before them.
A Leper’s Tale
5:3 (43) The Leper (Suppabuddhakuṭṭhisuttaṁ)
Thus has it been made known. At another time the Blessed One was staying near Rājagaha, at the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Feeding Sanctuary. On that occasion there lived a poor and wretched leper, Suppabuddha, who saw a large gathering of people and thought to himself, “Surely, there are some distributions of food being offered, let me go there and receive some staples of nourishment.” Coming closer, he beheld that the Blessed One was teaching Dhamma to a gathered assembly. “There is no food here, but the recluse Gotama is teaching Dhamma. Let me go near and listen to his discourse.”